Aslin nee 8ball
Governor
Here is a long original story I wrote a number of years ago about two sisters who had a life changing experience. I plan on adding a couple of new chapters each week. I hope that you all will enjoy it.
MISSISSIPPI
Chapter 1
Elizabeth Devereaux rose slowly from her chair and hugged her younger sister Ellen as their fathers will was read aloud by the clerk of the court, naming the beautiful young woman and her only sibling as sole heirs to their family’s estate. Only a formality, the reading of the will was still a reminder of the anguish the two young women had to bear in the past week after the untimely death and burial of their beloved father Manning Devereaux. Their father, the most prosperous plantation owner the Biloxi, Mississippi area had seen in many years, had died a tragic death when flung from an overturned buggy while making the effort to reach neighbors who were losing half their plantation to a raging fire. As Elizabeth and Ellen were receiving a congratulatory hug from the family’s long time lawyer Jedidiah Smith, the loud voice of judge Alexander Jeffries caused Elizabeth to stiffen.
“ Jedidiah, please come to my chambers immediately, something has been brought to my attention that you should be aware of. “ Elizabeth looked up and saw the judge heading to his chambers followed by her unscrupulous uncle Silas Devereaux, her fathers former accountant, Nester Belmont, and another well dressed gentleman that she did not recognize.
Mr Smith told the girls to wait in their chairs, he would return shortly. He was sure it was only a formality, after all the will had been already read. As the 18 year old beauty and her 17 year old sister took their seats they couldn’t help but make eye contact with 20 year old cousin Jacob and 19 year old cousin Aaron Devereaux, the loathsome offspring of uncle Silas. Their lecherous grins, something Elizabeth had seen before, sent a shiver down her spine. Her only living relatives, Silas and his two sons, had been banished from from her fathers plantation several years ago when Manning Devereaux had found that the three had beaten one of Silas’ male slaves half to death and repeatedly raped the slaves young wife. Elizabeth knew nothing good could be happening in the judges chambers and prayed that Mr Smith her lawyer would prevail. Her stomach turned as she noticed her illiterate cousins, whispering and pointing at the sisters, hardly able to conceal their excitement.
Meanwhile in the judges chambers the judge spoke “ Jedidiah, how long have you worked for the Manning Devereaux family ?” “ Nigh on to 15 years judge. Why do you ask?” The lawyer answered. “ So both Devereaux girls were born before you knew their father, is that correct?” Interjected Jonas Barlow the other well dressed man in the room and the lawyer for Silas Devereaux.
“ Yes” said Jed Smith “ both girls were toddlers and their mother had just died 2 months earlier and that’s when Manning asked me to write the will that was just read in court”
“Well Jedidiah, it seems you have been duped for all these years. It so happens that Nester Belmont here, a former employee of Manning, has produced birth documents for your two young clients that show that they are not the off spring of Manning and Amanda Devereaux but rather the offspring of Manning and an octroon slave woman named Jasmine. The truth is your clients ain’t white folk at all but rather two slave wenches that are part of the Devereaux estate. Seeing as Silas and his boys are the only surviving kin of Manning Devereaux, they will inherit all of his estate including his property and slaves. Seeing as it’s Friday, the transfer of the estate will take place Monday. I hope this gives you ample time to share all of the property records with Jonas here so that we can get every transferred to Silas on Monday morning, say 9am.” The judge emphatically stated.
Jedidiah Smith stood dumbfounded. He tried to speak but no words came forth. He had known Manning and his family well. Manning was an honest hard working man. Something had to be wrong. He knew that Lester had been caught stealing money from the family by Elizabeth and maybe he had fabricated the birth certificates as revenge. “ Those papers are fake judge, let’s you and I take a closer look” Jed Smith finally blurted out. “ Sorry Jed. The papers are authentic and contain all the necessary elements. I hope you have learned a valuable lesson here. Fortunately, Silas is willing to pay you a small fee for your services . You ain’t getting nothing from your slave wench clients. I want you to go home to your wife Abigail and don’t make any more fuss or you will have to answer to me. Just show up Monday morning with all the proper paperwork for the transfer of property. Now be off with you and not another word. The judge commanded. Jedidiah Smith reluctantly exited through the back door of the judges chambers and stepped into the dirt alleyway
Behind the courthouse.
Silas Devereaux rose from his chair exclaiming, “ It’s time I take charge of my two new slaves”. As he made his way to the courtroom door. “ Not so fast Silas” said the judge. “ You can’t take possession of your property until Monday morning. Those girls will have to spend the weekend in the county jail until your legal ownership is official. But by all means, let us break the news of their future to those pretty little wenches. I’ve kept up my part of the bargain and I hope that you will come through when the time comes Silas.”
To be continued.
MISSISSIPPI
Chapter 1
Elizabeth Devereaux rose slowly from her chair and hugged her younger sister Ellen as their fathers will was read aloud by the clerk of the court, naming the beautiful young woman and her only sibling as sole heirs to their family’s estate. Only a formality, the reading of the will was still a reminder of the anguish the two young women had to bear in the past week after the untimely death and burial of their beloved father Manning Devereaux. Their father, the most prosperous plantation owner the Biloxi, Mississippi area had seen in many years, had died a tragic death when flung from an overturned buggy while making the effort to reach neighbors who were losing half their plantation to a raging fire. As Elizabeth and Ellen were receiving a congratulatory hug from the family’s long time lawyer Jedidiah Smith, the loud voice of judge Alexander Jeffries caused Elizabeth to stiffen.
“ Jedidiah, please come to my chambers immediately, something has been brought to my attention that you should be aware of. “ Elizabeth looked up and saw the judge heading to his chambers followed by her unscrupulous uncle Silas Devereaux, her fathers former accountant, Nester Belmont, and another well dressed gentleman that she did not recognize.
Mr Smith told the girls to wait in their chairs, he would return shortly. He was sure it was only a formality, after all the will had been already read. As the 18 year old beauty and her 17 year old sister took their seats they couldn’t help but make eye contact with 20 year old cousin Jacob and 19 year old cousin Aaron Devereaux, the loathsome offspring of uncle Silas. Their lecherous grins, something Elizabeth had seen before, sent a shiver down her spine. Her only living relatives, Silas and his two sons, had been banished from from her fathers plantation several years ago when Manning Devereaux had found that the three had beaten one of Silas’ male slaves half to death and repeatedly raped the slaves young wife. Elizabeth knew nothing good could be happening in the judges chambers and prayed that Mr Smith her lawyer would prevail. Her stomach turned as she noticed her illiterate cousins, whispering and pointing at the sisters, hardly able to conceal their excitement.
Meanwhile in the judges chambers the judge spoke “ Jedidiah, how long have you worked for the Manning Devereaux family ?” “ Nigh on to 15 years judge. Why do you ask?” The lawyer answered. “ So both Devereaux girls were born before you knew their father, is that correct?” Interjected Jonas Barlow the other well dressed man in the room and the lawyer for Silas Devereaux.
“ Yes” said Jed Smith “ both girls were toddlers and their mother had just died 2 months earlier and that’s when Manning asked me to write the will that was just read in court”
“Well Jedidiah, it seems you have been duped for all these years. It so happens that Nester Belmont here, a former employee of Manning, has produced birth documents for your two young clients that show that they are not the off spring of Manning and Amanda Devereaux but rather the offspring of Manning and an octroon slave woman named Jasmine. The truth is your clients ain’t white folk at all but rather two slave wenches that are part of the Devereaux estate. Seeing as Silas and his boys are the only surviving kin of Manning Devereaux, they will inherit all of his estate including his property and slaves. Seeing as it’s Friday, the transfer of the estate will take place Monday. I hope this gives you ample time to share all of the property records with Jonas here so that we can get every transferred to Silas on Monday morning, say 9am.” The judge emphatically stated.
Jedidiah Smith stood dumbfounded. He tried to speak but no words came forth. He had known Manning and his family well. Manning was an honest hard working man. Something had to be wrong. He knew that Lester had been caught stealing money from the family by Elizabeth and maybe he had fabricated the birth certificates as revenge. “ Those papers are fake judge, let’s you and I take a closer look” Jed Smith finally blurted out. “ Sorry Jed. The papers are authentic and contain all the necessary elements. I hope you have learned a valuable lesson here. Fortunately, Silas is willing to pay you a small fee for your services . You ain’t getting nothing from your slave wench clients. I want you to go home to your wife Abigail and don’t make any more fuss or you will have to answer to me. Just show up Monday morning with all the proper paperwork for the transfer of property. Now be off with you and not another word. The judge commanded. Jedidiah Smith reluctantly exited through the back door of the judges chambers and stepped into the dirt alleyway
Behind the courthouse.
Silas Devereaux rose from his chair exclaiming, “ It’s time I take charge of my two new slaves”. As he made his way to the courtroom door. “ Not so fast Silas” said the judge. “ You can’t take possession of your property until Monday morning. Those girls will have to spend the weekend in the county jail until your legal ownership is official. But by all means, let us break the news of their future to those pretty little wenches. I’ve kept up my part of the bargain and I hope that you will come through when the time comes Silas.”
To be continued.