The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-03-24
CHAPTER XIV.
NY EATE

NY FATE.
Until nearly evening of the next
day was solitary in that house. I'm
usual out-of-door labors kept LIE Fevre
away from early morning till dark;
and neither Coralic nor her father ap-
peared at the breakfast or dinner
table.
"De ole massa powerful sick in de
night" said one of the women who
waited on me. "'Pears like he done
git no sleep, and Missy Coral up an
down wild him. Tell us what we do
for yo', sab, an we do um.''
| strolled down to the bayou and
strolled back. tried togct interested
in book, and threw one after another
aside. Was it the natural longing for
her who had now become necessary to
my existence?-or was it the restless
ness provoked by the shadows of COM
ing events?
Coralie-always Coralie. She had
taken possession of me; could think
of nothing else. | have ventured upon
no description of her face and form; |
will not. She was all that Mr.. Dorion
had said of her, and more.
But who was it that thus thought of
her and hoped for her? A poor adven-
turer, with a few paltry dollars in his
pocket; a dependent at this moment
upon her fathers hospitality.
Aye, indeed!-was that my position?
Be it So The other side of the ques-
tion quickly appeared. There was
danger threatening-danger to Coralie.
The very air was full of it, since the
ill-omened visit of the previous night.
Ibid he say anything about you, Corry?"
was her fathers anxious question.
What might he have said?-what could
he say?-what was it that he had
threatened to tell all through La
Fourche?-the threat of which had
forced Mr.. Bostock to the humiliating
confession that this scoundrel was his
son.
Evidently the mysterious terror that
brooded at Pierce Bostock's heart
largely concern ed his daughter. The
man who sought her must seek her
under this cloud. He must take his
risk. Was prepared to do this?
Was | prepared? Yes! A thousand
times yes. l would face anything,
dare anything, for her. exulted,
with a fierce eXultation, to know that
there must be some sacrifice on my
part. | wanted something to dare;
something to suffer for her sake.
The parting words of LIE Fevre on
the previous night required to me.
The old man couldn't live without
her. I've sometimes thought that the
love of her is all that keeps him alive.
Many promising young fellows, the
sons of the wealthiest planters about
here, have tried to court her, but he's
driven them all off. He has seemed to
be in perfect terror of her falling in
love with anyone. But he needn't
have troubled himself so far She
hasn't cared straw for any of them"
Would it not be SO with me, both as
to the father and daughter? l could
not tell. But | resolved to quickly
find out. Events were fast shaping
my course, and the startling occur
renee of the evening before had en-
boldened me to speak out
1t was almost sunset when she came
down from her fathers chamber,
wearied from loss of sleep, languidly
beautiful in her white wrapper, with
her black hair unbound and fastened
back with net. She came and sat by
me on the sofa.
HE is asleep now," she said, antici-
pating my question. 81 hope it will
last long enough to rest his poor dis
tracted mind and his weak body. 1t
all comes from the shock of that bad
mans visit last night. He will not
talk with me about it-but in his sleep
he cries out his name, and prays him
not to speak of me-and o. Non Dieu.
it is horrible! Can it be that this hid
eous man is my orother?"
~ fear it is So Mr.. Dorion told me
so. lie said that he came to the plan
tation near VicSsburg when you were
an infant, with your father; that he
was always called a son; and that it
was supposed, when he went away
during your childhood, that on account
of his evil course your father had hired
him to leave"
"Ah, me! have no memory of him.
Why does papa fear him?"
81 wish knew"
"These things are dreadful What
are we to do-what will become of us?"
"Do not despair, We may never hear
of that man again"
"Ah, you do not know the condition
that poor papa is in! 1t is pitiful to see
him. He begs me not to leave him; he
calls on Conrad not to betray him."
"fie is delirious"
No, no; it is in his sleep. Since last
night, it has seemed to me as if could
never be light-hearted or happy again.
1t seems as though some dreadful
calamity was threatening u.s."
You want rest and sleep yourself.
You must not be so sad"
"Am sad? Well. think of it. Here
is papa. sick with fright from that man;
he will die suddenly, some time, the
doctor says-and then there is nobody
to protect me or care for me. Mr.. LIE
Fevre, perhaps-but he is so rough,
though his heart is good. | am
troubled"
All this was merely the natural out
pouring of the heart, by one whose life
had always been sunny. who had rot
known what grief was. 1t was my OPP
portunity; could not neglect it. My
heart beat fast as took the plunge
There is one to protect you. Coralie;
there is one who would die for you, but
who hopes to live long for you. Have
you not thought of me in this
trouble?"
She looked down. her long black