Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-02-01
MASTER 0n0
SLAVE B. a, +: THORPE
Copyright. 1901. by T. H. Thorpe.

when l 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 enamel
patton of slaves. / could not console
her. 1t seemed as IL this news took
all my life away. Not a moment have
1 slept since. All the night long |
walked up and down In the stables
save when I rested my head on one of
| the horses and cried like o woman.
But with the daybreak came hope.
remembered that II myself was not a
slave could buy Odette and make her
free by taking her to a free state, aud
determined to ask NJ. Constant to
lend me the price OF my bride, to be paid
him In services In the stable and on
the track as long as would be reasona.
bic. Knowing how set he was on beat
Ing Judge Elgees mare today and that
he had bet heavy sums on the race, |
/ made up my mind to win II for him
even at the risk of my neck, so as to
| have bis favor when l should ask him
for the loan, which l would do before
shutdown If my mare kept her feet.
He would not refuse then. | felt sure.
Again i cried, but from joy. and
danced with happiness. and l whistled
like hooking bird as | 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 leaned down and shouted.
'Odetter In my mares ear. At the end
or the track ! saw not the post, but
only Odette's sweet face In the
crowds roar and yell in the last stretch
l heard orrfy the name Odette. and
[ when / shot under the line I saw
Odette standing with her mistress on
the veranda of Father Grbe's house.
waving her hand to me. After caring
for the mare and kissing her forehead
l went to Mile. Latiolais and asked her
If she would sell Odette to me and at
what price. She said she would for
500 and. laying her snow white hand
on Odette's shoulder, added that she
would give the price and something
ding day. Odette kissed that little
hand and, with smile of happiness.
expressed our thankfulness. Mine was
| then the lightest heart that ever beat
In poor mans breast, and l made my
request TO NJ. Constant on his return
home. But, Mr.. Oakfell, 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 a wife? II YOU
dlc, she would be my slave. Whatever
You acquire will be mine How so. NJ.
Constant| asked. Il am a free man.
Like mad dog he leaped at me. clutch
ed me 10y the throat and screamed: 'You
lie! You are my slavel If you ever
dare again to deny II. 1 will lay the
lash on you till you viii wish you were
dead" And he flung me away from him
with the vilest curses. Crushed and all
but blind, l staggered to the stable and
hid my face I'm Charlotte Corday's
name until my thoughts came back TO
me. Then, not knowing or caring
whether was seen, went to Mile
Latiolais and Informed her what had
occurred. She said to me: Go at once
TO Mr.. Horace Oakfell, the only real
man or this country. Tell him l ask
him to hear you and thwart the evil
purpose of that wicked Quillebert. Mr.:
Oaktell has the true eye to see what Is
Just and the brave heart to do it, ASH
was leaving the yard / met M. Leon,.
uas Latlolais and asked him whether
ne would not buy me If was NJ. Con-
stants slave, and he said he would
think 1t over. / came directly here. I
have told nothing but the truth. For
the sake OF justice for the sake of Je-
sus, who, the priest says, was friend
less as am; for the sake of Mile. Ia
tiolais. advise and protect me, Mr.. Oak
feH. and you, Mrs. Wyley, who were
always kind to me and never had cause
to chide me-"
The poor fellow In his excitement had
unconsciously risen at the close of his
narrative and assumed an attitude of
suppllcation eloquent in it's naturalness
and earnestness, and his two auditors
looked from him to each other with
expressions OF establishment and
wounded consciences.
dreadful recital, If true" Oakfen
said.
Even the mercy OF heaven must be
stretched to cover such wickedness."
was Mrs. Wyley's comment.
DO you feel inclined to give me your
recollection of this matter, Mrs. wy
leyw asked OakfelI.
Yes, sir" she replied, mot only in
clned, but eager to do so. When Leon
was but an infant, Febien Queyrouze
owned the plantation adjoining Lal-
Iande's, Of which my husband was the
overseer. 1t was in those days that |
first saw Quillebert, who visited Ouey
rouze on Sundays. 1t seems they had
known each other in France. By the
request Of Queyrouze, Quillebert stood
as godfather at the child's christening
at Mansura by Father Grhe, who had
but recently arrived in this country.
/Queyrouze was very fond of this child,
but was greatly displeased for some