Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-01-26


doing. Laura followed her, turning ont
the lights by the way and keeping on up
to the attic.
Within a few seconds after her knock
Mark was descending the stairs and in Il
twinlilins was in the parlor. Not half
a minute elapsed between the signal and
his arrival there.
1t vas not long before Mrs. Fain was
heard cropping about up stairs in the dark,
wanting to know who had turned out
the lights and calling on Il servant to re-
light them. When She entered the par
lOr she was surprised to see her daughter
in company with a stranger, who was
standing, hat in hand. as though he had
just come in from without.
Mamma" said Laura, with her heart
in her throat, but with the most assured
Of innocent tones, this is a gentleman
who-Mr. -
"Rhett," supplied Mark.
"Mr. Rhett, Of
"South Carolina.'
Any old Virginia or South Carolina
name was quite enough to insure vel
come from Mrs. Fain. Without waiting
to hear what he might say further or an
account Of how he came to be there so
suddenly, she said;
I'm pleased to see you, sir; are You
related TO the Rhetts, of South Caro-
lina:"
I'VE all came of the same main stem,
madam" said Mark, assuming the tone
of a southern gentleman.
Mr.. Rhett is travelling, mamma. He
says that-that"---
Il am looking for mines, madam.
You may not know it, but you are in
the center of rich mineral region
1t is pleasant to hear that fortune
may come soon, and Mrs. Fain was
evidently much pleased at the informa-
! ton.
! Indeed" ,she said calmly.
I Eyes, madam, | have been looking
for ore. | presume | need not say
! whether in government interest or not;
/ we must have cannons, you know"
Government officers are not bound
I to disclose their identity or their objects,
sir"
! Il have been prospecting, madam, and
am separated from my party owing to
the stupidity of the driver of the vehicle
which contains my crucibles and chem
icals. | appeared at your door and your
daughter was kind enough To ask me
in--not surprising, considering your far
famed Tennessee hospitality"
You are quite welcome, ST."
Mark bowed low, with his hand on his
heart, like South Carolina gentleman
of the old school.
Have you supped:' asked Mrs. Fain.
eyes. madam; | succeeded i'll getting
a meal by the way. A poor one, indeed
very poor one, with burned beans foT
coffee. But since the abolition Lincoln
government has violated all rules of
civilized warfare by this cruel blockade
intending to starve us into subsection
II suppose we must take what we can
get. Irepeat i, we must take what we
IAN get, madam"
Marks eyes flashed with well feigned
Indignation.
at is our duty to bear our depriva-
lions cheerfully," said Mrs. Fain. I'VE
shall gain our independence at last, and
that should be an incentive"
ut should, madam, and let me tell
you we are about to see stirring times
and great successes. This region has
become of especial military importance.
Our forces will be in front of Nashville,
perhaps Louisville, very soon, while
General Lee can't fail with such noble
men as he has in his arny-tAe very
Hover of the south-the flower Of the
south, madam-he can't fail, say, TO
drive the Yankees out of Virginia"
You are very hopeful"
While Mark was thus performing,
Laura stood with downcast eyes, and il
her mother had not been so interested
in the hopeful words of the garrulous
South Carolinian she would have noticed
a slow heaving of her daughters bosom,
. with here and there slight spasmodic
action.
"And now, madam, " said Mark, may
beg nights lodging: | fear it is toe
late to find my party"
Certainly, sir. Call Miranda, my
dear
Miranda was summoned and directed
to show the gentleman to the guest
chamber on the second floor in the front
, Of the house.
Mark went with the servant and re
NAMED in his room long enough to hay,
made toilet and then sauntered dow
stairs. AT the door OF the parlor il
which Mrs Fam and her daughter wer,
sitting, he paused, as if waiting iol al
Invitation to enter. This was given him
but he did not stay long. For a no
blooded South Carolinian. he seemed no
! to bear the heat well, and manifested /
desire TO get out ON to tho veranda. In