Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-02-01


heirs lived In France. His will I'm.
structed Poydre to wind I'D his az.
fairs. sell his property and deliver the
proceeds TO the heirs. This he did four
years later. Quillebert bought Olive
and her three other children. Leon
was not included In the sale. but re-
manned with me. Belisaire Poydre died
OF yellow fever In 1910. My poor hus.
band was carried or by the same dis
ease Ia 1S43. About six months after
my husbands death / received a re-
quest from Quillebert to send Leon 20
visit his mother and receive some pres.
ents from his godfather, and, suspect
Ing no trick. did so. Leon did not
come back. wrote Quillebert a note
asking why he detained him. He re-
turned the verbal answer thtt the boy
preferred to remain with bis mother.
Ihis did not believe, but felt myself
helpless and took no further steps In
the matter. This Is all know OF II.
do not pretend to understand the law.
but | have always thought Leon was
free"
At these last words Icons face
Frightened, and he looked eagerly and
anxiously to Oakfell
And my thought agrees with yours. ("
said the latter.
"oh, thank the good Godr' exclalm-
ed Leon, falling on his knees. "And
you will secure and protect me In my
freedom, Mr.. Horace? You are white.
you are rich, you are wise, you are
powerful Defend me from this man
who enslaves me against law and jus-
tice"
Il Will. poor fellow. to the utmost OF
my power" Oakfell promised. "And
II succeed In establishing your free
dom will lend you the money to buy
Odette"
Leon wrung his hands in a paroxysm
of joy, but could not speak his graft.
tude. Mrs. Wyley, however, was NOV
ed to say, God will be on your side in
the fight, Mr.. Oakfell."
Il can only prevail by the humanity
and Justice of our laws" said Oak
fell. Listen to me, Leon. | must
proceed in this undertaking with de-
liberation. My course will arouse bit
ter opposition and bad feeling, which
should not be provoked prematurely.
Meanwhile you must be absolutely I'M
der my direction and pledge implicit
obedience to my instruction, though it
may involve suffering. 1t is proper
that at the institution OF your suit for
freedom you should be under the ap-
parent control of Quillebert. You must
not be fugitive when you sue for
freedom. Therefore you must return
to his plantation, though be may put
the lash to you for being away tonight.
Do not disclose that you have spoken
to Mrs. Wyley or myself, though he
should torture you to extort the con-
fession, for If he learns that you have
conferred with us | do not doubt he
will XIII you. Can you keep your
counsel and ours and endure his cruel
ty until l send for you and give you
further instructions %
Mr.. Oakfell, l will take the lash
and any pains be can put me to IL /
can gain my freedom and odette. and
neither whip nor fire can force from
me one word about this meeting"
Go, then" said Oakfell, "and be
firm"
GOD help me to be firm and to be
grateful for your goodness and that of
Mrs. WHEY" Leon replied and with
drew.
What is all this, brotherT' said Ev-
ariste smiling and entering the office
with noiseless step. "Are you holding
abolitionist meetings and receiving
messages by the grapevine line? Be.
ware, for there is danger in that"
Oakfell explained fully the evenings
incident, requesting Evarlste's secrecy.
Certainly" said the latter; 81 VIII
be silent as the tomb. But indeed I
warn you there is more peril In your
undertaking than in a genuine abolition
grapevine conclave. That fellow Guile
bert Is devil incarnate He is as ven
omous as an adder and as conscience
less. To deliver q thrust from behind
or shot in the dark is as easy to him
as gulp Of absinth. He is a relentless
hater and already has his evil eye on
you as an American and as the champi-
on OF Estelle Latiolais. Moreover, he
has n following among the lowest fell
lows OF this parish. Reflect before you
draw the ire OF such a rascal for the
sake OF a saffron jockey who never can
be more than he is at this present mo-
ment.'
"Evariste, your affection for me leads
you to magnify the dangers and mini
mize the cause" Horace answered.
You are perhaps young yet to weigh
the considerations which have appealed
TO my conscience tonight. ! feel that
this disclosure has laid upon me a duty
which 1t would be disgraceful and cow
ardly Ia me to shirk. i would assume
1t were the perils ten thousand times
greater than those you imagine. But
do not wish you to be in the least trou-
bled about 1t. Only sacredly keep what
have confided to you"
Evariste again promised, and good
nights were spoken, but the lights in
the Office burned till the smallest hour
of the morning.
CHAPTER VI.
HEART OF PEARL.
p%WO items OF Icons recital lin