The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-11-06
Come in. D2Qe."

adherents, and thereafter a pent hush
settled upon them.
Three women also had journeyed in
from the lowlands-Mrs. Wyley, in
charge of her son, to testify in behalf
Of Icons freedom; Estelle Latiolals'
pale and anxious, accompanying her
grandfather, who had been summoned
as a witness on the part Of QullIeOert'
and Laure Luneau, with the mammoth
buggy and giant mule, who, with
steady look and bold speech, explained
her presence to be only as partisan
of Ouillebert. Mrs. Wyley and Estelle
were the guests Of good old Nine. No
reau, mother Of the clerk Of court, who
lived not quite street away from the
courthouse, and, nearer still, Laure
fguratively flung her banner to the
breeze from the Toilette de Ia Gas
coigne," the little millinery shop Of the
petite and ancient Mile. Bereaud,
where she received marked respect
from the many who deferred to her as
granddaughter of the doctress and to
whom she sought to impart some OF
her own courage and energy.
Among the throng were half dozen
"f. N. c.'s," as the free men Of color
were in those days designated, who
fingered silent upon the skirts Of the
groups, fearing to be spoken to, yet
held by intensest interest within hear
ing of all that was going forward.
The one person who appeared unmov-
ed by-indeed unconscious of-the pas
sion which ,surged about him was Ho-
more Victor Tailleur, judge Of the dis
trict court now and for % years past.
Only twice had his denomination been
contested and then with results most
discouraging to the competitors. He
was Of Gascon descent and poor
through disastrous speculations Of his
father and elder brother. His age was
81. Thirty-fve years he had been a
widower, his wife, the beautiful and
pious Ernestine Lafon Of Pointe Coupe,
having died Of yellow fever in their
honeymoon. In commemoration Of her
he had ever since paid for pew in the
church at Marksville, but had never
sat in it. He gave it's use to poor wom-
en- who could not rent pews. And her
grave in the cemetery behind the
church he visited daily, standing above
it brief moment with his head bowed
in reverent meditation. His life was
simple and studious. He read and re-
read Rousseau and Paine, adored the
Corpus Juris Ci7ilis' and "Code Na-
poleon'' and recognized only Martin,
Kent and Marshall as doctors of Amer
lean law. Gentle, just and brave, be
had long held the chief place in the
hearts Of his people. His grave is
somewhere on the battlefield Of Perry
vile, in Kentucky, in an apple orchard,
it is said, but no one has ever found 1t.
AS the judges tall form and dark
face, with kindly eyes and waving hair
Of iron gray, were seen moving toward
the courthouse the throng gathered
about him, returning his friendly greet
ing, and followed him, or as many as
could gain entrance, into the court
room, the raised benches Of which and
the aisle between being Immediately
occupied. It was noticed that the high
land men appropriated those on the
left facing the judge, the lowland men
those On the right. Fifty or more, un-
able to get within, stood on the veran-
da on which the door Of the apartment
opened. Hundreds sat and squatteG IN
the yard beneath the unclosed win
dows. The "f. N. c.'s" perched upon
a portion Of the fence inclosing the
yard, their ponies hitched near by.
The lawyers, except those engaged
in the celebrated case, were already III
their places within the bar. E1chans-
ing a few pleasant words with these
and briefly comforting in an undertone
with the sheriff, the judge ascended
the bench and ordered that the court
be declared in session.
Presently Pratjean waddled briskly
in, accompanied by Quillebert. Dede
followed, bearing double armful of
laWbooks and looking with his scared,
metallic face and big. bleared eyes like
q Caliban carrying fagots to the fire.
Quillebert surveyed the lowlanders
with sullen glance OF defiance. Pratt
jean nodded jerkily to the bench and
bar and persons in the audience, bis
pursed lips and little eyes performing
tarantula dance the while. Relieving
Dede Of his unwelcome burden Of
books and arranging them on the desk
before him, he seated himself and be-
came at once absorbed in making notes
Of seemingly grave import.
The appearance Of Oakfell was so
long delayed that on the highland side
It began to be whispered that he had
given up the case Quillebert caught
the intimation and communicated it to
bis advocate. The latter hustled to his
feet and, addressing the judge, said:
'sMay it please your honor, l move
that the plaintiff be called three times
from the door Of the courtroom and
that If at the end Of the third call he
do not respond in person or by attorney
this suit be dismissed" And he turned
to the audience a face announcing that
he had disabled his opponent at the
arst pass. The buzz among the high
Ianders indicated that such was their
belief.
'.Mr. Sheriff." said the judge. "call
Mr.. Oakfeli at the door,"
Forcing his way through the packed
aisle and yeranda, the officer roared:
Horace Oakfell, Esq"
"Comingw answered stentorian
voice which seemed fairly TO shake the
exzN'R { !