Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1889-05-09
,cscature, her graceful figure well poised,

sscfeature, her graceful figure well poised,
2nd her gY'se dauntlessly meeting his.
! What it in those soft brown eyes
that h5 witie murderous arm uplifted as
by speh's And how was it that-with
tear-bright eyes and a little smile trem-
bling ON her quivering lips-a mere
touch Of her small, weak hand ON that
strong arm should cause it to drop Imply
mt the ruffiau's side9 With averted eyes
he turned slowly toward the cabin fol
lowed by Marie, who was determined TO
make the most of the advantage already
gained. He might kill her If he would
she declared, but first he must hear what
she had to say.
Beginning with an acknowledgment of
the trouble to which Bouzon had been
put, she briefly depicted her brothers
critical condition and the absolute ne
cessity of getting him home as quickly
as possible, and she concluded by de-
| claring that whoever would safely con
vey him thither should be well paid for
his trouble. At the last sentence an
eager, hungry look was flashed ON the
girl from the Frenchman's burning
eyes.
After many denials and much bag
Cling, he finally consented to make the
trip for ten dollars at the start, fifteen
more at Jules Guilbeau's, aud twenty
five on landing the brother and sister
safely at home, all to be paid in gold.
Ii ever the rapacious greed of miser
was unconsoiously revealed, it was by
Baptiste Bouzon ut the mere mention Of
that magic word-gold. Marie con-
graduated herself upon having so little
of it with her.
Guilbeau did not appear that night
as he had promised. And what a night
it was for Marie, in that lone swamp
hut Often her weary eyes were, with u
terrible fascination, drawn to the pile
OF moss upon which her uncouth host
lay, and invariably she found his gaze
fixed on her; while the sick boy. rest
lessly slumbering, necessarily reiterated
his mournful plant for home and
mother. Longing for the cool night
ar, yet fearing to move, she sat the night
out ON an old box by her brothers bunk.
Daylight came at last. They were to
embark in time to reach the river at
dusk, but Bouzon went off early, an d
did not return until after dark. So
another night must be lived through in
that horrid place. And still Jules Gull
beau was missing. What if both the
men should fail her?
The devoted girl had many moments
OF despair during that long, drearv night,
as she sadly realized her helplessness in
that lonely spot; but hope returned
with the blessed light of day, even
though Bouzon again vanished.
Atnoon he reappeared and announced
that the boat was ready.
BY five o'clock they arrived at Gull
beau's, and Marie found the good man
PROSTATE with fever. SO he had not
been faithless at all. She parted from
the kind-hearted couple with no little
regret, and, paying Bouzon his second
instalment of gold, the rest she had
carefully concealed, was soon ready for
another start. 70 Ma1ie's Joy, her
brother was already improving; and
when they tied up under the willows at
the mouth of the bayou, with the broad
expanse of the Mississippi in full view,
for one moment he actually sat ND to
look at it.
"Look, sister," he cried, with feeble
eagerness, "Burt's Landing is lust
"io,'ii', oii"' Polu., tWo miles Ifem mere,
ana only one mule furtther-O, Marie -
"Only one mile further are home and
mamma thahK the good God !! said the
sister, touched by the joyous smile that
was strangely pathetic on that enact
ated countenance. She ran up to a
mousse near by, and there learned a
starving pit OF news. Two nights be-
Iore some lniscfeant OF Burt's Landing
NAG 1lred INTO passing transport, and
l killed. a soldier; as result OF which the
pace was now occupied by troops, and
a g!lnpoat lay at anchor opposite.
one begged her informant to say moth
ing ABOUT TINS to Bouzon, and deter
lhlheo 10 make II pold dash for home as
soon as dafkiless should overshadow the
river. oscar was persuaded to take
some reireshment, whlle the Old French
man a1e Vofaclonsiy OF 1ood which the
Sili ii,'u COOKED a1 ms shanty, little
ilaa poor r., wfetch' that 1t was has
iasS supper. Inc sun Went down III
o:srk' mountainous clouds, while light
iiillS playeo ohlihously IN the distant
so ..Tt -,
a. 10 :. pi',cn niSnu' s''ld Marie, as
'iie .. poal swepo il1o tiie river.
=, 1n" 90 q 20 you want the sun TO
sill, onino 90 ..xv gn. nisie: shappea tpe &C, ola
lllttIl. Wullb me 10 lose my. DOatf The