The midland journal., 1899-03-31
did not at first fully compre hend it.
Her great eyes were lighted with curl

LIPS.
did not at first fully compre hend 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, beautiful
Creole, whom l bought OF Napoleon
Castex. | bought her, girl-do you I'M
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 that? 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 fa-
ther, for whose grievous sin you are
punished, as it is written in the Scrip
lures"
She understood the shocking truth at
last. With a low cry she sank down,
her arms thrown across an ottoman,
her face hidden upon them.
was instantly by her side.
Look up, Coralie!" | 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 isanything for
you to live down, let me help you do
it,"
She rose, reassured, smiling through
her tears. She took my hand and led
me to her fathers chair.
"You hear what he has just said,'
were her words. "He loves me, spite
of everything. have nothing to give;
because-I am your slave. 1t is for you
to say. May love him?"
The archness, the mock humility
with which she turned from the dis
tress and reproach- in which her IA
theirs words had left her, to this serio-
comic aspect of the situation, are not
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 a sigh of in
finite relief, that dreadful burden is
rolled from my soul. To keep that
secret have sued Ui0od, have spent
abundant gold, have become prema-
turely aged, and suffered in mind as
men rarely suffer. Let me right the
wrong that did this dear child, so far
as can, when my passions gave her
life; let me make my peace with an
offended God. if that be possible; let
me see you two happy together-and
then let me depart, Cory, forgive
your erring, miserable father. have
sinned, as other men sin; but have
suffered as they have not"
She answered him with kiss.
"ln the morning" he continued, lie
Fevre shall ride over to Thibodeaux,
and bring Mr.. Coteau, the lawyer. The
deed that have never dared to do, be-
cause then the people would know your
story. Corry-I will exesute will de-
clare your manumission, in writing,
signed, sealed and acknowledged; it
shall be placed among the public rec
ords-and then, child, you will be as
free in law as you ever have been in
fact In the next hour my will shall
be made. Everything shall be yours. "
We sat upon the ottomans at his
feet-we two-and in the seclusion of
that room we heard from his lips the
story of his errors and sufferings. The
ovcrseer raped at the door. and called