St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1895-03-30
Miss L.-Are you a prisoner?

Il L1euLenanb-t GS
Miss L.-Are you happy?
Lieutenant-No. How could / be?
Miss L.-What can be doneo
Nothing but wait.
Miss L.-snppose I come down.
Lientenant-Can you?
Miss L.-Yes. Tthink shall prefer
it.. Mrs. Hendricks is coming.
Lieutenant-Has anything happened
since on the grounds?
Miss L.-No. Everything is quiet.
But it is lonesome and Mrs. Hendricks
is going away.
Lientenant-Do Do you know where she
Is going?
Miss L--No.
Lielatenant-Why do you not seize
the opportunity and go with her?
Miss LII must stay here q little
longer. I cannot tell you why.
Two days after this conversation
Miss Laport and Mrs. Hendricks were
down in the Laran, and with Miss En-
dicott and the negro servant this made
four women now in the underground
community.
The hurly -burly of preparation and
excitement of camp life extended at
this time from the rotunda for at least
two miles and filled all the eehoing
spaces far beyond the lake. 4 little
community was living in comparative
peace in the Portal arena. The fragile
cottages that encircled the space looked
like Dore picture under the central
light, and dried branches that profuse-
" ornamented column in the center
space fretted the ground with sharply
outlined shadows. 1t was eternal
night zhere hlaf&naan had robbed IL. of
most of its noxious terrors and Woma n
had left the traces Of her presence
round the doorWays of some OF the
habitations. In front of one cottage
there was q stand of strange plants,
curious erytogenous groWths that had
been gathered in the recesses of the
place; and arranged in symmetrical
order were crystals Of carbonate of
lime, symmetrical and translucent
stalactites and fossils dug from the
walls Of the distant passages.
It was Stockings amusement to
gather these curiosities in his moody
rambles, and 1t was Miss Laport's mel
ancholy delight to arrange them where
the electric light played fantastic
tricks with them at all hours. Under
the awning which on one side OF the
little house offered d protection from
the light, sat Miss Laport and Lieut..
Stocking. At short distance on the
same side were two other and similar
abodes, one Of which was given over to
the lieutenant and Calieot; the other,
connecting with Miss Iaport's by q
Iatticed alleyWay, was in possession o.
the doctor. Miss Enaieott having q
room in Miss Laport's establishment.
Now that you have told me about
your father, Miss Frank lin" said Lieut..
Stocking. and there nothing 10 pre-.
vent yoss Til ,laee,
why do you not urge him to at once2
Mr. Ca1icot asked me to speak to You
seriously about itand impress you with
tho urgency Of It. Z
why should he be anxious about it9p''
asked the girl.
He has made up his mind about the
result Of the conflict and he fears Il
you delay much longer you will not be
able TO get awap at al =
s.And you?. said the girl with real
solicitudc. IS.
''I'n in Calicot's hands. suppose
we sha11 be liberated atsome time. He
seems to think SO.
on appear to admire and trust him
very much.
Yes. wish could get you TO trust
him. He says you ought to go away at
once. Shall / tell you what he said
to me?''
yes. Do.''
.'Itwas this: Stocking he said, you
can get Hendricks permissi N to take
that old man and his daughter out, Il
you will give your word Of honor not
to betray his retreat and to return.
You could then put them in q boat and
help them to cross the Mississippi.
Why, + asked, are you SO anxious
to get them out?'
"sI want to save them,' he said.
!" But you do not care to save me,
objected.
Yes, he said, if you follow my
plan It will save you.
:. Then ! am not 10 return?'
.Yes.you are. You must come back
But it will take you two days.
!. To come back here is not to be
saved, said. You will have to ex
plain yourself. =
Yes, said the girl, with interest
Ibid he exp1ain2"
mo He merely said: I wish yor
would take my advice.
's You are frank with me-, I ex
claimed.
: II yon will do as + bid yoa,' he re
piled, everything will explain itseI
and we shall all be released. I
Then why not do it2' asked Mis-:
Laport.
Because have to pledge myself Il
give up liberty and yoa, and come
back to this tomb TO be buried alive
Do You think that an easy matter?s
And yet you say you trust you
friend. Now would obey him i'm
plicitly and trust him If I knew him a
well as you do
..Yes.. said the lieutenant. II /,
characteristic OF d woman. But I an
| q mana helpless one.
Twenty minutes later these twt
young people had taken the train AM
got off at the platform in the rotunda
! Tt was Miss Laporf who first discov
cred Calicot standing IN a pensiEe at
titude. and, with sudden burst of IN
selfshness, she said: There is youl
friend now. Why not so to him an