The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-11-14

crowds roar and yell in the last stretch
heard only the name Odette. and
when shot under the line saw
| Odette7 standing with her mistress on
| the veranda Of Father Grhe's house,
waving her hand to me. After caring
Tor the mare and kissing her forehead
l went to Mile. Latiolais and asked her
If she would sell Odette to me and at
| what price. She said she would for
500 and, laying her snow white hand
on Odette's shoulder, added that she
| would give the price and something
more to the bride as dot on her we'd
ding day. Odette kissed that little
| hand and, with a smile of happiness,
| expressed our thankfulness. Mine was
then the lightest heart that ever beat
in poor mans breast, and I made nv
request to, NJ Constant on his return
home. But, MI. Oakfell, a knife run
through my body could not haye given
the pain his answer did. His eyes al
| most closed and his face trembled
eth anger as he said: You scoundrel!
| Why should you buy a wife? If you
old, she would be my slave. Whatever
you acquire will be NINE How so, M.
constant" 1 asked. I am free man.
Like mad dog he leaped at me, clutch
ed me by the throat and screamed: You
lie! You are my slave! If you ever
care again to deny it, will lay the
lash on you till you will wish you were
dead! And he flung me away from him
with the vilest curses. Crushed and all
put blind, staggered to the stable and
hid my face in Charlotte Corday's
name until my thoughts came back to
me. Then, not knowing or caring
whether was seen. I went to Mile.
Latloials and Informed her what had
occurred. She said to me: Go at once
to Mr.. Horace Oakfell, the only real
man Of this country. Tell him l ask
him to hear you and thwart the evil
purpose Of that wicked Quillebert. Mr.:
Oaktell has the true eye to see what is
just and the brave heart to do it, Ash
was leaving the yard I met M. Leoni-
das Lat1olais and asked him whether
he would not buy me if I was M. Con-
stants slave, and he said he would
think 1t over. came directly here.
have told nothing but the truth. For
the sake of justice, for the sake of Je-
sus' who, the priest says, was friend
less as l am; for the sake Of Mile. La
tlolais. advise and protect me, Mr.. Oak
fell, and you, Mrs. Wyley, who were
always kind to me and never had cause
to chide me-"
The poor fellow in his excitement had
unconsciously risen at the close Of his
narrative and assumed an attitude of
supplication eloquent in it's naturalness
and earnestness, and his two auditors
looked from him to each other with
expressions Of establishment and
wounded consciences.
"A dreadful recital, if true" Oakfen
said.
Even the mercy Of heaven must be
stretched to cover such wickedness,"
was Mrs. Wyley's comment.
''Do you feel inclined to give me your
recollection of this matter, Mrs. Wy
ley?" asked Oakfell
Yes, SIR" she replied mot only in
clined, but eager to do So. When Leon
was but an infant, Febien Queyrouze
owned the plantation adjoining Lal-
lande's, of which my husband was the
overseer. It was in those days that
first saw Quillebert, who visited Quey-
rouze on Sundays. 1t seems they had
known each other in France By the
request of QueyrouZe, Quillebert stood
as godfather at the child's christening
at Mansura by Father Grhe, who had
but recently arrived in this country.
Queyrouze was very fond of this child,
but was greatly displeased for some
cause with the mother, Olive, who
with her children, was his slave. The
year the cholera was so bad-I think it
was in lS3$3-on returning home from
visit to New Orleans he told his over
seer, Belisaire Poydre, that he intended
Leon to be free and directed that he be
sent to me to be raised. The following
day he died of the cholera. He had be-
friended my husband in serious trou-
BILE, SO that when, two days after his
death. a nurse came to US with the
child and a message from Poydre con-
veylng the wish of Queyrouze we con-
sented, and I took charge of the little
one' or course he was favored by US
and never caused me to regret our ac-
ton. AS child and boy he was good ma
tured, respectful and obedient
'Queyrouze was a bachelor, and his
heirs lived in France. His will in
structed Poydre to wind up his af-
fairs, sell his property and deliver the
proceeds to the heirs. This he did four
years later. Quillebert bought Olive
and her three other children. Leon
was not included in the sale, but re-
manned with me. Belisaire Poydre died
of yellow fever In 1910. My poor bus
band was carried off by the same dis
ease in 1S43. About six months after
my husbands death 1 received a re-
quest from Quillebert to send Leon to
visit his mother and receive some pres
ents from his godfather, and, suspect
Ing no trick, did so. Leon did not
come back. wrote Quillebert a note
|