The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-05-22
FROM THE
DEAD
A Plantation Story of
Before the Civil War
By ESTHER vANDEvEER

In Alabama in ante-bellum days was
fair plantation comprising many hun
dred acres and many hundred slaves.
On an elevated spot stood the mansion,
great square house with galleries"
surrounding every story and shaded
by high trees. In the rear were the
homes Of the negroes, a line Of cabins,
kept clean by frequent coats Of white
wash. The plantation, now cut up, Is
the site of large cotton mills.
This property was owned by a child
six months old. Its grandfather and
its father had both died within brief
period, leaving young widow, mother
of the heir at law, as his guardian and
manager Of the plantation.
Edward LIE Moyne this child's un-
Gle and brother of his father, was a
scheming man, who, under the pretense
of assisting his sister-in-law In the
management Of her property, establish
ed himself In the house and assumed
control Mrs. Julian LIE Moyne, the
widow, had not invited him to do 80,
but, being very gentle feminine per-
son, had not the will power to prevent
him. Edward LIE Moyne In his youth
had been wild. Indeed, he had dis
graced 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 a
woman beneath his family, by whom
he had 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 well 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 ILL Edward lie Moyne saw
him lying In his mothers 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 carried
to the family burying ground on hill
near by, followed by the widow and
number of her house servants, who
were devoted to her. When she re-
turned to the manor house she packed
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 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 a 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-
ceptanees were few.s Nevertheless
they were sufficient for a merrymak-
ing Among the guests was Proctor
St Clair, young man who had been
reared by a relative and was extreme
~ popular on account of his high sense
Of honor, his Independent character
and other manly traits. Another guest
was Caroline Archard, the belle of the
country round about Tom LIE Moyne
was ambitious to win this girl, think
ing that marriage with her would
gain him an entree into the aristocratic
families In his neighborhood.
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 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.
LIE Moyne used his privileges as host
to assign himself in all rides, drives
and other amusements to escort Miss
Archard. Nevertheless he saw that
the moment she was free she and St.
Clair seemed to fall together natural
ly. One morning after breakfast st.
Clair returned to his room for some
article of clothing and was hunting for
it in the closet when, hearing a step,
he turned and saw LIE Moyne come
quickly into the room, pull out a bu-
reau drawer, drop something in it and
retire hastily, as he had come In. st.
Clair, being in the closet, had not been
seen. A moment after his host had
left the room he went to the bureau
drawer and took out a small box con-
tanning several articles Of jewelry.
He was filed with establishment,
horror and Indignation. 1t was evi-
dent to him that LIE Moyne had placed
the jewels in his drawer, intending to
accuse him of having stolen them. st.
Clair closed the door and spent half
an hour celebrating. At the end of
that fimo hQ tOOtr tho iowo1s RI Mics