Two white slaves

Chapter I

TT was morning in the tropics ; a bright and sunnj ^ day in Kingston. The soft breeze came sweeping across the bay, and wafted the -Scent of a thousand beds of flowers toward the city, till the very air seemed heavy with aromatic softness. The crowd was moving with characteristic laziness along the awningcovered street, and the cafes and restaurants were receiving their daily influx of visitors, of many nations and languages.

Among them might be observed a noble-looking gentleman, who, sauntering quietly along, and apparently without any other especial object than to kill time, turned into one of those gorgeously fitted-up saloons which are most frequented by the English and Americans.

Giving himself up to the favorite habit of so many of our countrymen, he threw himself into a large armchair, of which there were many standing about on the nicely-sanded floor, and turned his inquiring gaze around. There were many like himself seated, silently smoking, and, to all appearance, having no more to (h

THE CREOLE OBPHAKS.

tlian he. The attentive waiter suddenly came toward him and handed him the morning paper. He was soon absorbed in its contents. Rapidly his eye o-lanced over its columns, and he was about to throw it aside, when the following notice attracted his attention. It was at the end of an auction advertisement.

There will also be sold, at the same time and place, % beautiful Quadroon girl of sixteen years. She is a superior sempstress and hair-dresser P

“ I will go and see this paragon,” he exclaimed, as he laid down the sheet ; and, rising, he walked to the door with a wearied air.

Eleven o’clock, and the commercial Exchange. Its capacious rooms were the daily resort of the man of business and the man of leisure, of tliose who had property to dispose of, and those who wished to become purchasers. Here was the meeting-place ; here were the sales of slaves and other valuable property ; the distribution of siiccessions, and the receptacle of news from all parts of the world. The individual, whom we have noticed, entered the doors of the building with the throng and cast his eyes around. The sale of landed property had commenced, but he heeded it slightly. At length the slaves were put up for sale. This attracted him but little. The auctioned paused.

“ Now, gentlemen,” he exclaimed, “ here we have something to bid on ; a nice parcel of goods, and such a one as you don’t get every daJ^ Come, hand her up I A beautiful Quadroon girl, fit for a lady’s maid, or traveling companion. Ha ! ha ! Who will bid r Who wonU bid ? Here she is,” he added, as he received, from a dark aperture behind the stand, the light ibrm of a female, who was shoved violently forward

THE CREOLE ORPHANS.

by some unseen hand. She was clothed in a plain black dress, and, as she advanced, was evidently weeping violently, with her hice hidden in her hands. The vendor ordered her to look up. She obeyed him with a shudder, and gazed around. She was young and fair, but pale ; and her eyes were sw^ollen with weeping. Pallid and tottering, she stood before the multitude, who hushed their conversation, struck by her exceeding beauty. Another moment, and a universal murmur arose from the assembly, as they looked upon her in wonder and curiosity. Siie trembled violently, and then her countenance exhibited the most intense mental anguish, as she' stood the inspection of the crowd of upturned faces ; and several times she seemed on the point of crying out with concealed agony.

Surprise rooted the multitude to the spot; they knew’ not what to think ; yet there was the owner, a heavy, thickset man, with a ferocious countenance and a glaring eye, which seemed to exercise a basilisk influence over the poor girl, who, every now and then, stole a glance of terror toward him. She was unlike a slave ; yet there was her master, (she did not deny him), the vendor; and, above all, there was the pure, rich olive complexion of the quadroon. She is a slave, and is here for sale, for she denies it not. Yet she is lighter in color than the Indian Quadroons. Still she is a slave. Bids were now tendered, reservedly at first, but they increased in spirit until the competition became general. The amount increased until it was enormous. The poor girl turned a supplicating look around ; her eyes met those of our friend, who had been drawn up to the stand by the excitement. That look told a tale of sadness ; it struck his heart, and he gazed at her with pity, and bid on her again ; and

S THE CKEOLE ORPHANS.

again was the sum increased, and still he bravely stood there bidding on. At length the offers dropped off, and he and a low, wrinkled debauchee were the sole competitors. A few more passes, and a smile of scorn curled his lip, as he saw the look of anxiety in the face of his antagonist give place to one of deep and intense hatred and rage as he gave in, and surrendered, while the prize was knocked down to his antagonist. The stranger stepped to the office, and re ceived the young girl as she staggered and fell into his arms. She had fainted ; and, as he bore her out, the clink of the gold he had paid sounded louder than the din of human voices.

A few weeks saw the fair young slave placed on l>oard a packet bound for the city of New Oileans.