The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-02-20
W. "a , TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1900.

NO more?" said I. "No more than
that to you?'
yes" said she, and her eyes were
downcast and her face crimson. eft
YOU reach General Jackson, I'll marry
you-if you want to ask me again. "
] sprang out of my basket toward
her, but she pushed me back. "Our
love making is not so important"
CAS- New Orleans?" said 1. "Now
don't know about that"
Besides, it is only on the condi-
ton that You get there" said she.
Back and down into the basket
went, without so much as another
word. She threw the sheet and the
linen over me again.
God help you, dear, she said, and
her tone made my predicament even
worth while.
"Celeste?" she called.
= Presently there was n heavy tread
and an explanation in Creole French.
I wondered if they would be able to
carry such burden as /. But for.
tunutely Twas slight then, and Celeste
not of u heavenly build, like her name
For the two negro women, big and
heavy, carried me easily. Once a sen.
tinel challenged; my heart went into
my mouth. But the fellow became
satisfied with the women's answers,
Then after some jolts, we stopped.
The linen was pulled away, for
which was glad enough, you may be-
lieve. My eyes were open on a sunny
place on the fat, complacent negress
and her heavy-featured companion.
The shrubs were thick where we stood {;
and in the shadow of the bank was
skin, the oars across the seat.
My two carriers went down to the
waters edge, almost nonchalantly, us
If [ didn't exist; and then they began
to shout high. dolorous melody,
with the Intention of drowning the
splashing sound from the oars of the
skin. AS / took my place L saw the
smallness OF the chance. But again
Vallerc's quick action fired my spirit,
rs it had in the leap from the window.
Yes, [ was in the skiff. / was pad.
ding very carefully under the bank.
The water in the bayous was high
then; there were little unused chan
nels [ could take, and as it CHANGED I
l knew those waters from my visits to
the De Maurs. / had rowed there
with mademoiselle many time, and
her talk now rang in my ears-hel
promise. And then ] thought of the
good VALERIE. Had he been shot OF
taken?
But L must not tell you of all
thought and fancied; of how I saw
some redcoats and avoided them. It
would make story altogether too
long You know that ] reached the
city, and the cathedral bell was toll
ing, and the air wos filed with shouts
aud songs. You could hear yankee
Doodle" "La Marseillaise, Ella
Chant du Depart, altogether, a med
ley of airs, of tongues. And then |
knew my friend, Major VALERIE, was
safe.
Into the streets, out of all sorts of
lodgings, were running that motley
army, some III dandifed clothes, some
IN buckskins, some our regulars, some
Latitte's staggering pirate gentry.
All, there never was such scene
save that when the city went mad
after the battle! And bright eyes
watched and tender voices cheered,
which made me think of mademoiselle.
Presently I found VALERIE. Tears
were in the brave gentleman's eyes as
he told me how he had hid in a cypress,
covered by the moss, and how his dog
had followed him, and had whined
there at the foot of the tree.
He hated to do it, but New Orleans
must be saved. He descended from
his perch, and killed the dog-not the
least sacrifice made for the country in
those days. Then, reascending his
cypress, he stayed hidden there until
it was safe to take his way, and he
had succeeded in reaching the city
sooner than |.
And what followed? Alb, m,
friends, the great battle, when those
splendid Englishmen-a brave men
as ever lived-wero moved down like
a scarlet-toppcd meadow by the
scythe'
And the pity and the uselossness Oh
1t, when, if we had known the treaty
had been signed, peace already had
been made
Didmademoiselle keep her promise
Well, you may believe I made her
keep it. OF the events following my
strange adventure, the chiefest for
me indeed was not the battle, but
Just my meeting with mademoiselle. -
Youths Companion.
Better Facilities.
.Pnpn.n said tho bennLifnl Girl q.