The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-08-15

family servants. huddled forward,
wero lounging idly and enjoying the
lazy swing of the waves. Three men,
short, gaunt, with muscles like iron
bands on their sturdy limbs, were the
vessels crew. One, whose head was
grizzled with age, watched the tiller,
and gave orders in a queer mincing
pstois.
"You do not mean to say, Mr.. Ver-
non, that you ore abandoning your
place at Bay Saint Louis" remarked
Fairfax, IN the course OF their conver.
sation; "you surely arc not going to
leave it to 60 to ruin!"
"I cannot say for how long; but
certairly 1 am abandoning it, said
Mr.. Vernon. "It is no longer ate
to stay there. Besides, if the war
reaches here everything will be de-
stroyed, and even if that calamity be
averted, there remains the general
unsafe condition of society and gov
ernment here"
Pauline just then came from be-
low. .-..-.
''But do you think the British are
really likely to attack this coast?" ill.,
quired Fairfax.
"It is not only likely but almost
certain" was the reply.
"And with what result?"
"Disaster to u.s."
At this point Mr.. Vernon arose and
went to speak to the man at the tilier.
He was beginning to fear that with
the breeze as it now set they were
not going to be able to pass the
Rigolets before nightfall, and that,
indeed, they might be forced to anchor
off the mouth of Pearl River to await
a change of wind. The thought was
anything but pleasant.
Already the sun was slipping down
the west, and every minute the breeze
became more unfavorable and also
more fokle, putting irregularly and at
times threatening to cease, alto
gether.
The negro sailors were working
hard and with great deal of adroit-
ness to make the most OF the
situation; for they were not unaware
of the danger to them in spending a
night in the track of the Pearl River
vessels. To them the thought OF fall.
ing into the hands of pirates had all
the force Of romantic terror possible
to their imagination.
Fairfax. in blissful ignorance of'any
special significance attaching to the
situation, abandoned himself to the
pleasure of looking into Pauline's
face and listening to her voice.
Pauline may have been quite rs un
conscious of the young mans admira-
ton as she appeared to be; but, doubt
less, some satisfying sense OF her in
fluence upon him stole through her
mind, watt from that wonderland OF
experience, toward which it is the
blessed privilege of every maiden 70
drift, half expecting, half doubling.
They were both under the influence
of very tender and beautiful, yet in
distinct, mood, which made it alto.
gether delightful to sit or stand near
each other and merely play with the
outer fringe of sentiment, while the
Water Bird slipped gently along be-
tween the yellow marshes.
Suddenly sail, shining as white as
snow in the now almost level rays of
the sun, separated itself from a clump
of oaks on O distant hummock, and
appeared to slip forth across level,
grassy marsh.
All hands on deck saw it at once.
Mr.. Vernon sent below for his glass.
A moment later, Mrs, Vernon came
up. She watched her husband who,
despite his age and bulk, was climb.
ing with surprising nimbleness aloft
in order to have a clear view Of the
approaching sail. 1t proved toNbe
schooner coming down Pearl River
into Borgne; he could not make out
it's further description; but it ap.
peared to be fast little craft, well
manned and admirably handled. AL
though the breeze was puffy, it fay-
ored the stranger and she seemed to
be skimming along very briskly and
steadily.
Mr.. Vernon came down out of the
rigging and gave some orders in an
undertone to the man at the tiller,
then he passed forward, speaking in
the same tone to the other sailors.
tTo RF, coNTJNuED.)