The midland journal., 1899-04-07
CHAPTER XXI.
FLIGHT AND PuRSIr1T

IN theSe concluding chapters of nv
narrative. many details must be omit
ted. The stress and suspense of the
situation at which we have now ar
rived in its progress are acting upon
me somewhat as the real scenes of
thirty years ago affected me, and
must go rapidly forward to the close
1t may therefore be said that the skill
and management of LIE Fevre, with the
friendly aid of the house servants, put
in successful operation the initiative
of the plan of escape that he had de-
vised. A little after midnight Coralie
and | were in carriage that had been
brought by roundabout plantation
road some distance above the house.
LIE Fevre took the reins, and drove
rapidly toward Donaldsonville.
He had judged rightly as to what the
occupation of Conrad Bostock and his
boon companions was likely to be on
this night. A good account of their
roysterings, and of the manner in
which Coralies flight was discovered,
was afterward furnished to me by one
of the negro women who listened in
trepidation at the parlor door, anxious
for some hint as to what was to be-
come of herself and 1.-The people" of
the plantation. The negroes had heard
the rumor that the new NAUSEA" in
tended to sell them all, and let the
plantation to some one who could
stock it; and Bess was cndeavoring to
secure early information of his real
designs.
The new proprietor had discovered
the repository of the wine, and dozen
dusty bottles had been brought up.
When sufficient of their contents had
been drunk to make the party merry,
cards were produced, and gambling
commenced. There seemed to be plenty
of money among them, and the game
was continued with varying success
till midnight, when Conrad was largely
the winner.
The bottle had circulated freely, and
the depraved men were ready for any
thing that would yield new excite
ment.
1.-TWO thousand dollars against that
girl!' Gardette shouted.
"Done! said Bostock.
The cards were dealt, and the others
stood close by the table to watch the
game. Gardette lost
Another chancer' he demanded.
YES" said the winner.
This time Gardette won.
The girl is miner he shouted eX-
ultingly.
''Well play again" Conrad clamored
20, no. I'm content. You've won
enough, tonight, to stop"
You'll play again, the girl against
two thousand dollars, or you'll fightw
the other insisted.
Both were inflamed with wine, and
the excitement of gaming, which is
greater than that of wine. Pistols
were drawn, and one or both would
have fallen; but at this moment their
companions interviewed and persuaded
Gardette, for the sake of peace, to con-
sent to one more game.
1t was played with the same stakes.
Gardette lost. With an oath, he swal-
lowed another glass, and said:
This is good deal like n farce,
Con. Here we've been playing for the
girl for the last hour, and as the game
turns, you'll keep her. But suppose
I'd won at the end?"
"Then you'd take her."
Maybe you coul6n't deliver her."
"Why not?"
81 don't know; I'm only talking.
But ! happened to think, while the
game was going on, and it was doubt
full who'd be her master, what u silly
lot we were to be playing for some
thing that none of us might ever set
eyes on again"
Now, Gardette, what the devil d'ya