Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-09-02


LIPS.
did not at first fully comprehend it.
Her great eyes were lighted with curl
Gus inquiry
"Why, that is strange, papa" she
/ said THAT dreadful mans mother
was not my mother; am very glad Of
that But who was my mother?"
| Louise lie Bonfant, a beautiful
Creole. whom bought OF Napoleon
Castex- bought her, girl-do you un-
derstand? She died in giving you
birth, and the shame and sorrow of
this bitter hour are spared her. The
blood of the best French families of
Louisiana for generations back was In
her veins; she was beautiful, edu-
Gated. accomplished. just as you are;
no man could have dreamed that
drop of baser blood was hers What
of that7 For a hundred years her
mothers had been slaves; by the cruel.
monstrous law OF this state. that con-
dition is yours / may free you; may
give you by will all that have; but
that you were born in bondage and
lived thus, in law, can never be de-
MED. And / tell you this, /, your IA
Their, for whose grievous sin you are
punished. as it is written in the Scrip
lures"
She understood the shocking truth at
last. With low cry she sank down,
her arms thrown across an ottoman,
her face hidden upon them.
was instantly by her side
Look up, Coraliev' / cried. Moth
ing shall separate us; be of good
cheer"
She raised her eyes; hope family
shone in them.
You will despise me. Dorr."
For what? ! have heard nothing
that can change my purpose or weaken
my love"
, But the people who have known
me"
$ They shall know you now as my
) honored wife. If there is anything foI
q you TO live down, let me help you dc
it."
She rose, treasured, smiling through
her tears She took my hand and lee
nae to her fathers chair.
s'You hear what he has just said,
were her words. "He loves me, spite
of everything. have nothing to give
hecause-I am your slave 1t is for yol
o. say. May I love him?'
The archness, the mock humilit,
|. with which she turned from the dis
tress and reproach in which her ia
theirs words had left her, to this seric
comic aspect of the situation, are no
to be described. Mr.. Bostock was com
pletely won. He rose from his chair
he clasped us both in one embrace
| tears wet his furrowed face.
"At last" he said, with sigh of in
finite relief, that dreadful burden
rolled from my soul To keep tina
secret have sned blood, have sper
abundant gold, I have become prema
turely aged, and suffered in mind a
IS men rarely suffer. Let me right tn
ID wrong that did this dear child, so "a
T. as can, when nay passions gave he
life; let me make my peace with a
1T | offended God. if that be possible; Il
n me see you two happy tQgether-an
- then let me depart Cory, forgiN
n your erring, miserable father. hay
ct sinned, as other men sin; but hav
to suffered as they have not"
he She answered him with a kiss.
An .'In the morning." he continued, st
ed Fevre shall ride over to Thibodeau
ed and bring Mr.. Coteau, the lawyer. II
Id deed that have never dared TO do, b
lis cause then the people would know yo'
ry story. Cory VIII exesute- viii 4
~ ;lare your manumission, in writin
- Iigned, sealed and acknowledged;
-, shall be placed among the public re
81 ords-and then, child, you will be
free in law as you ever have been
~ fact In the next hour my will shi
La be made. Everything shall be yours
"a We sat upon the ottOmans at
feet-we two-and in the seclusion
49,, that room we heard from his lips t
a, story of his errors and sufferings- r
-. overseer raped at the door, and call
s-as out that he must see Mr.. Bostoclx,
art was answered that he could not be d
be turbed. The servant who came to c
us to the table was sent away. I
and hour was given TO the past.
hen We listened attentively, Coralie a
had I, for we were both concerned in
strange story, and 1 especially v
eager to hear the things explained Il
? In had puzzled me; yet, ever and anon,
/ at returned the pressure OF the hai
ing my heart bounded exultinclv forwa
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