Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-09

! In Alabama in antebellum days was
a fair plantation comprising many
| hundred acres and many hundred
| slaves. On an elevated spot stood the
/ mansion. a great square house WITH
! galleries. surrounding every story
and shaded by high trees. In the rear
were the homes of the negroes. lire
! of cabins. kept clean by frequent coats
of whitewash. The plantation. now
cut up. is the site of large cotton mills.
| This property was owned by Il child
six months old. Its grandfather and
it's father had both died within brief
period, leaving Il young widow. mother
of the heir at law as his guardian and
| manager of the plantation.
Edward lie Moyne. this child's IN
Gle and brother of his father. was
forcible man. who. under the pre-.
tense Of assisting his sisterin-law in
the management of her property. es-
tablished himself in the house and as
sumed control. Mrs. Julian lie Moyne.
the widow. had not invited him to do
so, but being very gentle feminine
person. had not the will power to pre-
vent him. Edward lie Moyne in his
youth had been wild. Indeed. he had
disgraced himself. and his father had
willed the property TO his brother Ju-
liam. When Julian died and Edward
commenced the role of assistant to the
mother of the child. who had Inherited
the property, the mother was sure his
object was to get rid of the heir that
he might become the owner himself.
Edward lie Moyne had married
woman beneath his family. by whom
he had a son. Had Edward brought
them to the plantation to live Mrs. Ju-
liam would not have had the will pow
er to prevent his doing so. Instead
he established them in town near by.
and Mrs. Julian knew very we'll that
the next move would be- when Ed
ward had got rid of her son, to the
manor house.
As might have been expected. the
child fell i'll. Edward lie Moyne saw
him lying in his mothPr's-arms uncon-
scious She accused him of having
poisoned the boy and. summoning
more fortitude than she had displayed
before. ordered him out Of the room.
Quailing before her. he retired. Two
days later he saw a little coffin car
ried TO the family burying ground on
q hill near by. followed by the widow
ard a number of her house servants.
who were devoted 10 her. When she
returned TO the manor house she pack
cd her belongings and the same day
took her departure.
Edward lie MOyne took possession
of the plantation. brought his wife and
son. then ten years old: to the mansion
and lived there q lonely life. None of
the neighboring planters would have
anything to do with him. and his
slaves hated him.
Twenty years later his son. Tom.
who had come into possession of the
property. with view TO establish re-
lationS with the neighboring planters.
gave a ball. He was no better liked
than his father had been. and the ac
ceptances were few. Nevertheless
they We're sufficient for merTymak-
ing. Among the guests was Proctor
st. Clair. young man who had been |
brought up by relative and extreme
ly popular on account of his high |
sense of honor. his independent char |
acter and other manly traits. AnOth |
er guest was Caroline Archard. the |
belle of the country round about |
Tom lie Moyne was ambitious TO win |
this girl. thinking that marriage |
with her would gain him an entree into |
the aristocratic families in his neigh |
borhood
But hardly had the guests arrived |
and the festivities begun before lie |
Moyne observed that Miss Archard |
was manifesting a decided preference
for young St. Clair. The traits of the |
father showed themselves in the son. |
He resolved to work by underhand /
means. relying largely on assurance to
carry his point. When his guests were
ready to depart he invited them all |
to remain as a house party for as long |
as they would. A dozen accepted. |
among them Mr.. st. Clair and Miss |
Archard, both secretly desiring to
avail themselves of the opportunity to
be together. LIE Moyne was especially |
urgent that st. Clair should remain.
promising him every facility for enjoy
ment.
La hnzna usod his nririlages as host