The Monmouth inquirer., 1896-03-19
A CREOLE ROMANCE.


girl standing on the corner--her slim,
white gowned figure softly outlined
against the pink stucco of the wall behind
her-appeared curiously at variance with
the November afternoon gloom. The sin
gle passenger in street car crawling past
glanced out at her with momentary
gleam of interest. "She looks like bay
ou lily, he murmured, returning to his
evening paper.
There is nothing earthly which car
compare for whiteness with the bayou lily
-hoyering above the dark marsh like 8
tethered soul, pure, spotless radiant, ex
haling an innocent perfume, its flexible
stem rooted far below in the slime.
The drizzle became downpour, and
the few pedestrians scurried into shelter,
leaving the narrow street quite deserted.
The girl drew little farther under the
high, projecting balcony, with its wrought
iron balustrade. Her white gown, slightly
open at the throat, as if designed for in
doors, was drenched with the wind blown
rain, though, by some miracle, the hem
remained unsmirched by the ooze beneath
her feet. She was very young. The del
icate, almost childlike face beneath heI
round hat was pale. Her violet eyes had
strained, expectant look She leaned
agaiiise ene wal u oiie o1u oul.utns' vreih
DING, as Il lrigheeheo or oVerlaelgueu.
Inc neaVy Dat1en snu.ters were 1une
Dack. lhelr enormous poles uurheo aslsnt-
Inc inner ooo[s' WHOSE Upper 1aiSes wer.
coInposeu Vi lanoiAuny siiaPeu panes u
ground glass; were closed.
On the same spot--chrlstened by some
dead and gone wag the corner of Alb
smith and Anisette-stood, in the yeai
of our Lord eighteen hundred and thir
teen, the self same building. 1t was even
then more than quarter of century old,
and conspicuous landmark in its isolated
situation, few low habitatIons only
clustering between it and the outlying
swamps, and but thin scattering OF
houses stretching down to the river. The
steep roof of the single squat story was
tiled. A long arm thrust out from the
caves held a lantern over the muddy, un-
paved street. IL was cabaret then as
now, and then, as now, famous for its
green hours .
Its rough outer wall one morning in the
autumn of that year was adorned with "a
large printed poster, which set forth In
the three languages then current in the
old town on the Mississippi the misdeedE
OF one Jean Latitte, smuggier, inarauder
desperate and pirate, ana offered IN the
name OF his excellenoy Governor Clai.
borne a reward OF 500 for the capture oil
the said Jean Laftte and his delivery into
the hands of justice.
The laughing eyes OF knot OF ,appa-
rent ldlers on the wooden banquette were
turned alternately from this placard to the
tall, handsome man-no less person than
Jean Laf1tte himself-who leaned against
the wall, the long curling locks OF his hair
blown against the signature oil his Gate
professionally excellency. But there were
covert flashes OF maiign Intelligence In
some OF the laughing eyes, and an imper-
ceptible movement OF the crowd toward
the batten door at the outlaw right hand.
His own glances as he banded Jests with
the leaders, toying the while with the
fringed end OF his green SILK sash, went
warily about. he knew himself TO be In
danger OF arrest. de might indeed pay
with his life for his seeming bravado. But
ne was not thinking OF himself his ear
was strained to catch the slightest sound
within the cabaret. where Henri Destrehan
was biithely quaffing his glass OF abb
smith, unaware that MS enemies, sworn
to butcher him like rat In trap, were
closing upon him.
1t was the knowledge of his friends i'm :
pending peril which had drawn the pirate
chief from his lagoon Businesses.
How about that last bale of smuggled
silk brocade, Lafitte?' demanded
brawny, dark browed man lightly, edg1ng
nearer to the wall as he spoke.
Sold at $40 the yard, for the waistcoats
OF his exceilency the governor returned
Lafitte in the same tone.
ana the gola cnain captured on the
nigh seas from MS grace the Mexican
bishop laughed another.
Sold on IN inches Tor the oppose oishls
grace SOUL
he mad dropped the eno OF ms sash.
HIS hand as ne spoke was on the aoor.
mol, Destrehan, mol ne crieo'
bursting into the dlmly hghted CABARET
And catching the bewlldered young oincer
into the sweep oil his poweriul arm, ne
lifted him from the moor, bore him thfough
the very midst oil his enemies turned the
corner with the leaplng speed Oh a stag
and disappeared behind clump OF caplhs
IN the direction OF the swamp. A howI Oh
rage and volley OF shot from the DaIled
plotters IolioWeu the IugltlVes, Du1 'hey
We're already safe from pursuit.