The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-09-14

auu HWeetnearG WalG1ng Tor your com
mgr
Neither mother nor sweetheart"
corrected the other. Then he turned
to the wreck again with an uneasy
gaze.
a tall, gaunt woman, supported by
a stick, now stood by it. Her brown
left hand was raised angriIy in the air,
and even where he stood he caught the
sound of imprecations. Taken together
the stranded wreck on the barren shore
and the gloomy figure beside it was
enough to add fuel to the gravest sus
picions. But more than all this was
the look he saw On che girls face as he
again turned-a look Of settled, blind
terror.
"Who is she and what does she
meanG' he cried with a quick nod sea-
ward.
mere Annette" said the girl grave.
ly. ''She is cursing the vessel, mon
sier, on account of her son Antoine,
who had the misfortune to be killed at
your landing near Louisburg."
There vas no mistaking the start her
nearer gave, nor his quick, involun
tary clutch about his despatch belt.
But he said nothing, only loosened his
sword within it's scabbard and stood
facing her with bent broWs.
For a moment the girl returned his
steady stare, the color rising softly in
her checks. Then she drew near and
laid her hand upon his arm. 1t is well
there is no sweetheart to mourn, mon
sier, is it not9 For Mere Annette will
have no mercy"
Ralph Adams smiled doubtfully and
took a frmer grip upon. his sword,
while Marie went on hurriedly: Can
you not see what it means that you
are left alone but for me; that the
women go in procession to the ship,
and that Mere Annette curses it, Why,
look you, monsieur, their sons and
brothers fought for their kings at Louis
burg; some are dead, some are Woun
ded, the rest came back in sorrow yes
terday at noon. For the storm he's
driven you ashore only one days march
from Louisburg, and since yesterday
we have all been mourning, till this
noon your shattered vessel was seen
drifting at high tide toward the shore.
Then Mere Annette, who hates your
race like death itself, arranged the
plan. No one was to moleet you, lest
your soldiers at Louisburg hear and
Rvenge. You were to come and go in
safety, to that when the wrek was dis
covered they could say you had been
here and had gone your way, but there
was to be an ambush in your path,
Aye" went ON the girl in lower tones,
IAN ambush in every direction. Now,
you know where the men are"
This time Adams gripped bis sword
so tightly that the veins Of his hand
distended in a sudden network. A
einging sound was In his ears, and the
sky seemed in an instant to grow
black as ink. This presently passed,
and he found himself shiveriDg icily.
He looked at the girl. she was watch
ing him intently.
ut means DEATH" said he gravely,
and never had his voice sounded to
him so strange before. THAT is-un-
less I can cut my way through"
Marie shook her head. You will
not see them, only feel the bite OF their
bullets. 1t means death"
The two stood regarding each other
a little in silence, Adams a trife
flushed at the thought of danger, the
girl pale and distraught. The sun had
now vanished, and twilight was clos
ing in upon them. The outlines of the
wreck were each instant becoming
more blurred, al were houses and hills
on either hand. And in the midst Of
this slow darkening world their voices
dropped to minor keys.
IF I had known" said the man, re,
gretfully, II would have"
WHAT"
Watched the sun set," he ended,
gently. ut is the last"
"The very last" said the girl. You
can look at life now as a burden soon
to be laid down; you al e it's faults
and ~foIlies, its petty loves and hatreds,
for the last time, for soon you will live
only in the memory of those who love
you"
There are none," said the man de-
spondently, thinking in his death hour
of the hard featured cousins who were
to profit by his passing.
There is one," said Marie, holding
out her hands. ''Ney, do not stare So"