The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-10-16
Rosetta, the Wine seller3aughter,
OR
The NIGHT BEFORE THE BATTLE New ORLEANS.
BY WILLIAM H. Pee
CONTINUED FROM LAsTtEK.


Of tiny child loves VictorSt Jo Col Hartly, my
life and services are at your comml in return oFyour
kindness
q trust the warning has not oe toe late, friend
Paul remarked Hartly with sidfcance well under
stood.
Had it been too late, replied u, with the deep
tone OF resolve, Il would now be ViFginius when he
slew his daughter But enough this you my
, friends and have each daughterlet no one"
1t Is an affair too sacred for ear of the world,
interrupted Harty, while cid Vafushed with honest
indignation.
Then let Us go to Benditos, aid Paul ''It is now
eight O'clock"
} I'VE have concluded" remard HartIy, chat but
} enc of US should seek him, and; you can inform US
OF his place of abode, either mo1eur Vale or will 90
there II we all go our numberI attract attention"
"ltis true, said Vale; therore let me undertake
the affair"
NO viii go alone, remaed Paul. "For as
have been seen there before-aeast near there my
presence will attract no remark
Are you sure you trt this Ltalian?" asked
Il am; for Unless my eyas paved ME false, Benditto
hates Victor st. john"
Shall we await your retu?"
mo, gentlemen, have engaged meet an acq quaint
ance at midnight, replied PAT TEN Reckoning to a
young man behind the bar, said, as the youth ap-
preached:
Pierre you must not leave te saloon until return
4 Pierre bowed and returned tOhs posi- He was a
tall thin fellow, about twenty yers of age but with
cold and thoughtful expression upon his sharp and
snlsterooking face that made hm appear much older
with black and restless eyes, full ofcunning agarce and
treachery.
Paul retired to a desk behind tie bar. andtoking
pair Of pistols romit placed them ii his bgsom, button
! ed his coat over them and left the aloon
| Col. Hartly and NJ. Vail, soon departed and then
Pierre pulled chord which communicated with Ro-
settas room, and which was a means by which Paul
usually summoned his daughter to his aid when his Gus
toners came too fast But when Paul used it he was
wont to jerk suddenly and at random Pierre used it
so that the ben ROsetas tinked almost inaudbly
moment after, the door which had BETRAYED Rosetta
was slightly opened, and Pierre whispered through the
creVee while teigning to rinse goblet:
Are you there, cousin ROsetta?'
"4es-has my father gone uts'
He has gone"
did he say when he would retume"
Not until after midnight
Did he go armed?1
"He took his pistols"
The door was shut instantly aud Pierre muttered:-
'She certainly seemed much lgitatad; and so did MY
worthy uncle. Ho! they have .heir fine secrets and
have mine. Let us wait. She does not esteem Pierre
Rlvart as he merits, and preteDs not to know that
love her Ny uncle would kick me into the street if
he suspected it. and she know it, But it is not from
love for me that She does let him suspect-t is be-
cause am useful to her Hertather has many golden
pieces-and | love them also Still the cold without
Rosetta, or Rosetta without the gold would not satisfy
my ambition. know her secret-she loves that Amer
lean captain. 1t is well Let them go on will wait
50 thinking this son of Paul AmaF's half-sister,
young reprObate the humane wine,seler had rescued
from the bitter struggles of povertysrickeu orphan
age, coutentcd himself with waiting and pilfering from
the till with the Siyness of a fox.
Meantime Rosetta forgetting or disregardng her
oath, as she dreamed of danger to Victor St. john
knew not what to do to warn him.
eff show no light at the rear window" thought sac
he will not consider its absence refusal to meet him.
for exchanged signals with him in the saloon As
suredy my father will meet him, aHe f0rgseetas his
also!" 'id not make promise
Rosetta wrung her hands N despair. Anu nave
no one to trust. Annette is away-Pere is jealous,
and would play me false. What shall | do My father
will meet Victor and they will quarrell-Oh, horrible
what if he should kill Or wound Vctorl"
1t did not occur to her that Victor might kill her
father.
Her eyes fell on the shattered ivory, whereon had
smiled the face she loved SC WELL and suatchng the
fragments from the floor shs cndeavorcd to arrange
hem so to restore even arace of the handsome ea
lures But PauPs indignant heel had annihiated the
mage.
He lives in my heart replied Rosetta, dashing
iside the pieces. u caunotcease to love him. Why
should cease to love him. Ny promise! 1t was ex-
orted from mel"
Then she remembered thatPauI had spoken of others
whom Victor st. John had pretended to love, and she
paced the floor in tempest d passion
"Stl, must warn hm-Imust see him once more
even if only to tell him be is e traitor. If could
know he wished to deceive ne"
4 timid tapping at her door startled her.
''Whois theFe?7' she asked.
"It is Annette" replied fsmale voice.
Come in, Annette said Rosetta, opening the door,
md plain, smple-aced, fat woman some forty years
If age, came in, cloaked and bonneted.
"Ah, how pale you are, my thild" cried Annette who
yave this tender title to Rosetta whom she had nursed
n her infancy
cam T. Iamnot well. Sit DOWN, Annette. Annette,
,ou have had but short visit this evening"
True; the friend whom wished to see was not in,
md so ! came home again. But how strange you look
aud had such dream about you last night"
Il know-you told me otit this morning. said Ro-
eta ''You love me, Anneue?"
''What question: cried Annette. 'Why if you
we're my own daughter, could not love you than
do this very minute"
''Wi you keep a secret if give you one?o
"a secret! This little child has secret" laughed
Annette
But Rosetta looked so grave that the honest woman
ried out:
Something is the matteri Areyou indeed ill?9
''Yery ILL.,, sighed Rosetta.
Annette Immediately turned to leave the room. She
sas going for a doctor on the instant.
"Stay!n said Rosetta. 81 am not i'll in body-but III
lind"
(Which is a dreadful Sickness my dear child-and
ou 50 happy all day. Tel me what it is my dear,
erhaps can aid you.n
Rosetta hesitated She needed eonfdant but feared
. speak. At length she said:
'Were YOU ever in love- Annette?n
cob my life" cried Annette ''This infant is in
I'VE" and Annette began laugh as if the idea was
excessively ridiculous. But Rosetta commanded her
be SILENT and then told her of the late scene and
auls anger.
"Victor must not meetmy father continued Rosetta
tter telling all
"Thatwoud be dreadful" exclaimed Annette. Your
ther would kill him. But if he is so bad perhaps it |
ould be best for you, my child"
"Annete!' cried Rosetta stamping her foot Il know
e is everything that is good"
''Yes-you think SO, my child, said Annette, shaking
er head 81 thought the same of my first lover-but /
it had not been for fortuneteller should have re-
anted it, 1t is true the fortune teller was in love with
e but what he said to pass; fer my first lover
nd already tgyo wives and sent to prison for it
ont trust anybody but your father
Do YOU think fortune-teer could tell me anything
1out Victors" asked Rosetta absentlv
"Of course-they know everything, replied Annette.
There is in this citya one Who has not been
ere many weeks-wbo tell you anything and every
present and future"
What is her name2"
"Her name2 His name is Benditto.a
'Do YOU know where he lives Annette?H
Certainly, my child. | have started to visit him