The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-09-22
that cheer now.' And again the white plumes

apart with his brow knit and his lip curling.
| Miss Venestre did not hurrah with the rest,
which, enthusiastic as she was, one might have
expected. Her lips were smilng but though
she was not looking ut him, she was conscious
of the half contemptuous observation of young
Knowles, and was saying to herself:
"He has never been the same since that six
months visit at the North. dare say now,
Judging me by his pet Northern standard, he
considers my conduct highly untcmininc"
"Knovlcs don't seem to appreciate the
news" said one of the gentlemen glancing to-
ward Bcrrian. why, man, this blow actual
| " makes an independent nation OF us. It's
the Inauguration of such days as the South
never saw--a glorious victory
cone hundred men against ten thousand.-
you may call that glorious victory do"f,'
said Berrian Knowles, holly.
There was some commotion in the ranks of
the others as he spoke, and Miss Nencstrcs
face flushed, but as the argument seemed about
TO leap into stormy words, she lightly lead the
way TO the house, her hand within her fathers
arm.
Berrian did not follow at once. His blood
was hot, and he waited, coming finally to the
door, only to say goodnight to Lou.
Miss Venestre was not in the room. The
gentlemen were talking excitcdly, and Knowles
WIS luit' SUN llt hh ''i' va NO '''
name as he crossed the hall. Mr.. Nenesre met
him at the door, and with hand familiarly on
his shoulder urged him towards the others,
saying:
~ have been defending you, Knowles, but
I'm glad you've come now TO speak Tor your
self These gentlemen have some Of them been
trying to persuade me you're not sound on
Southern rChts-eh?"
The young mans eyes glowei wide and
bright
"Who says that" he asked
There didn't tell you 50 :" said Ncncstre
sound and stanch OF course hell stand by
us"
Berrian Knowles colored. He hesitated an
instant simply that he might not speak too cX-
citcdly to LOUIS father
81 am a staunch Union man, Mr., Nenestre,
he said briefly a. supposed my sentiments
were already fully understood"
Mr.. Ncnc tres hand dropped from his shoul-
der; he rcccdcd a step. An awkward silence
fell, Knowles said good-evening, and turned
again to go; Mr. Venestrc followed him.
My daughter is a Southern woman he
said, in "A low voice; "these being your senti-
ments she desires me TO give you his
lie gave him little note superseded in
LOUIS delicate but impatient hand.
With sinking heart Knowles tore il open,
Glanced ut the only words it contained, Good
by" and bowling again TO Mr.. Ncnestre left the
house
"Ifthat don't bring him to listen to reason
| am mistaken" said Mr.. Ncnesrc to himself
as he rc.cntcred the room.
At the avenue gate, just where he could not
well pass out until she moved away Berrian
found Lou, very erect, very pale, very heroi-
cally inclined, but very anxious. Perhaps she
hoped that Bcrrian had listened to reason as
eXpoundcd by her father; but glance at his
face-palc and angry--but decided convinced
her that il was not SO.
"Good-by then, Lou" ne said, but he did not
offer his hand.
"Good-by," she said, fecbly; and then still
lower and quite huskily, Il haven't thanked
YOU vet for the life you saved this afternoon
s. am amply guerdoned,' he said, bitterly |
49," goodby''; and MS she mechanically moved
aside he passed out, and she returned to the
house and lay awake all night heroic still. but
with vague sense Of ingmtitude and self re
proach.
But of course Bcrrian wouldn't hold out
against such sound reasoning rs her fatherand
the rest had at their command lie would
come over to the right side in The end, and all |
would be smooth again.
81 4
The following week Miss Venestrc was Wis
ting an old school friend some ten miles from
her own home. Perhaps the fact that her
friends father lived nearer the Knowles plan
taiOn than Mr.. NenGstre did, made the visit
particularly agreeable just now. Lou was not
very happy; she began to doub, the hcroism
OF rcnouncing the man she loved because he
did not see with her eyes.
"SuCh mystery" said little Jennie Mayne, |
as she met her friend and conveyed her at once
to her own sanctum-" such a mystery; and
now you've come you dear creature, we'll
We'll, you'll sce;' and ,Icnnie's round eyes |
looked rounder and brighter than ever. Be
fore Miss Nenestre was fairly relieved of her
hat and shawl she had unburdened herself in
the very lowest whisper possible to be heard. |
It seemed that few weeks before some one
of these secret political organizations which |
were so rife at that time, had met at Mr.. |
Mayncs house, and with such adiuncts ofmys- |
terv as to arouse to fcvcrishncss the curiosity |
of Miss Jennie. Tonight they were coming
again. and She had succeeded in supplying |
herself with facilities for penetrating the mys-
terry In short tonight she intended TO listen
in "A safe place and know what it all meant.
Lou refused TO have anything TO do with it, and
10 dissuade her friend, but in vain.
For once little Jennie Maync's Unsuitable
curiosity was TO be Of some benefit to human
ity.
Toward midnight, II, Miss Nenesire was
drcamily folding the dark rings of hair about
her slender fingers, and wishing vaguely that
Jennie would come, Jennie Maync came glid-
ing into the room looking like little ghost, |
her face 50 white, and she trembling all over.
"Oh, Lou" She cried, clinging TO her, it's
Il Vigilance Committee or something of that
sort, and they're going TO arrest Berrian
Knowles and try him tonight"
What" said Miss Ncncstrc, rising and
reaching ior ucr shawl.
Lou, you can't 60 anything It's too late,
| tell you, Lon Ncncstrc, they were getting
ready TO 90 10 his house when left them"
Miss Ncncstrcs fac" looked ghastly white, |
but she did nos urmllc. Removing Jennes |
alnging hand from her forcibly, she begged
her in low brief tones to say nothing to any
one that she had gone out. And while she |
spoke She Was putting ON her habit and her
hat, and all witt such Whitehead resolution |
that her scared friend ceased rXnostlllation or |