The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-09-22
LOU VENESTRE.

The soilened splendor Of an April sunset was
streaming across n southern landscape as Lou
Ncnrstrc touching hermcttlCsOmc stecd sharp
w, and then holding the rein with a little but
firm and assured hand let him dash ON at Il
pace that left her small negro follower tar be
hind.
Her dark eyes flashing with excitement and
ragerncss, and her black Curls floating back in
ietty contrast to the snowy plumes OF her rid
ing hat, the girl was just such a bright and
sparkling picture as one liked to look upon In
that misty sunset glory.
Scarcely pausng for little darkeyto throw
open the avenue gate, she cantered through it
and up to the very steps Of her fathers house,
where several gentlemen stood talking earnest
". There refining him in so suddenly that he
almost fell upon his launches, she called out
Gentlemen, have you forgotten how to hur.
rah: Sumter is ours" And she lifted her
plumed hat, waving IT,
Before they could respond, her horsc--a-
ready 50 FESTIVE as to almost defy control-had
caught the CLEAN of the floating feathers, and,
mad with fright, wheeled, and in spite of all
her efforts to restrain him, shot off at right
angle down the ascent upon whose summit the
house stood.
The gentlemen sprung and the negroes ran
IN all directions. Lou kept her seat bravcly,
but her strength was failing her and the rcins
were slipping through her little fingers when a
strong hand fell upon the bride and checked
the frightened animal so quickly and so firm
ly AS to leave him trembling in every muscle
In another instant she stood upon the ground
little Whitehead, but in no danger of faint
ing Lou Nenestrc was not one of that sort
Berrian Knowles, catching the direction she
was taking, had darted at thought across the
garden and intercepted her.
They were at some distance from the house,
and the Others, taking the route they did, had
not yet come up. While he waited for Miss
Nenestrc 10 recover her somewhat shaken equ-
nimity, Knowles, letting the horse find his own
way back, stood with his arms folded and his
grey eyes fixed upon the distance
lie looked yOung--a sharp, clcar.cut face.
ihough-decided ms it was handsome, with a
nervous tremor just now about the mouth, and
kindling light in the keen eyes that bclicd
tine earelessness Of his attitude
Miss Nenestre was herself very shortly:
enough SO, al any rate, 10 say, with slight i'm.
patience, yet ieelngly:
lon have saved my life, BerTian, and you
stand there as though il was the commonest ol
incidents"
DO /: II wasnt much I did Won know
and was thinking how much more unman.
ageable a steed than YOURS our unhappy South
had jus, mounted. Is tllis true about sum.
fert'
That Sumter IS ourssn said the girl. a sud
den, eager glow upon her beautiful face. mir
Nugent told me; he was right from town. The
news came by telegraph. IL is flashing ilc
length of the land by his time. Nav Il striE,
~ much CONSERVATION 10 cowanlly NortLorp
heaFts as IL siirs exutaion in orfs. Cent?
mcn"-for The n ! had coiiic' up by this tinlc
and were listening 10 the excited Girl force
Ting IN 'hci- caCcfnc-s o. oongra;ulair her
upon hcr saiciy -" Gcnilcmen. shall We br,.