The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-26

few hours may suffice to inform the
general that he has been imposed upon
and search may reveal my identity"
"But how is he to ascertain this? Who is
there to inform him 2"
"The telegraph, my dear-he may learn
that these letters were forgeries, and it will
not then take him long to suspect the bal
ance; but will take care that no dispatch
shall intercept my journey" she said, and
taking from the table silver whistle, blew
shrill, piercing blast upon it. Its echo had
scarcely ceased to reverberate before it was
answered by Lola, one of her Persian atten-
dants-a dark, beautiful girl, scarcely inferior
in loneliness to her stately mistress.
els Holden here I" she asked in the Persian
dialect
"Yes, my LADY,"
"Bring him here at once"
The girl retired, and soon afterward reap
peared, attended by tall, swarthy looking
parsonage, whom our readers will at once re-
cognize as the outlaw. Bending low to the
lady, as one might salute an empress, he waited
respectfully for her to speak
"Have you your men ss / directed you,
sir?"
Yes, my lady"
alt is well-now attend to me. Take a
sufficient number and proceed a few miles
west of the city, and before midnight cut
every telegraph wire running westward. See
that it is done within the time 1 have pre-
scribed Perhaps you will need horses
of course you will; take them from the stable
Holden, my life may depend on the faithful
ness with which you execute my instructionsl"
''Oh, my lady, don't incur such peril-let
me take the risk whatever it is ! have COM
rades on whom can devolve your directions;
let me share the peril that menaces you"
There was a wild savage fidelity in his man
ner as he bent upon his knees, and with i'm
ploring mien besought his mistress to grant
his petition.
Remember, my lady, who you are. Incur
not this peril, 1 beseech you p
Impossible, Holden, the peril is even
greater if remain here-I must away-my
safety lies in flight !"
"Then let me accompany you, to protect,
to die for you, if necessary, my lady J"
81 had thought of that / wish it could
be so, for may need your protection but
then the wires p
''They shall be cut, my lady. can rely on
my comrades for that, only let me go with
you!"
"Well, it may be best-have it as you will;
but go and start your comrades on their mis-
sion, and be here in readiness to accompany
me before the clock strikes nine"
&" You shall be obeyed, my LADY," And the
man quilted her presence, with another in
clination Of the body as profound and respect
full as ever courtier bent in the presence of
monarch. Whatever the rank of this name
less girl, her attendants recognized it, with an
exhibition of respect seldom seen outside the
courts of an Eastern palace.
"You can trust that man, perceive" said
Laura, as the attendant withdrew, "his
habits should think, would lose him your
confidence"
"Ha, ha, ha," laughed the young stranger,
"trust him You little know the fidelity of
an Eastern slave That man is my slave
yes, slave-he recognizes my right to his very
life, and in my service would resign it without
regret. Faithless and lawless he may be to
the world; but to me his fidelity would endure
the rack of the Inquisihon. He holds his
own life and that of others as but dust in the
balance when / command him to take that of
others or sacrifice his own. Trust me, dear
Laura, my man is faithful" and the dark
beauty strobe across the room with the air Of
an empress
aRrf II hf,x, c1a co.,
Laura, and help me array myself in this mas
culine garb, and then, when my toilet is
finished, will make love to you to pay for the
trouble" said the laughing sprite, as Laura,
blushing and eager, came forward to assist
her.
The metamorphosis was soon accomplished,
and the young stranger moved about the room
as handsome youth as the eye of woman
ever rested on. To Laura it scarcely seemed
a reality. She could hardly trust the evil
dence of her own senses. No one would ever
recognize in the laughing, vivacious youth,
the brilliant, dashing woman of the world,
who but few hours before wheedled the
federal commander out of the plans which
rendered his subsequent military career q
huge abortion.
"And now, my dear, 1 have your letter, and
my other scarcely more valuable papers all
safe, and it is time to say an reUoiri"
"Yes, but this little sash wound around
your throat would be coup de grace to your
attire"
"Entre nous, Laura, must say to Richard
how much saw you admired last night?
and the quizzical lips pressed the brow of the
queenly girl in affectionate gaiety." And Laura,
ifmy friend, Monsieur lie General, should in
quire for me, request him to console himself
for my absence by that wise old aphor-
ism, sometimes heard but too frequently I'M
needed, &c monde est pIein de yfo,tsl"
st should hardly think" replied Laura,
laughing, "that your message would console