News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-03-05

dDOul ll NtO lOl IL. Il a.
| Their Grhe. who christened me, has
| told me the same thing. But | cannot
| explain how it is. One day when
was crossing some horses on the ferry
at Bayou Gu Lac NJ. Valsin Mouillot
said to me that he had heard NJ. Con.
slant admit | did not belong to him or
to anybody else"
"Can this have been true, Mrs. Wy
ley? inquired Horace.
II am not prepared to say no." re-
piled Mrs. Wyley.
Though have feared to speak to M.
Constant about it," Leon resumed, Il
have always believed | am not 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 | am going to tell you now.
| 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
Latiolals, and she has said she would
be my wife. She is a good, faithful,
true girl. To me she is lovelier 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
a 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.. Horaces noble
patton of slaves. | could not console
her. 1t seemed as If this news took
all my life away. Not moment have
l slept since All the night long |
walked up and down in the stables
save when rested my head on one of
the horses and cried like a woman.
But with the daybreak came hope. |
remembered that if | myself was not a
slave l could buy Odette and make her
free by taking. her to free state, and
| 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-
BILE. Knowing how set be was on beat
ing Judge Elgee's mare today and that
he had bet heavy sums on the race,
made up my mind to win it for him
even at the risk of my neck, so as to
have his favor when | should ask him
for the loan, which | would do before
shutdown if my mare kept her feet.
He would not refuse then, felt sure.
Again | cried. but from joy and
danced with happiness, and whistled
like a 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 l leaned down and shouted.
Odette! in my mares ear. At the end
Of the track l saw not the post, but
only Odette's sweet face. In the
crowds roar and yell in the last stretch
l heard only the name Odette, and
when l shot under the line | saw
Odette standing with her mistress on
the veranda 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 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
more to the bride as dot on her we'd
ding day. Odette kissed that little
hand and, with a smile of happiness,
expressed our thankfulness. Mine was
then the lightest heart that ever beat
in poor mans breast, and | 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 wife? If you
did, she would be my slave. Whatever
you acquire will be mine How so, NJ. |
Constant? l asked. 4 am a free man.
Like mad dog he leaped at me, clutch
ed me by the throat and screamed: You |
lie! You are my slave! If you ever |
dare again to deny it, 1 will lay the
lash on you till you will wish you were
4 e! And he flung me away from him
with the vilest curses. Crushed and all |
but blind, | staggered to the stable aud
hid my face in Charlotte Corday's
name until my thoughts came back to !
me. Then, not knowing or caring
l 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 of this country. Tell him | ask
him to hear you and thwart the evil
purpose of that wicked Quillebert. Mr..
Oakfell has the true eye to see what is
just and the brave heart to do it, AS
was leaving the yard | met NJ. Leoni-
das Latiolais and asked him whether
he would not buy me If | was NJ. Con-
stants slave, and he said he would
think it over. | came directly here. |
have told nothing but the truth. For
the sake of justice, for the sake of Je-
sus, who, the priest says, was friend |
7 n