News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-02-26

Evariste was dark and beautiful as
| his mother. His figure was slight and
exquisite. with hands and feet small
and delicate. like woman's. Neither
the squirrel nor the swallow surpass-
ed him in agility and gracefulness, but
| his manner was undemOnstrative Sc
| cretive and, avoiding playmates, he
was ever content to be alone His
| eyes were black, his lips thin and firm.
To these sons the father had left
nothing but debt owed in Kentucky
| for blooded horses, which Horace
| speedily discharged. Evariste was
portonless; his brother babe him con-
slider himself half owner of all the
estate and assured him that partition
should be made on his attaining ma
| jority, or as soon thereafter as he
might deem it desirable, and made I'M
stnted expenditure for his mainte-
nance and education. The elders fra
ternal love was soUered by paternal
solicitude relieved of all austerity. The
difference between the ages of the two
was five years, Evariste being 10 when
Horace was sent to the legislature.
The home was now presided over by
the Widow Wyley, whose long expert
ence as the wife of an Overseer had
given her a knowledge of the negro
| character which enabled her to rule
efficiently and kindly. Thrift and neat
ness came naturally from her Dutch
mother, as did also her passion for
! cows and bees. Her face was big and
red, and so was her heart; her hair was
white and strong, and so was her ma
ture. BiMker Wyley, her stalwart son,
was the abstemiOus, tireless Overseer,
who had announced on taking charge
that the lash was only for oxen, mules
and dogs and to whose shrewd, frugal
! management was due the fact that the
prosperity of "L'Esperance" was second
to that of no plantation in the parish of
| Avoyelles, with the possible exception
| of Baldouino's, on Bayou des GLASSES.
The dwelling was brick structure Of
two stories, with broad, covered veran-
das projecting from the second in front
and rear. On the ground floor, which
was tiled, were at one side of a wide
hall dining room and housekeeper's
sanctum, at the other an office, library
and medicine store in which were Kept
considerable quantities of ff1td6f 5
of approved use on large plantations
The second story contained parlor and
sleeping apartments. high ceiinged and
spacious, separated by a hall CORE
spending with the one below and reach
ed by exterior StarWayS piercing the
verandas. The furniture was heavy,
old and rich. An acre set in pecan, wal
nut and fig trees and inclosed by high
white fence made a shady lawn be-
tween the house and the public road
along the bank of Bayou Claire. On
the left were the overseer's house and
| plantation stores, a hundred yards far
Their the negro quarters, barns stables
and cattle sheds; on bend of the ba-
you was the steam cotton gin and at
the rear of the fields the brick sugar
mill, with long, low rooted purgery and
massive chimney for bagasse burning.
The warm day was closing. Oakfell
sat at the western window of the office
near a table on which lay written re-
ports which had been left with him by
the overseer From perusal of them
he had turned to volume of English
poetry and read these lines:
He finds his fellow guilty of skin
Not coored like his own and, having power
To enforce the wong, for such worthy cause
Dooms and devotes him as his lawful prey.
And what man, seeing this
And having human feelings does not blush
And hang his head to think himself a man?
The book was closed upon his finger,
and with lowered eyes he pondered
these thoughts when the open doorway
was filed by the generous figure of
Mrs. Wyley.
"Mr. Oakfell. where is EVariste to-
day." she asked. 81 have not seen him
since morning"
HE went TO attend the races at Man
sura, | believe" Oakfell replied.
"You will not, | hope" she said, set
Ting herself comfortably in a rocker,
think me meddlesome if | question the
propriety of one so young frequenting
such gatherings, where gambling, drink
ing, profanity and sometimes homicide
are the features. forbade them to
Binker. Evariste goes to them so Of
ten" The old lady's manner evinced
the sincerity of her anxiety.
81 appreciate your interest and de-
sire you always to speak your thoughts
without restraint on any subject which
may concern my brother" said Oakfell.
"In this instance, however, | think you
need have no apprehension. Horse rae
ing, you know, is expressly encouraged
by our law, which puts betting at it
on an equal footing with other con.
tracts. 1t has received the countenance
of our best citizens and has thus had
its responsibility preserved. Were such
as Evariste to absent themselves the
turf would soon degenerate to mere
gambling affair and contest of chican-
cry. SO long as honor rules the track
the excitement is healthful to men.
have no misgiving Of Evariste. He is
thoughtful and prudent beyond his
years, has perfect control over him
self, which | envy him, and his spirit is
too high and proud to yield to a low
temptation or to be led by an unworthy