The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-10-30

We arc qgdittng to hear Uou.'
an. Constant has treated me diffe"-
emily from the others on his planta-
ton. have never been put to field
work. Up to the time l was 10 he
made me stay about the house. and
after that he put me in charge Of his
best horses. Now, as you know, Mr..
Horace, I am his jockey and ride for
him at all the races"
"And from what hear you give him
satisfaction in that capacity" Horace
remarked.
"Yes, sir" said Leon, except when
he loses a race, and then he curses me
for not Furnishing the horses. That
will not do, for know they try their
best, as do mine. But he has never
whipped me-the others, yes, my
mother and all, for lie is terrible in a
passion, but not me. My mother has
said that l do not belong to him, that
am not q slave, that am free, and
he whipped her for telling me so,
though he never said anything to me
about it. I do not understand it. Fa-
ther Grhe, who cbristened me, has
told me the same thing. But cannot
explain how it is. One day when l
was crossing some horses on the ferry
at Bayou du Lac Al. Valsin Mouillot
said to me that lie had heard n. Con:
slant admit did not belong to him or
to anybody else
"Can this have been true, Mrs. Wy
ley?" inquired Horace.
~ am not prepared to say no." re-
piled Mrs. Wyley.
Though 1 have feared to speak to II.
Constant about it," Leon resumed, Il
have always believed l am not a slave
and have hoped that something would
occur to put me in my freedom. But
my hope has been today destroyed.
All that cheered me has been denied.
Please, Mr.. Horace and madame, do
not laugh at me and think me foolish
for what I am going to tell you now.
I am in love"-he hung his head like q
guilty child-"and my love has made
me strong, obedient and patient.
love Odette, the maid Of Mile. Estelle
Latiolas, and she has said she would
be my wife. She is good, faithful,
true girl. To me she is loyelier than
the yellow jasmine, and the thought OF
her has kept me honest and cheerful
and has made me kinder to my horses.
Her mistress loves her and more than
q year ago promised to set her free
when should be ready to marry her.
But last night she met me weeping
and broken hearted. for mademoiselle
had Informed her that she could not
give her freedom, because the law had
changed in spite Of Mr.. Horace's noble
opposition so as to forbid the emancl-
patton Of slaves. I could not console
her. It seemed as if this news took
all my life away. Not moment have
I slept since. All the night long 1
walked up and down in the stables
save when rested my head on one Of
the horses and cried like woman.
But with the daybreak came hope. l
remembered that if myself was not
slave I could buy Odette and make her
free by taking her to free state, and
! determined to ask NJ. Constant to
lend rae the price Of my bride, to be paid
him in services in the stable and on
the track as long as would be reasona-
BILE. Knowing how set be was on beat
ing Judge Elgee's mare today and that
be had bet heavy sums on the race, l
made up my mind to win it for him
even at the risk Of my neck, so as to
have bis favor when should ask him
for the loan, which would do before
sundown if my mare kept her feet
he would not refuse then, felt sure.
Again l cried, but from joy, and I
danced with happiness, and whistled
like q mecking bird as l patted and
rubbed Charlotte Corday and prayed
to her to carry me out Of my trouble.
Belle Cheney has better points than
Charlotte, and trembled as saw her
leap to the stand. But when the word
was given I leaned down and shouted,
'Odetter in my mares ear. At the end
of the track I saw not the post, but
only Odette's sweet face. In the
crowds roar and yell in the last stretch
I heard only the name Odette, and
when l shot under the line l saw
Odette standing with her mistress on
the yeranda of Father Grhe's house,
waving her hand to me. After caring
for the mare and kissing her forehead
went to Mile Latiolais and asked her
If she would sell Odettc to me and ut
what price. She said she would for
S10O 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 smile of happiness.
expressed our thanllfulness. Mine was
then the lightest heart that ever beat
In a poor mans breast. and l made my
request to n. Constant on his return
home. But, Mr.. Oakfell. 4 knife run
through my body could not have given
the pain his answer did. His eyes al
most closed and his face trembled
with anger as he said: You scoundrel!
Why should you buy wife? If you
did, she would be my slave. Whatever
you acquire will be mine How so. NJ.
Constant% | asked. 1 am 4 free man.
Like mad dog he leaped at me, clutch
ed me by the throat and screamed: You
lie! You are my slave. IF ecu ever
dare 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