The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-01-07
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He was but just out of collegt, where he
had worked hard at his studiSs that he
might make the most of the OPPORTUNITIES
which his wealth offered him. IL school he
had been the same good fellow Ee was out
OF school, but nothing in the shaie of pleas
ure could entice him away from nis studies
until they Were finished. Now bis college
days were over.
Wearied by the work which hi had done
in lifting himself Tor his future Vocation
that oi a lawyer-he decided to bake a trip
through the south, and startedtthereupon
from his New England home in She autumn
OF 1859.
He crossed New York state III rail, and
from Buffalo he went by beat hround the
lakes to the then small town OF Chicago. BY
easy stages he crossed the state OF Illinois
to the Mississippi, striking the river at
Davenport. \ river steamer Carried him to
St. Louis, where he visited fOr5a lew days,
and then LETT for New Orleans.
While passing down the Mississippi he
was astonished but yet interested in the
gambling that prevailed on the boat, as in
those days II was wont to do, and his atten-
ton was especially drawn to one of those
manipulating the cards-a middle-aged man
OF a wlnsOme appearance-whOse bets were
heavy, who was invariably a loser, but, ap.
parently, not in the least discouraged by his
i'll luck. s'
Gentlemen, / have lost every cent at
my immediate command" he finally OBJ
served in the firmest OF tones, but | have
with me an octoroon whom L will wage
against $3.50. And, upon my honor, l as
sure you that she Will readily .sekST far
more than that in any market. You shallS
however, form Your own opinion with refer
ence to the matter.
With these words he left the saloon, to
which he soon returned accompanied by a
female whose figure was marvelously beau
tiful and who was heavily yelled. y
Il would remove the vel and permit you
to see her features. which | know you would
deem beautiful" he SAID, were it not that
when | left my home for New Oreans, [
promised my daughter that no OF hould
see her face until we had reachefofI des-
tination. And William Parker net, -%sinten-
tional!y broke his word
After a momentary pause, addressing the
girl, he requested "Myra" 10 com to him.
She complied with the request, and, slightly
raising her dTess-which action she en-
deavored to preventive revealed a wonder
r ,s: n S si S.: i: ::., you 's' 5000 1900. for said
Il Will never sell her for that price" Mr..
Parker TREMENDOUSLY replied.
We'll, call it fifteen hundred, the amount
against which you propose to stake her,
Derwent observed. is that satisfactorily
Under the circumstances, it is
Here Is the money" Derwent remarked,
as he extended the specified sum to Mr..
Parker. And now | suppose she is at my
disposal"
"She IS" responded Mr.. Parker. "Are
you going - New Orleans
Such is my Intention
when We reach the city | vii, have the
necessary papers made out for you"
Il don't care for any papers. | an i
whatever form. So | simply wish this CIR!
to know that she is absolutely free
\ singular expression stole over the cOun-
~tenance OF the men in whose presence Der
went was, but without making any re-
mark they resumed their playing, at which
Mr.. Parker continually won, until he had
possessed himself of nearly every dollar OF
his opponents. Then:
Il Will give you 5000 for Myra,' he OBJ
served, addressing Derwent.
"You could not buy her from me into
slavery for all that you are worth. II 1t be
millions of dollars was Derwcnt's firm
reply.
Mr.. Parker's face crimsOned with anger,
and, springing from his seat, he dealt a
blow at but did not hit Derwent, whomerely
smiled.
At this ~juncture the girl hastily removed
her Veil, revealing a beautiful lace that was
not tainted by African blood.
MY Cod" huskily exclaimed Mr.. Parker,
as he sum- back in his chair. My dauSh-
ter
YES, your daughter" said the young
lady, in a singing tone.
For 4 moment the silence of death pre-
vailed and then she TREMENDOUSLY began:
Because of an inclination to gamble, my
father. once a wealthy planter, has become
poor. and in order to settle various CLAIMS
against him has rcsortcd to numerous ozpe-
dents, particularly disposing of his slaves.
When a few days ago he informed me
that he was going to take my beloved serv-
ant to New Orleans | felt assured that he IN
tended, to sell her and made VI my mind to
prevent his so doing.
"Mvra snu | are Of about the same height
and have similar figures, and determined
to accompany my father in her place-an
easy thing to do when L hi acquainted her
with the facts of the case and gained my
fathers consent to have her go yelled.
Il thank You, sir, from the bottom OF my
heart for the nobleness which you have dis
plaved." she observed to Derwent, as she
extended to him her hand-warmly grasped
in his own. Il shall ever entertain tor you
an esteem which has been mine for no other
man"
With these words she left the saloon.
You will allow me to annul our bargain
Mr.. Parker presently said to W IN a
tremulous tone.
"If you Will free Myra at the earliest pos
sible moment" was the reply.
q WILL" responded Mr.. Parker, as he re
turned the 81, 500 to Mr.. Derwent.
Instead of continuing on his way to New
Orleans. NJ. Parker, with his daughter, let'
the boat at the first landing. And so ur-
gently did they request Derwent to accom-
pany them to their home that he did so.
Before he had been in this home a week
he had conceived for Miss Parker an atfec-
ton which he, inclined to celibacy, had
deemed it impossible for him to entertain
for any lady, and he had every reason tor
Ja,r,;nr n fully reciurocateu.