Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-11-03
CHAPTER L.


tiguity OF shade, as COwper expressed
it, was broken only by intervals OF
marsh still more drearY and desolate.
For miles and miles, even now, the
solemn, moss draped woods stand SOM
Der and silent, given over forever to
reptiles and wild beasts, and for league
upon dreary league the tall grass covers
the cosy, Shiny marshes where no liv-
ing thing is visible save the wide
winged birds and the wallowing alli-
gators.
The effect of this strange country
upon vivid imagination is remarkable
under the most ordinary circumstances.
In the case Of Martin Lawrence it had
a triple emphasis. To begin with, his
business enterprise was of the most I'M
usual and exciting nature; a Philadel-
phia bank had been SWindled by two
Sharper5 supposed to be clever repre-
sentatives of the MurrelI organization,
and the affair apparently involved the
honor of two or three citizens Of prom
inence in Louisiana. John A. Murrel
was a man who exerted great personal
influence in a most mysterious way, but
as our story has nothing to do with him
we cannot turn aside to sketch his
methods. 1t is sufficient to say that all
accounts. together with the biography
written by Virgil A. Stewart, agree in
making it clear that he was the greatest
highwayman and leader of lawless men
that America has ever produced. To
tamper with any Of his schemes or to
NEEDLE in any way with one OF his
affairs was a most dangerous thing.
Lawrence realized this, and, lover of
adventure that he was, enjoyed it to the
full.
Young Lawrence had been guided al
most by chance to the residence of Col.
de Vigny, the very man whom his bust
ness errand concerned; and on the very
veEanda, while being Hospitality well
coined by the Colonel, his eyes had
fallen on young girl whom he had met
in the old world.
What hurled the thought of legal duty
clear out OF his head for a time was see
ing Mile. Lucie once more, and away
out there in that lonely plantation house
amid the cypress swamp and live oak
hummockS of Louisiana.
Lucie was, if possible, still more
beautiful than when she was mere slip
of a girl in Switzerland and in Paris.
Her face had taken on with its slightly
increased fullnesS a Quieter, richer ex-
preston, as if life were somewhat more
serious to her now.
He saw at once that she remembered
him and that she desired him to treat
her as stranger. In an obscure, indi-
rect fashion he OWNED her reason for
least he felt sure that some barrier
would have to be broken between them
greater than any mere reserve of con-
ventiOnal prudence.
/ Ones mind works with lightning
swiftness under such circumstances.
Lawrence felt that, in some way, every
thing depended upon the adroitness with
which he might turn the key in the lock
OF this mystery, and he at once set his
wi a i'm
pulses.
She stood before him but a moment.
At first he was on the point of stepping
toward her and letting go the whole,
long pent-up volume of his feeling. To
see her again was like regaining sight
after long blindness, like stepping forth
to freedom after resting for years in a
noisome dungeOn-nO, a thousandfold
more thrilling than any other experience
could just then have been, was that one
assured look into her beloved face.
She made some slight but signifi-
cant sign with her eyes and lips. 1t
was scarcely a movement at all; but it
said, more urgently and forcibly than
words could have done, that it would be
fatal to all his hopes-and, OIL sweet
thought it meant that her own heart
felt the mighty need Of prudence and of
wise forbearance at this crucial point in
their two lives.
Lawrence quickly glanced at Col. de
Vigny to see if he had noticed the little
by-play. That facile creole was evil
IDENTIFY quite unaware that in the space
of five seconds a stroke OF fate SUI
premely important had rung out clear
and strong echOing from heart to heart
His dark, somewhat mysterious face
was suave and amiable, with hOspitabIe
suggestions in its mobile features.
lucie hurried away to summon serV.
ants and to superintend the laying of
supper for the guest. Meantime, he
heart leaped wildly and her brain was
in a happy whirl. How long she had
waited and dreamed, feeling sure that
some day he would returnl Now b,
was here, and how bold and strong ant
handsomei
VIVA de mattah, chile?" inquired tn,
old colored housekeeper, only she spok,
In the French patois of the LOuisian,
slaves. VIVA de mattah wild yo' now
YO' look so eomfusticatedl"
Nothing. ZillR," replied Lucie, ~bu
isn't it too bad that we must set CUES
q cold, meaRer little supper like this?
ooh. g'lOng. dahlin'; come late; saw
light, you know"
~Yes, he did come late, and there wa
something in ,Lucie's voice that CAV
peculiar emphasis to the word late; -bu
we must do our best.
Wait twen brekfus', Miss Lucie. an
ZEN we feed i'm.
Certainly Lawrence did not think tn
supper light or meager when he sat dow
to It opposite his host. Cold veniso
with Jelly, French bread, rice cake
roast pig with baked sweet potatoes an
patties OF maize, preserved figs, goo
butter, and syrup as clear as honey
these were the dishes before him, an
besides there was coffee and claret.
Ia hr1G
ness till next morning, and, tired as
was, he could sleep but little during th
night, SO full was his brain of stirrin
emotions.
The chamber assigned to him wa
large and airy, with windows lOokin
right into the great wood tangle, out {
which Tom, the runaway, had led hin
l.. .r.nh q eli