The record-union., 1895-08-24
LAFIT1B, THE FREEBOOTER.
Thrilling Story Of a Strange Ad-
venture.
A Tale of Love From Georgia With
Tinge Of Pathos-The Duel In the
Locked Room, Which Results in
One of the Principals Becoming 3
Pirate.


and retold of strange adventures and ex-
ploits of the characters that used TO fire.
quent the islands and inlets that border
the Georgia coast ina-stories OF phan-
tom ships. of lost vessels, of hidden treas
ures, Some of these have been handeo
down from generation unto generation
until they are familiar to the children OF
every household. a story OF this kind
picked up some days ago from an old
islander near Darian. He had tilted his
chair under the heavy umbrage OF
spreading live oak and told the story ap-
parently without any mental exertion,
listlessly and dreamily, as ii 1t awakened
fond memories.
"Latitte; you know Laftts, the great
barbarian pirate, who turned the gun
into a pool of blood and strewed the
seas with the heads of countless victims;
the same man who seized the boat carry
ing the beautiful daughter OF Aaron Burr
TO New ork from New Orleans ana Kept
her a captive In his tropical retreat; who
enlisted in the service of the L nited States
against Great Britain IN the war or lolZ
and was pronounced by General Andrew
Jackson TO be the most daring sea cap
tain that ever flashed sword from scab-
bard; well, that's Iatitte-thaFs the man
] mean, and he started his career rlght
here on the Georgian coast.
ut was a love scrape-thats gener-
ally the matter with young fellows, you
know.
Now, history makes an error. That
mans right name was Wilson, Mortimer
Wilson, aud instead of coming from
France, as every body supposed, he was
an American, pure and simple. and hailed
from New York, Westchester County.
There lived not very far from here at the
plantation OF rich rice-grower two girls
who were said to be more beautiful than
any OF the maidens OF the South. They
had everything that their hearts could
desire, and were queens among their sex.
''It was way back yOnder when the
nineteenth century was just beginning TO
sprout and this part of the country was
owned by one or sWO men.
''Wilson, or rather Latitte, came South.
lie was only l9 years OF age and camo as
representative of his Uncle's mercantile
house, which was doing business then
with the Savannah people. The young
man arrived. attended to his business. and
was waiting with impauence for the sail
ing OF the vessel which was TO convey
him To his home again, when he was a.
tackled by fever of the most severe kind.
His reason was gone entirely Tor the
time.
at happened that the Savannah house
where the young man had traded was the
property of Colonel MOrnton, the father
OF one of the beautiful girs of whom [
have told you. Her first cousin lived
with her
Here the young man was removed,
and for weeks he suffered in delirium.
When he awoke from the stupor and the
first CLEANS of returning recollection and
Imagination began TO shoot across his be-
Witched mind, there came vision more
lovely than he had ever dreamed of-Mary
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angel of mercy, and administering to all
his wants with consideration and love;
Tor the gradual emancipation of that
splendid physique had called forth her
pity, and very often that awakens love.
His health returned slowly, but the days
We're never more delightfully."- spent than
those which glided away in the magic
company of the fair maiden. She had
gained an asCendancy over his whole
soul.
IL believe that the other young lady
who lived with the Morntons came from
Charleston. She was also a beautiful
creature, this Miss Hanton, and she had
brother, cold. naughty and supercilious.
VINO lived life OF luxury and ease.
He, too, was in love with the pretty
Mary, although his cousin.
Before many weeks a bitter rivalry
sprang up between Lafitte and the young
man. Both were together at the same
complicate things the other young lady,
Miss Hanton, fell overwhelmingly IN
love with Lafitte, too.
''It WAS an embarrassing condition of
affairs for the future pirate, but with all
the galIantry of his ardent nature he re-
manned faithful TO the young lady who
had been his nurse.
The rivalry between the two men be-
came more intense, and finally ended in
duel.
81 have often heard my father tell of
the meeting between the two men. He
used to tell il in such a way that you
could see them fighting, almost.
ut was late at night. Hanton called
at the room Of Lafitte. and walked IN.
lie was received politely, but his over
bearing and insolent manner became in
tolerable.
AFTER cold salutation was passed,
Hanton turned to the door and locked it.
Now he said to Lafitte, i demand
to know the reason of your attempt to in
gratiate yourself into the affection of NJ SIS
Mornton.'
''Lattte told the man that his language
was insulting and unwarranted.
81 don't want to be trifed with said
HantOn. What l want is an apology
and l must have Ii or you must never
leave this room alive
IL am unarmed,' said Lafitte 'You
have the privilege of numbering NE.
Here's my breaSt-shootp
81 say again that you, or one of us.
will not leave this room alive repeated
the enraged man. Here's a brace of
pistols. Take your choice
"Lahtte took the pistol. He turned tn
walk to the other side of the room. He
happened to cast his eyes around and saw
Hanton in the act of firing.
at was too late. Before he could sneak
the young man fired, but the bail missad
its mark and lodged in the side OF the
wall. That was not in the davs of re-
yolvers, and seeing what he had done,
HanIon, IN frenzy of rage threw MS
pistol with all his might at his rivals
head. Still Latitte had not fired, but his
Snemy's pistol struck him on the hand in
which the cooked weapon was held. Tho
shock caused the hammer to fall. and
Hanton dropped to the floor a dead man.
From that moment the fate Of Lahtte
was changed. lie was to be no longer
the quiet lovesick swain The report of
the pistol had alarmed the house The
girl and her father had rushed to she
room. She was in Mysteries. The old
man sympathiZed with Lafitte, but The
matter could not be bettered. The pub
lie would accept no explanation. He
was stranger in the country and the
friends of the dead man would call for
his blood.
He must act quickly. The coast was
not far. A vessel was to sail that after
noon for Cuba. A hasty farewell with
the girl he loved, and the young fellow
was of.
He sailed not far from here, and he
got away TO the seas.
BEST MADE II
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