The midland journal., 1899-03-31
CHAPTER XVII.
BREAKING THE SEALS.


but not wealthy. was then, though
young man, the richest planter of
the La Fourche. l had rival, Napo-
leon Castex, who was settled in Cuba,
but who often came over to enjoy the
social festivities of the mild winters in
New Orleans. Our rivalry was close
and sharp. l was successful, and
gained the mans lasting hatred in con-
sequence.
Why is it that men and women will
deliberately marry, when they are by
nature, habit and education, utterly
untitled to mate together? Such things
always have been and always will be.
Less than three months of welded life
showed us that we were utterly uncon-
genial. But we lived on together, max
ing the best of it, and enduring our
irksome bonds.
We had but one child, Conrad. will
speak of him later. | desire now to
say that, so far as have been able to
see, he resembled neither of his par
ents in anything. He was bad, reck-
less and profigate, from an age when
boys usually have no knowledge of the
WOIIu nave SOlutWHcTc TCdu UIldL
hereditary vices, as well as diseases,
will sometimes skip several genera
tions, and appear in a child of parents
not given to evil. 1t must be so; the
accumulated sins of many ancestors
must have been inwrought in that boy.
| attended one day at the New Or
leans slave-mart an auction of the peo-
pie of a Cuban plantation, who had
been sent there to obtain better prices.
learned upon inquiry that their
owner was CasteX, who had become rr-
ined by unfortunate speculation. A lit
tie orphan, thirteen years old, appar-
emily as white as myself, attracted my
notice. | became her owner and took
her home as house-servant. She was
called Louise Bonfant.
Time passed; the GOODNESS between
my wife and myself increased Let me
not try to apportion the blame; per-
haps there was none. Our mistake
was when we mutually promised to
love, honor and cherish.
But she was better than L. she at
least tried to keep her vows. Cherish
ing no affection for her became care
less of those vows. The pretty slave
girl grew up; she was petted and edu-
Gated; she usurped the place of Emile.
For awhile the latter bore it, silent
and indignant. At length her outraged
womanhood spoke out.
sit is better that we part quietly
and without scandal" she said. q
can no longer stay in this house. Make
suitable provision for me and will
take the boy and join my people, who
have gone to Paris Tell what story
you please about my absence; it will
not be contradicted.
was glad enough to make this ar
rangement. She went abroad and died
there a few years after.
Her parting words still ring in my
ears.
81 leave you in sorrow, not in an
ger" she said. "The holy church, of
which am child, has taught me that
there is nothing more sacred in Heaven
or earth than the marital vows. You
have broken them; you are laying up
wrath for yourself in days to come. An
offended God will surely call you to
account, and you will remember my
words"
Often have l remembered them
Emile has been exquisitely avenged!
Conrad accompanied her to New Or
leans, but before the packet sailed ne
returned home. received him with
surprise and displeasure, for had felt
immeasurably relieved when Emile
proposed that he should live with her.
I've thought the thing all over,
governor" said this boy of fifteen,
"and concluded to come back. You
see I've nothing to do with the old
woman's quarrels; and as you've got
the money, and I'm getting on where
| shall want lots of it, | reckon I'll
stick to you"
Within one week from the departure
of my wife you were born, Cory, your
mother dying in the same hour.
The love that Emile should have
was given to your poor mother, child.
was nearly distracted at her loss. In
my frenzy it seemed to me the first full
fillment of Emilies prediction.
Soon my affections and hopes were
transferred to Louise's child. Then
the crushing thought came that this
child was a slave, born of slave
mother, and that to manumit her would
be to publish the fact to the world.
could not bear the alternative. To
save it, resolved on course which
| good judgment should have warned
me against. | would break up my
home here, lease the plantation, go
four hundred miles up the river. and.
in locality where no stories would
be likely to come from La Fourche, |
would bring up this child of my affec-
ton. No one there should know of
the taint in her origin; no one should
ever guess that she was born in bond
age.
This plan put in execution immedi-
ately. 1t promised to succeed. Un-
fortunately, ! had not taken into ac-
count the precocity and wickedness of
that boy. He Instantly OWNED the
truth, and began to hold the knowl-
| edge of it over me like rod. For five
! years he kept me in constant terror,
not so much by his evil courses as by