Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-12-22
Ii DiZie'S Land
asssFOR: THE WAR
CHAPTER XXI
EL-lGHT AND PuHSrfT

iH these eohciudlng chapters of ~
narrative. nsGry details must be omit.
ted The stress and suspense of tbe
situation at which we have now Az
rived in lis progress are acting unon
me somewhat as the real scenes Of
,..rty years ago affected me. and
must 20 rapidly forward to the closa
IL may therefore be said that the skin
and management of lie Fevre, with the
friendly aid of the house servants, put
In successful operation the initiative
OF the plan of escape that he had de-
vised- A little after midnight Coralie
and ] were in a carriage that had been
brought by roundabout plantation
lie Feyre took the reins, and drove
rapidly toward Donaldsonville.
He had judged rightly as to what the
occupation of Conrad Bostock and his
boon companions was likely to be on
this night. A good account Of their
roysterings, and of the manner In
which Coralie's fight was discovered,
was afterward furnished to me by one
of the negro women who listened In
trepidation at the parlor door, anxious
for some hint as to what was to be.
come OF herself and "the people" OF
the plantation. The negroes had heard
the rumor that the new NAUSEA" in
tended to sell them all, and let the
plantation to some one who could
stock it; and Bess was endeavoring to
secure early information of his real
designs.
The new proprietor had discovered
the repository Of the wine, and a dozen
dusty bottles had been brought up.
When sufficient of their contents had
been drunk to make the party merry,
cards were produced, and gambling
commenced. There seemed to be plenty
of money among them, and the game
was continued with varying success
till midnight, when Conrad was largely
the winner.
The bottle had circulated freely, and
the depraved men were ready for any.
thing that would yield new excite
ment.
Two thousand dollars against that
girlr' Gardette shouted.
''Done.' said Bostock.
The cards were dealt. and the others
stood close by the table to watch the
game. Gardette lost.
Another chance!" he demanded.
YES" said the winner.
This time Gardette won.
"The girl is mine!" he shouted, ex-
ultingly.
well play again, Conrad clamored.
80, no. I'm content. You've won
~rouch fo-piuht to ston
You'll play again, the girl against
two thousand dollars, or you'll fight"
the other insisted.
Both were infiamed with wine, and
the excitement of gaming, which Ia
greater than that of wine. Pistols
were drawn, and one or both would
have fallen; but at this moment their
companions intervened and persuaded
Gardette, for the sake of peace, to con-
sent to one more game.
1t was played with the same stakes.
Gardette lost With an oath, he swal-
lowed another glass, and said:
This is a good deal like farce.
Con. Here we've been playing for the
girl for the last hour, and as the game
turns, you'll keep her. But suppose
I'd won at the end?"
Then you'd take her."
Maybe you couldn't deliver her."
"Why not?"
ST don't know; I'm only talking.
But l happened to think, while the
game was going on, and it was doubt
full who'd be her master, what silly
lot we were to be playing for some
thing that none of us might ever set
eyes on again"
Now, Gardette, what the devil dye
mean?"
"Only q suspicion; that's all. Here
you shut yourself up with your friends
and enjoy yourself half the night leav-
ing that long-headed overseer and that
hot-blooded young chap with him to
kick up all kinds of deviltry with your