Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-09-09

WduC you 10 remain IN charge OF the
plantation and the people, for awhile,
at least, till can get the hang of
things. and put one of these gentle
men in the place don't know what
you've been getting; III double it.
while want you Is it bargain?"
NO" was the curt answer. ST
seave here tomorrow. want nothing
from you but the balance of two hun
dred and fifty dollars which is due me
from the place"
The new proprietor drew a thick
roll of bank notes from his pocket,
counted out the sum named and
handed it to lie Fevre, saying: ST
want receipt The latter took
blank leather-bound book from his
breast pocket, wrote the receipt and
handed it over.
Conrad Bostock looked inquiringly
at the book.
Have You list of the people on the
place there2"
Eyes"
''Td like to see it."
lie Fevre cut out several leaves with
his knife and 81 them to him. He
read aloud at the top: Field hands
and children in the quarters. seventy
nine; house servants, thirteen"
is this alp" he asked
Eyes. We've never cultivated the
whole plantation in any year; and
was here some years before Mr.. Bos-
tock came back"
"H'm, him, HIM Joe-Israel--Jerry,
Lucy. Vic. Esther. Prue."
His eye ran rapidly down the list,
and he spoke a name here and there.
Wien he came to the end he folded the
leaves, put them in his breast pocket
and lit cigar. His companions fol
lowed his example, and soon the parloI
was filed with smoke. lie Fevre
looked at the lounging, loaferish fig
ures and then l saw that his gorge
1 was rising. He rose and threw open
the windows.
do you want anything more of me?"
/ he asked.
Eyes. want TO know how you hap
| pened TO omit one name from that in
ventory."
Nothing is omitted. It Is a correct
list of the negroes belonging to the
place"
81 correct you. The name of Coralie
Bonfant, daughter of one Louise Bon
FAINT, who died the slave of my father,
1 is nowhere on these papers"
1 / started up, almost speeches. with
passion.
'Coralie was his daughter. you know
that?"
! The man merely glanced at me; he
/. took no other notice of my Interrupt
/ ton
That girl is one of the most valuable
/; properties on the place; probably the
most valuable She appears TO have
been treated rather too much like one
of the family; but that was my fathers
! way. Gardette, You saw her at the flu
neral-the slim girl in black, with che
long veil, that this chap here was MAX
ing some fuss over. What should you
! say she's worth?"
The man addressed suspended his
smoking long enough to give shrill
whistle.
''Why, the devill You don't mean to
tell me that shSs your nigger?"
/ Just So"
"She's worth twenty-five hundred
dollars Shed bring two thousand at
the block any day."
'Stayr' / exclaimed My voice was
Conrad Bostock, she is of your own
blood--your's fathers daughter. The
last evening of his life he gave his con-
sent that should marry her. He sent
for lawyer to draw her free papers,
and to draw a viii, leaving her every
thing. The lawyer arrived here after
he had died. Mr.. lie Fevre here knows
this. Coralie will go with me; you
have nothing to do with her"
An insolent laugh from BostoclS's
companions greetek my frantic protest.
Conrad looked on me with undissem-
bled contempt.
Young man, your stay in this house
win end right now. Your effects and
those of your friend, Mr.. lie Fevre,
will be set out on the veranda- AS
for all this foolishness about the girl
you've been preaching, I've nothing to
say. It's hardly the thing in Louisiana
for a white man to marry a slave; the
law don't permit it. If it did, do you
suppose would be fool enough to give
you twenty-five hundred dollars worth
OF property? Not l. If it win make
you feel any better, III say TO you
that, if the girl behaves herself, III get
good master for her. If motif she
goes into any tantrums-oH she goes
TO the Orleans slave market"
My mead swan, my heart seemed to
stand still. ! saw the faces of leering
devils through the smoke wreaths. A
strong hand grasped my shoulder. lie
Fevre stood by my side.
81 make You proposition" ne said
to the proprietor. Il viii give you
|. twenty-five hundred dollars for her."
NO"
Three thousand dollars"
mo. She is not at present for sale.
"Four thousand dollarsP' lie Fevrt
| cried, with an excitement that haC
never known him to betray. "Foui
: thousand dollars; every cent own il
. the world / will give You for her. Sht
is nothing to you more than her money
value; she is everything to DOrr. Con
sidering who and what she is, yol