The midland journal., 1899-04-07

Good, by - he cried. ~ thought
there were peculiar reasons why he
wouldn't wish to do it; but
couldn't be sure Well, then, it seems
/ there amt to be any dispute about my
rights Both of you understand well
enough that am my fathers sole
heir; there's nobody to contest it with
me. take possession here now. Mr..
LIE FevTe. word with you! Something
disagreeable occurred in this room not
long ago think you were to blame;
but don't want to lay up grudges.
want you to 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
youve been getting; I'll double it,
while want you. Is it bargain?"
No" was the curt answer ~
leave 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 thick
roll of bank notes from his pocket,
counted out the sum named and
handed it to LIE Fevre. saying. ~
want a receipt" The latter took a
blank leatherb bound book from his
breast pocket. wrote the receipt and
handed it over
Conrad Bostock looked irquiringly
at the book.
"Ilave you a list of the people on the
place there?"
Yes ="
/ I'D like to see it."
LIE Fevre cut ont several leaves with
his knife and gave them to him, lie
read aloud at the top: Field hands
a nd children in the quarters. seventy
nine; house servants, thirteen"
"Is this all?" he asked
YES We've never cultivated the
whole plantation in any year, and |
was here some years before Mr. Los
took came back
I'll IN, him, HIM Joe -Israel-Jerry
Lucy Vic, Esther Prue
His eye ran rapidly down the list
and he spoke name here and there
Wien he came to the end he folded the
caves put them IN his breast pocke,
nnd lit cigar. His companions fol-
lowed his example, and soon the parlor
was filed with smoke. LIE Fevre
looked at the lounging, loaferish fig
ures and then I saw that his gorge
was rising. He rose and threw open
the windows.
'Do you want anything more of me?"
he asked.
"Yes. / want to know how you hap
pened to omit one name from that in
ventory."
Nothing is omitted. 1t is 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,
is nowhere on these papers,"
started up, almost speechless 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 fu-
neral-the slim girl in black, with the
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 a shrill
whistle.
"Why, the devil! You don't mean to
tell me that SHE'S your nigger?"
"Just So"
"She's worth twenty-five hundred
dollars. She'd bring two thousand at
the block any day."
"Stay!" exclaimed. My voice was
hoarse, and | shook with emotion.
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 a lawyer to draw her free papers,
and to draw a will, 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 Bostock's
companions greeted my frantic protest.
Conrad looked on me with undissem-
bled contempt.
Young man, your stay in this house
will end right now. Your effects and
those of your friend, Mr.. LIE Fevre,
will be set out on the veranda. AS
for all this foolishncss 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 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 |. If it will make
you feel any better, I'll say to you
that. if the girl behaves herself, I'll get
a good master for her. If Eot-if she
goes into any tantrums-off she goes
to the Orleans slave market"
My head swan, my heart seemed to
stand still. | saw the faces of lecring
devils through the smoke wreaths. A
strong hand grasped my shoulder. lie
Fevre stood by my side.
al make you proposition" he said
to the proprietor Il will give you
twenty-five hundred dollars for her."
No"
Three thousand dollars"