Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-02-22

NJ. JeWetI, Salu ETdIJean, eTecllnS
his head with an air of offended dig
nifty, do you mean
Al mean just what have said, Pratt
jean, and you understand me perfectly
we'll" And Jewett stalked back to
OakfeI's office in his customary DELHI
crate gait.
AS Pratjean was turning to re-enter
the Office his name was again called,
and, looking around. he saw Dede bur-
rying to him.
Listen, Tibource," said the latter,
painting. "Valsin Mouillot went to
Totorin's cabaret this minute and told
and six others would shoot at you and
nobody else until you were used up
81 viii attend to him later" mutter-
ed Pratjean, the fright of this COM
munication setting his lips to humping
violently. "Come In, Dede."
Shortly Dede and one other left the
Office and circulated among Quillebert's
adherents, and thereafter a pent hush
settled upon them.
Three women also had jourpeyed In
from the lowlands-Mrs. wyley, in
charge of her son, to testify in behalf
OF Icons freedom; Estelle Latiolais,
pale and anxious, accompanying her
grandfather, who had been summoned
as witness on the part of Quillebert.
and Laure Juneau, with the mammoth
buggy and giant mule, who. with
steady look and bold speech. explained
her presence to be only as a partisan
OF Quillebert. Mrs. Wyley and Estelle
were the guests of good old Nine. No
reau, mother of the clerk OF court. who
lived not quite a street away from the
courthouse, and, nearer still, Laure
tiguratively flung b T banner to the
breeze from the Toilette de In 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 n half dozen
IF. m. c.'s." as the free men Of color
were i'm those days designated. who
fingered silent upon the skirts of the
groups, fearing to be spoken TO- yet
held by lntensest 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
rather and elder brother. His age was
%. Thirty-hve years he had been
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 q pew in the
church at Marksville, but had never
sat in 1t he gave its use to poor WON
en- who could not rent pews. And her
grave In the cemetery behind the
church he visited daily. standing above
1t a 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 Civilis' and Code Ma
poleon" and recognized only Martin.
Kent and Marshall as doctors of Amer
lean law. Gentle. just and brave, he
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,
1t Is said, but no one has ever found It.
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. 1t 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-
Ola on which the door of the apartment
opened. Hundreds sat and squatted in
the yard beneath the Enclosed win
dows. The IF. m. 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 in
their places within the bar. Exchang-
ing 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 q double armful of
lawbooks and looking with his scared,
metallic face and big, bleared eyes like
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, his
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
N -.