The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-12-05

| S' ~ oFOAy SATURDAY ulSuL SuLuDU
ball and Sunday mass. At sessions of
the court and police jury the attending
crowds discussed it with ever increas.
ing heat and bitterness, the prosecu.
ton of Quillebert and menace to eau
casian superiority constituting the be-
ginning, middle and end Of each sym.
postum. Inevitably it took on some
what of a sectional character, the rich
planters of the lowlands being the sym
pathizers with Oakfell and the critics
of Quillebert.
AS the administration of President
Buchanan approached it's close rumors
of abolitionist aggressiveness grew in
frequency and proportion and so charg-
ed the public mind with combustible
ideas that the simple mention of this
lawsuit caused number of small ex-
plosions in the form of fisticuffs within
the courthouse yard, even "under the
drippfngs from the caves of the tenn
ple." 10 the women and children of
the uplands, many Of whom had never
| seen him, the name of Oakfell was as
execrable as Judas Iscariot's. So acute
had this unfriendly feeling grown that
some Of the conservative minded sug-
gested to Oakfell the policy Of with
drawing the suit. He firmly rejected
the advice
Throughout this turbulence of senti-
ment Evariste held calmly aloof. When
ever the subject was obtruded upon
him he dismissed it with the remark
that he was neither a lawyer nor a pol
itician. His brother regarded this in
difference as in harmony with his poet
ic temperament and was not displeas-
ed. Eyariste became more seclusive in
habit. He rode often and far into the
solitudes of the swamps, where the
deep shade accorded with his somber
mood. Rivalry with Horace for the
hand Of Estelle he felt was hopeless
While his sole expectancy of fortune
was from his brothers grace, and his
visits to the Latiolais mansion were
made at intervals Of increasing length,
degenerating into brief formalities, but
he bitterly cursed his dependence and
silently fed the fame Of passion within
his pent breast. Laure, brown and
vital, surprising him now and again in
his wanderings, lifted him from the
deeps momentarily, yet he struggled
to escape her and descend to his gloomy
warnings. Still, upon the progress Of
the public agitation he kept a steady
and observant eye.
Estelle was dismayed at the conse-
quences Of her demand upon Oakfell,
which she was made to realize by the
dismal reports Of her grandfather and
the malediction of herself by the guile
bert faction. To her own impetuous-
ness and presumption she charged this
strife among neighbors and it's unhap-
py possibilities. She wept and prayed
for guidance and finally, sending for
Oakfell, said to him:
ut was at my request. made upon q
girlish impulse, that you entered into
this contest, which has aroused such
bitterness and so altered your position
in our parish. Then you had not an
enemy. Now l dare not think Of the
number who wish you harm. did not
then fOresee this dreadful result, but
today I am quite a woman and know
had no right to involve you so grievous-
~ for the qualification of a mere whim
of mine. I entreat you to proceed no
further in the lawsuit. To press it
now would result only in your injury.
but in no ones gOod.''
The girls speech was earnest and
her prayerful face so beautiful that
Oakfell gazed upon it in wordless
rapture until his very silence suddenly
sailed him to reply:
"Iou say further prosecution of the
suit could result in no ones good" he
| said, smiling. "What, then, becomes of
Icons freedom, which is it's sole OBJ
ject?"
"Oh. but Leon is gone. NJ. Quillebert
will never see him again." She spoke
as one to whom had been unexpectedly
given the opportunity Of successfully
closing debate by word.
"Ah, mademoiselle, do you not know
that under laws which now exist and
are enforced by the courts Of the Unit
ed States Quillebert can take Leon
wherever found, drag him back to this
place, hitch him to a plow, whip him
before each meal and compel him to
sleep standing, and that mans last
state shall be worse than the first?'"
impossible! Impossible! This is a
Christian land" shudderingly exclaim-
ed Estelle.
1T is possible, assure you, and prob
able, for, as you we'll know, Quillebert
is no Christian man, and, while grant
you this is Christian land, yet Chris
tianity forms no part of it's law. This
has been distinctly declared by it's most
august court" Oakfell answered.
"What, then, are courts, Mr.. Oak
fell?' she demanded, astonished.
''They are human institutions for the
Interpretation and enforcement by man
against man of man made laws, and
yet humanity is the least of their attri-
| butes."
And before such you will persist
with this case, so unpopular and so
hurtful to your"
i will, because there is no other tri-