The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-03
"THE BLACK VOLTS BREED >

.ne sreet popular successes In fiction II
recent years have been love stories with ,
background Of historical events It was mi,
style OF story which gave Anthony Hone snf
stanley weyman their vogue and since the,,
time those modern instances OF large. sellius
books, Richard Carvei" anu when Knight.
hood Was in Flower" II Is remarkable. too
that so many Of the large successes In his
tCricai novels have been made BY tho Ara
books OF authors up TO that time unknown
These facts may well justify Mr.. Harris Dick.
son in the hope that his first book. an his.
torica' novel with strong love story. may
reach that goal OF all authors hopes-popu.
larity.
Certainly Tho Black VOLTS Breed" Mr.
Dickson's story. possesses in a marked degree
! those qualities which should command sue.
cess. long story, II Is so FUN OF sterling
human interest OF tender love- making, OF gal
liant fighting that ono lays II down with repr,,
that 1t is not longer 1t has great claim tc
consideration also. because. while 1t deals
largely with French history and many OF rs
exciting scenes take place on French soil
II also deals with the early history OF the
French provinces In America. and gives pie
ture OF that now France. Louisiana, which
Louis NV, through treachery, came very ne,r
to bartcring away for u song.
~
| The hero OF tho tale is Placidc de Mouret,
captain in the guards of Bienvillo. governor
OF Louisiana province. At the time tho story
"opens Bicnylllo finds himself surrounded by
men In whom he daro not trust: men who
have been trafficking with Spain, who are
traitors to France, and who would fain turn
over the Louisiana province to Frances enc
mics The governor, who has becn like a
/ second father TO Do Mouret, sends for him
and. rehearslng tho situation. charges him
to make with all speed for Franco to place
dispatches In tho hands of his brother, Sc
rgny. and thereafter to act under Sergny's
Instructions.
And so placide goes, and on his way h,
falls in with traitors. but avoids them and
reaches. after various adventures, the courl
! ~ Louis, At Versailles. whi!o searching FOL
scr!suy, no attracts considerable attention b,
his American dress. His fringed leather leg.
gins. hunting knife and long sword differed
much from the wigs and frizzes worn by tn,
officers OF the guard However, he made
bold to be at ease II is his dress. though
that is responsible for his meeting with til,
king. While he Is gazing at fountain il
the court yard he hears voice,
Il lay n golden Louis his coat is OF rs
queer cut as his neither garment--what-
ever its outlandish name may be-"
Done said another voice.
Then dapper little courtier steps in from,
OF him
Hey. friend who is thy taior?" aud
behind me rang out merry laugh at
such famous Jest.
turned. and. there being party of
hnc ladies at my back, full gladly would
have retired. had not the young bragg
CART staggered to my front again and
persisted:
Friend. let us see the cut of thy
coat
When the impertlnence becomes unbearable
Placide catches the young buck by the shoul.
der and. swinging him off. throws him t.
the ground.
He sprang up instantly and. furiously.
drew his sword. I felt my own wrath rise
at the sight of cold steelt was ever
! way OF mine beyond control--and asked
him holly.
How is It affair OF thine what manner
| of coat wear?"
He made no reply. but raising his arm.
said menacingy: Nov. clown. show thy
coat or I'll spit thee like dog"
glanced around the circle at the
blanched faces of the ladies' seeing such
a serious turn to their lest, and would not
even thon have drawn. but the men made
| no effort TO interfere. so l only answered
him. NAY. I'll wear my cloak, : when he
made quick lunge mt me. ! know not
| that he meant me serious injury. but taxi
ing no risk, my blade came readily. and
| catching his slender weapon, broke 1t
short off, leaving him raging and defense
| less-a simple trick, yet not learned In a
| day. 1t was dainty little jewel-hlted
Toy, and hated TO spoil it.
| "Now, sir, thank the kings uniform
! for thy life." my blood was up. and
ached to teach him q lesson. 81 can not
| turn the kings sword against one OF his
! servants"
| And then the king comes on the scene ano
commencing De Mouret for his patriotism an
blaming the guardsman for his brawlins
orders Placide to attend him at the morning
hour, and thus Placide gets an opportunit
to serve Bienville.
|
Afterward, Placide learns from Serigny tina
certain papers important to Bienville's caus
| have fallen into the hands OF traitors and b
is sent to Paris to recover them. Bit by bl
ia related how Placide goes to Paris and fall
In with the traitor Carne Ward; fights him
gets the paper from him. Then he Ia assaile
while In a noted gaming den and fleeing TO
his life through the darkness, he PUSHES Int
n dark cell, where Broussard, another traitor
has already taken refuge The story OF til
terrible waiting in the dark. the two me
fearing an attack from each other; the slo'
stealing on OF the dawn. the final battle be
tween the two, which results In Placide bein
,oc.ea up for hours with the dead body OF hi
i onemv--all this 10 most graphically an
s,,oneIy described. The softer side OF tn
storv comes when PIacide is at sceaux a
Madame de Chartrain's.
~
Here he meets the woman with whom
falls in love. He asks her name withou
pointing her out;
"That. monsieur. is Madame Agnes, wife
=, The Cbeyalier de la Mora. the wittiest
ana most beautiful woman at sceaux. and
the chlliest.'
Mating the change Of countenance which
7 sought in vain to control he went on
banteringly:
DR,ware. NJ. Is captaine. half the men
1rtth har I'M CHI