The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-08-29
I CHAPTER VII.
CONTINUED.

FalrfQX turned apouV, one "AsA
folded arms stood apart, scarcely
thinking. but wrapped in mood that
filed the air about him with confused
and indefnable apprehensions. He
was not aware that Pauline had come
near until she spoke, and then he
started perceptibly Ito himself, if not
to her), and looked down at her as If
from o great distance. We must re-
member that he had not slept during
the night; this might, to o degree,
account for the unnatural slowness
with which he responded to the fresh,
almost enthusiastic, manner of the
girl, as she began to speak Of the sun
elories that shimmered over the lone
" marshes OF the Rigolets.
Meantime, Lieutenant Ballanehe
was informing Mr.. Vernon OF the
probability that British feet was at
hand to cooperate with hostile In
dians in the effort to devastate the
whole country from Pensacola to New
Orleans, and that in the latter city
there was need of wise counsel ana
patriotic effort. :,
sThings are in bad condition"
he said, "and we need the the work
of men like you, Mr.. Vernon, to bring
order out OF confusion, and to urge
the citizens to a proper view OF duty.
At present, the most deplorable In
difference as to the outcome OF affairs
prevails in New Orleans; nobody
seems to realize our dreadful danger. !"
seThe government seems to me most
to blame" remarked Mr.. Vernon.
"Instead of building fortitica-
tions and fitting out such vessels as
can be had for defence, it is spending
most of its time and money searching
for imaginary robbers and impossible
pirates" .
1T is true that our defences are OF
no value, but you are wrong III thlnA-
lug that our outlaws are imaginary.
have just been up Pearl River and
to Honey Island, where robbers are
more numerous than honest citizens.
It is not of these, however, that we
need to cpeak; bad as they are, they
are less dangerous than those citizens,
ostensibly respectable and worthy,
who use their apparent social super
iority as cloak to hide the villanies
they encourage"
Ballanche spoke with an earnest
ness amounting almost to vehemence,
and by the half closing of his eyes
and a certain immobility of all his
features. his face took on an intensely
resolute expression.
Mr.. Vernon looked calmly at him,
rs if by sort of masterful scrutiny
he could read his inmost thoughts end
draw from them a more comprehen-
siye meaning than the speaker him
self realized in them. Presently he
said:
"You may be right, lieutenant; but,
for my part, see many sides to the
question. New Orleans and Louisi-
ana owe very little to any govern
ment, save that which they themselves
represent. Understand, neverthe-
less, that T am for allegiance to the
government at Washington, or at
whatever other place the United
States councils meet, and that l am
for a rigorous defense Of New Orleans
against auy British force that may
come; but I should advise careful
speaking when it comes to character
izing our citizens as encouragers Of
gillainies."
"But perhaps, sir, you do not
know the condition of things in New
Orleans"
Lieutenant, I do know. How
could I help knowing? I knew be-
fore you were born; have knew
ever since; I know now"
Ballanche made a slight, quick
movement and something like an al
most invisible flush leaped into his
olive-brown cheeks. Mr.. Vernon's
voice had been 50 deep and powerful
and his attitude so suggestive Of vlrile
or leonine superiority that the young
man had felt shock, which for the
moment confused him.
"What reliable word have you that
British fleet is near here?" Mr..
Vernon continued, his manner chang
ing to one of mere inquiry.
"None. The activity of the Indians
and tie presence of foreign emissaries
among the tribes seem to indicate,
however, that strong movement is
to he made"
'And what did you succeed in do
ing toward suppressing the Pearl
River robbers?" Mr.. Vernon presently
asked
"Of course, I did nothing-nothing
seems possible in the matter at pres
eut-but I found out q good deal
about them, and have been thinking
over o plan by which it might be pos
sible to servo both them and the
country"
THAT would be singular achieve
ment, I should say"
eyes, at first thought it would ap.
pear SO; but believe itca be done. :"
Mr.. Vernon stood waiting for the
lieutenant to explain; but he did not
urge him to proceed even by look.
''If amnesty were tendered to all OF
the outlaws who should join our mill
tary forces and do service for the
country, I believe the most of then,
would accept the offer in good faith.
At all events, an going to lay the
matter before the governor"
Mr.. Vernon made no remark; he
stood in the attitude of a respectful
listener whose mind had run ahead Of
what his companion had been saying;