The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-10-30
CHAPTER ".
1T Sr Sr,repCp.ErEo


which, with slaves, live
stock, mills, gins and i'm
plementS, had descended
to Horace Oakfell from his mother at
her death in 1887. She as sole heir had
Inherited from her father, Colonel Blk
low. 4 thousand acres were under
fence and in culture Of sugar. cotton
and corn; the remainder was woodland.
4 yield Of two hogsheads Of sugar and
FIVE barrels of molasses per acre by the
open kettle process Of reduction then in
vogue and 500 ssunds of lint cotton to
like area attested the prodisious fer
tility Of the fields.
Oakfelrs father endured widower-
hood q year and married Fidele Cas-
pard, Spanish looking girl Of 16,
daughter Of Antoine GasDard. who, it
was said. had escaped from Paris with
a price on his head after the fall Of
Danton and who was remembered as
man of cruel aspect. taciturn and
furtive, as one haunted by terrible
fear or horrible memory. He was
shiftless and poor, but his daughter
was humble. pious and beautiful. She
was mistress of "LEsperance" six
years, uinistering to her stepson as to
3 superior being, and on her Geathbed
prayerfully besought his interest and
protection for her own little boy,
Evariste, whom she left at the de-
pendent age Of 5 years. Nine. Fidele
was universally loved and by none
with greater fervor than by Horace.
The fullness of his boyish affection he
transferred to the half brother, now
like himself motherless. and generous
" assumed responsibility for his well
fare. The demise Of their father in
1854 gave to this assumption the char
acter and obligations Of actuality.
Evariste was dark and beautiful as
his mother. His figure was slight and
exquisite. with hands and feet small
and delicate, like woman's. Neither
the squirrel nor the swallow surpass-
ed him in agility and gracefulness, but
his manner was undemonStrative, Sc
cretive, and, avoiding playmates, he
was ever content to be alone. His
eyes were black, his lips thin and firm.
To these sons the father had left
nothing but a debt owed in Kentucky
for blooded horses. which Horace
speedily discharged. Evariste was
portionless; his brother baGe him con-
slider himself half owner of all the
estate and assured him that partition
should be made on his attaining ma
iocity, or as soon thereafter as he
might deem It desirable, and made, un-
stinted expenditure for his mainte-
nance and education. The elders fra
ternal love was sobered by paternal
solicitude relieved of all austerity. The
difference between the ages Of the two
was i've years, Evariste being 10 when
Horace was sent to the legislature.
The home was now presided over by
the Widow Wyley. whose long expert
ence as the wife Of an overseer had
given her a knowledge Of the negro
character which enabled her to rule
efficiently and kindly. Thrift and neat
ness came naturally from her Dutch
mother, as did also her passion for
COWS and bees. Her face was big and
red, and so was her heart; her hair was
white and strong. and so was her ma
ture. Binker Wyley, her stalwart SON.
was the abstemious, tireless overseer.
who had announced on taking charge
that the lash was only for oxen, mules
and dogs and to whose shrewd, frugal
management was due the fact that the
prosperity Of f'.L'Esperaace" was second
to that of no plantation in the parish Of
AyoyeHes, with the possible exception
Of Baldouino'S. on Bayou des GLASSES.
The dwelling was brick structure Of
two stories. with broad. covered veraA-
das projecting from the second in front
and rear. On the ground floor. which
was tiled, were at one side Of wide
hall q dining room and housekeeper's S
sanctum, at the other an office, library
and medicine store, in which were kept
considera BILE quantities Of medicaments
Of approved use Oh large plantations.
The second story contained parlor and
sleeping apartments. high ceilinged and
spacious, separated by q hall CORE
spending with the one below and reach
ed by exterior stairways piercing the
verandas. The furniture was heavy.
old and rich An acre set in pecan, wal
nut and fig trees and inclosed by a high
white fence made @ shady lawn be-
tween the house and the public road
along the bank Of Bayou Claire. On
the left We're the overseer'S house and
plantation stores, hundred yards far
ther the negro quarters, barns. stables
and cattle sheds; on bend Of the ba-
you was the steam cotton gin and at
the rear Of the fields the brick sugar
mill, with long, low rooted purgery and
massive chimney for bagasse burning.
The warm day was closing. Oakfell
sat at the western window Of the Office
near 8 table on which lay written re-
ports which had been left with him by
the overseer. From perusal Of them
he had turned to a volume Of English
poetry and read these lines:
He finds his fellow guilty oi skin
Not colored like his own and, having power
To enforce the wrong. for such q worthy cause
Dooms and 6evotcs him as his lawful prey.
And what man, seeing this
And having human feelings. does not blush
And hang his head to think himself man?
The book was closed upon his finger.
and with lowered eyes be pondered
these thoughts when the open doorway
was filed by the generous figure OF
Mrs. Wy!ey.
"Alr. Oakfell, where is ETariste to-
day" she asked. 81 have not seen him
since morning"
:'Ee went to attend the races ct Man
sura, believe" Oakfell replied.
"You will not, hope she said, set
ting herself comfortably in rocker,