The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-29
THROUGH
A TORNADO
A Tale of Adventure on q
Louisiana Plantation.
BY MAURICE THOMPSON
CHAPTER lI.-Continued.

gaze, which continued Tor hal1-nOur.
Lawrence found himself half buried
under heap of fragmentary things,
branches, sticks, leaves and what not
In the midst of fallen trees. He arose
with difficulty, still holding Lucie, now
limp and motionless, in his arms. The
clouds were as black as ink and rushing
low overhead. He could not see we'll
enough to know whether'she was living
or dead.
Where was he? He tried to gaze
around, but there was nothing In view
save the vague outlines Of splintered
tree-poles, upturned roots and heaps OF
branches. In every direction his way
was blocked. Withra groan he sank to
the, ground, piliowing the girls head on
his kness.
tL1ciei Lucie!" he called, speak to
me, dear, speak. Are you hurt?"
Her heart was beating, but she did
not move or speak.
Again the panther began to howl and
rage; but another heavy throb OF the
gale seemed to force it into silence.
The lightning was threading the clouds
in the distance, and by the reflected
light Lawrence saw how pale Lucie was.
The panther seemed to be whetting
its teeth and lashing itself into ecstatio
rage. It was so near that every move
ment of its feet and every stroke OF its
Jaws when it opened and shut its mouth
could be distinctly heard as the wind
fell away.
The track of that hurricane Is still to
be seen in the humn ock woods Of the
Teche country. It is narrow opening,
as straight and otherwise not unlike the
line of railway clearing. The young
trees that have grown up in it are OF
different general form from those the
wind destroyed, and the ancient forest
walls on each side of it show that the
irresistible current Of the storm was
less than 200 feet wide. Lawrence found
himself on one edge Of this path OF de-
struction.
With amazing rapidity the clouds
were swept on and away, leaving the
sky clear and bright, with the moon
swimming along whit ite and brilliant
amid the stars.
Trembling, nerveless, every bone in
his body and limbs a center OF pain, his
flesh torn and bruised, the young man
tried to push back the girls tangled
hair. He stopped and kissed her white
brow; then, gathering force again, called
loudly: - a-..
,-Helpi helpl halloo! help!"
But. Mars, cayn't help nothin' ner
nobody. Dey's er tree on de tip top. o
my pusson. an er holm me down. I
cayn't mobe, responded Tom, negro
of the place.
Lawrence yelled again and again,
though each effort racked him with in
describable torture, 30 bruised and torn
was he. Then the panther redoubled
Its cries and ripped the fallen branches
with it's claws.
Such strain was not to be borne
long. Lawrence struggled with fine
courage and desperate resolution, but
presently his eyes were blurred, his
head reeled, and he fell over insensible.
It may have been the slight but de-
cided shock to her head when, as Law
renee tainted, Lucie was let fall from
hisiknees, or it may have been mere
coincidence between his failure and her
revival; at all events, the girl lifted
herself to sitting posture, and, waver-
ing weakly to and fro, gazed around
with panied, confused stare.
Not far away, in some low, sheltered
tangle of greenery beyond the track OF
The wind a mocking bird ventured to
frin family phrase or two OF its
weirdly sweet nocturne.
The moon shoIfe down through the
awful rift in the forest upon the palid
and bewildered face of the girl. '
'-Oh! OIL" she cried! "Oh-oh, moth
er!" It was the call Of child to parent,
the old, old cry Of helplessness, and it
rang through the crushed wilderness
with infinite pathos in its quaver.
She passed her hands across her face,
tried to rise; looked down; then started
and screamed. The upturned face OF
Martin Lawrence was cleaning strongly
In the moonlight. .... ..........
I dat yo' Miss Lucie3" called Tom.
Dat yo' ober dar? Is yo' hurt, honey"
tom! Oh, Tom, come, come! quick,
quick" ......... ....
'Bress de Lori" ... ....... ..
There was sound of struggling mus
eles aud tagging limbs. With the
power Of > giant the negro was wrench
ing himself from under the weight that
held him down. .~.
The painting snarls OF the old man
eater were not 30 loud now; but they
were terribly distinct.
Tom came stumbling and tumbling
over logs and boughs and drifted heaps
Of debris toward the spot where Lucie
sat.
.wha' is yo', honeys wha' is yo'
Miss Lucie?"
Here, here, quick"
Look out TO- dat paynter! He close
roun' var"
AS he spoke he fourished heavy
club (the fragment Of live oak limb
thicker than mans arm and four feet
long, as if it had been mere play
thing. His face was distorted with fu-
rious excitement.
! Just then his eyes fell upon the PAN
ther, which was struggling feebly now
with its entire hinder parts crushed
under heavy log dashed upon it by the
hurricane. All around it the earth was
torn with its mighty claws, and the
bark and wood of the log were SCARED
and spllntered where It's teeth had
ground them.
Tom stared moment.
-Ohol da' yo' is, yo' ole villyan!" he
stormed forth. "Da' yo' is. is yo'! Got
mo- AN yo' kin carry dis yo' time, has
yo3 Well, jes' gwine TO ter sorty
help you out.
He raised the club with both hands
and advanced.
A hoarse, gurgling howl Of agony
leaped from the foaming, gnashing
mouth of the crushed brute. Tom
dropped his club and retreated.
"Bress de Lcr'!" he calculated. I
done fought yo' had mel"
His fright was but momentary, how
>,,ar for he GOV thot tho neOther cOul1