Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-11-07


conception seemed impossible, too
monstrous, too preposterous for con-
sideration. But now the solemn
words of the lawyer, his own legal
counselor, brought conviction, and for
the moment all power of speech de-
serted me. 1t was actually true then
the girl was slave, thing belonging
to Kirby. Nothing broke the stiffness
within the cabin except the sharp
cracking of flames in the open fire.
place, and the heavy breathing of the
negro. He was seated on the edge
of the bed, his black face showing a
greenish tint and revealing puzzled
amaZement, with wide-opened eyes
staring blankIy at Haines, who stood
motionless before the fire.
"Whut wus dat yer sed, Mister
Haines?" he asked thickly. "You say
as how Missus Rene. Beaucaire is a
slave, sab? Pears like I don't just
rightfully understan'."
"Still, that is true, Pete" and the
lawyer lifted his head and surveyed
us both. .She is the illegitimate
daughter of Della, Judge Beaucaire's
housekeeper; her father was Adelbert
Beaucaire, the judges only son. No
one knows where he is, dead or alive"
''De good Lord An de OF jedge
never set her free?"
The lawyer shook his head, words
oyidoptlx, foiIiuo hin,
"But are you absolutely certain of
this?" / broke in impatiently. "Have
you searched the recordsY'
mot only searched them, Knox, but
before he left for the north on this
last trip Beaucaire was in my Office,
and practically forced him to ac-
knowledge the negligence. He even
authorized me to draw up the neces-
sary papers for him to sign on his re-
turn-for both Della and the girl.
There is no mistake-Rene is legally
a slave, together with her mother"
"My God!'' exclaimed. "Could any,
one conceive a more horrible position !!
Here is young girl, educated, refined,
of more than ordinary attractiveness,
ThrockmOrton tells me, brought up
amid every comfort, and led to be-
lieve herself the honored daughter of
the house, awakening in an instant to
the fact that she is a slave, with ne
gro blood in her veins-a mere chat
tel, owned body and soul by a gam
bier, won in card game, and to be
sold to the highest bidder. Haines,
| tell you Kirby knew all this--he
either suspected, or had discovered
through some source that Rene Beau
caire had never been set free. For
some reason he desired possession of
both Beaucaire girls; they meant
the property. This card game gave
him one; the other"
"Eloise, you mean? Did the fellow
threaten her?"
t'Here is what he said sneeringly;
you can judge yourself what he meant:
She's worth fifty thousand dollars by
her mothers will, and l intend to win
her if 1 can, fair means or FOUL"
Haines did not speak for some mo-
ments, his eyes on my face. Then he
paced back and forth across the floor,
finally stopping before the fire.
'This is as near hell as anything I
ever knew" he said, "and so far as
I can see there is no legal way out
IF hoI IN
Sist.''
eve are not" l answered holly, ''if
we are men. There may be no legal
way in which we can beat this villain,
but there is an Illegal one, unless we
are already too late, and l propose
to use it, whether you join me or not.
You are sure the girls are still at the
plantation hOuse-that they know
nothing of this condition?"
81 have reason to believe SO. Della
was buying provisions at the Landing
yesterday; I talked with her mo-
ment."
"And you said that Kirby and Car
yer were only in town for one night,
lcdVilS Tie HSAI IHOiu IIlS VII kGCl.
boat for st. Louis. My idea is they
were not quite ready to take posses
sion; that they have gone to st. Louis
to file the papers, and will come back
with officers prepared to execute
them. This means that we must work
fast to get out of their way"
"What do you propose doing?"
"Let me ask a question first. Is 1t
true that Eloise Beaucaire is heiress
to fifty thousand dollars through her
mothers -estate?"
Eyes; I invested most of it."
"In what?'
New Orleans property principally"
'Then it is safe enough whatever
happens. The only thing we can do
is this: tell t'lose girls and the mother
the whole truth-tell them at once, be-
fore Kirby can return, and then help
them to get out of this country. 1t
is not necessary for Eloise to go, I'M
less she desires to, but there 10 nc
other safe course for Della and Rene.
They must reach northern state be-
fore Kirby can lay hands on them.
u 81 e.. Il, -