The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-07-16

SlIVY place with Judge Grower
~ in the chair When the
routine business was fin
lshed the chairman rose and said:
I'VE now will hear from Judge
StOakes who we trust has story Tela-
tive to circumstantfal evidence. Judge
Stoakes."
Judge Stoakes, large man Of dig
nified presence, whose silver hair
alone bespoke his 70 years, rose and
began:
MY story Is Of the troubled days
IN Missouri following upon the civil
war. when factional rancor still ran
nigh and the conqueror and the con.
quered lived together in outward
amity but with secret suspicion. I
had just hung up my shingle In a
little town in the southern part of
the state which had been the hot-bed
OF factional warfare, now captured
By Lyon, now held by Price, and re.
peatedly preyed upon by the rowing
bands Of irregulars of either side.
Among the most noted leaders Of these
latter was Col Jim Farrar. Among
the northern sympathizers he was
classed with Quartrell and the Youn'
gers, but when the struggle was over
be settled down quietly in the little
town of Chester, and his tall form,
his flowing moustaches, his campaign
hat and long coat became him as the
costume did many another warrior of
the lost cause.
"Col Farrar's household consisted
Of but one daughter, II years Of age,
aud OF that rare type Of beauty which
80 often crops out in an adventurous
and warlike stock. Her name was
Lucille and she soon set the heart Of
every young man In fame. my
self fell at the first glance, and as
took back down the long stretch Of
years can see the black hair, thu
rosy lips and the flashing eyes of Lu
Gle Farrar as watched her in silen
alteration In the meeting house, upol
She street or flying along on her pom,
which seemed as full of life ant
spirits as its fair rider
1T was silent alteration upon tn
part of us all, for never glance di
the fair Lucille have for any of u'
But when Melvin Leisure came
aYyas,er 1t was different. Somethm
tr her woman's heart must hav
drawn her toward him, for all the Il
difference and all the scorn wer
gone and they gave themselves
willingly to love that quickly ran Il
gamut from passing interest to pa
sionate devotion.
"The very mention Of sutton Z
his daughters hand was sufficient
send Col Farrar into rage terrih
to witness. He noted the grOwi
intimacy Of Lucille and Leisure wi
Jealous anger. But he could not wat
her always, and many time when
was away looking after the intere:
Of ais extensive plantation near
town we less fortunate youths s.
Leisure starting on long walks W
the fair Lucille
Melvin Leisure inherited all
frey impulsiveness Of long line
French ancestry and was not
youth to brook long this uncert
entente of his lovemaking He ha,
big plantation several miles IF
Chester and had moved into town
the social advantages that lool
large to US then. He was amply a
10 support matrimony In style eQ
20 the best In the community.
vas handsome, studious and cou
IN his manners and seemed to
eligible from any point Of view.
socal Madame Grundy could find
reason why Melvin Leisure and Lu
Farrar were not perfectly mate
couple.
But the rock on which their ha
ness seemed destined to break
that of factional rancor. Col. Fa
was OF the south unreconstracted
unreconstructable. Gaspard Less
Melyin's father, had cast his lot
the north and had died at his
doorway defending his prop
against the enemies OF his ado
dag.
Melvin Leisure was no match
Col. Jim In Drawn or buster, bu
hesitated not to go to him with
suit, and the storm he provoked |
YOU as 1t was later reconstru
through the searchings of the Law
Never, by the Almighty. ne'
roared the coloSel. Before | W
see my daughter married to one Of
aecursed assassins of my count
would STAY her with my own ha
Get out of my sight and never
10 raise your eyes to daughte
the Farrars.'