The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1909-08-07

" Ilfk ly SeSSlOu anu every HELL
n2AN Der was in his accustomed
: SNlES place with Judge Grower
in the chair. When the
routine business was fin
ished the chairman rose and said:
I'VE now will hear from Judge
stoakes who we trust has a story rela-
tive to circumstantial evidence. Judge
Stoakes."
Judge Stoakes, large man of dig
nifed presence, whose silver hair
alone bespoke his 20 years, rose and
began:
my story is of the troubled DAYS
In Missouri following upon the civil
war, when factional rancor still ran
high and the conqueror and the con.
quered lived together in outward
amity but with secret suspicion. I
had just hung up my single 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
he 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,
and of that rare type Of beauty which
10 often crops out In an adventurous
and warlike stock. Her name was
Lucille and she soon set the heart Of
every young man in a fame. l my
self fell at the first glance, and as
look back down the long stretch of
years can see the black hair, the
rosy lips and the flashing eyes Of Lu-
cile Farrar az watched her In silent
alteration in the meeting house, upon
the street or flying along on her pony
which seemed as full of life and
spirits as its fair rider.
1T was silent alteration upon the
part of us all, for never a glance die
the fair Lucille have for any of US
But when Melvin Leisure came tc
Chester 1t was different. Something
in her woman's heart must have
drawn her toward him, for all the in
difference and all the scorn were
gone and they gave themselves VI
willingly to love that quickly ran thu
gamut from passing interest to pas
sionate devotion.
THE very mention Of sutton 70
his daughters hand was sufficient t
send Col. Farrar into rage terribl
to witness He noted the growin
intimacy of Lucille and Leisure wit
jealous anger. But he could not watcl
her always, and many time when h
was away looking after the interest
of his extensive plantation near tn
town we less fortunate youths sa'
Leisure starting on long walks wit
the fair Lucille.
Melvin Leisure inherited all tn
frey impulsiveness Of long line {
French ancestry and was not tn
youth to brook long this uncertai
entente of his lovemaking. He had
big plantation several miles frol
Chester and had moved into town fc
the social advantages that locke
large to us then. He was amply abb
to support matrimony In style equ'
to the best. In the community. Il
was handsome, studious and court
IN his manners and seemed to
eligible from any point of view. TT
local Madame Grundy could find
reason why Melvin Leisure and Luci
Farrar were not a perfectly matche
couple.
But the rock on which their hapI
ness seemed destined TO break WI
that of fractional ranccr. Col. Farr'
was of the south unreconstructed ar
unreconstructable. Gaspard Lessur
Melvin,s father. had cast his lot wit
the north and had died at his ON
doorway defending his proper
against the enemies of his adoptt
flag
Melvin Leisure was no match f
Col. Jim in Drawn or buster, but
hesitated not to 90 to him with b
suit, and the storm he provoked gi'
you as it was later reconstruct
through the searchings Of the law.
Never. by the Almighty. never
reared the colonel. Before l wou
see my daughter married to one of I
accused assassins of my country
would STAY her with my own hant
Get out of my sight and never da
TO raise your eyes to daughter
the Farrars.'