The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-09-26

toy at ones, DuG IaTheI ThS ol1 oooy
handing it to Mademoiselle de
Sezannes with an exquisite bow.
Such celerity astounded the ieuten-
ant; indeed, it actually offended him;
and his face showed it in spite of him.
"That is a remarkably fine ruby,
naiemoiselle, in the hilt of your fan,
said Parker, after gracefully receiv-
ing her thanks. "Such stone might
have history"
Monsieur Parker, you have very
quick eyes," she smilingly answered,
land you guess we'll. This stone has
romantic history. Rochon, the last
of the buccaneers, gave it to my
grandfather. It is known as the buc-
cancer of Caribbean ruby"
"That is very interesting. Will
you kindly let me look at it. I have
a passion for old gems"
"Oh, certainly, monsieur. Every
one desires to look at it. 1t is ia
nous little pebble"
He took the fan aud held it 80 that
the light fell favorably upon the
rosy-hued setting.
"Superb!" he exclaimed. "It
glows like fire and has the color of a
red cherry's juice. Thank you, ma
demoiselle; it is a great pleasure to
have seen the beautiful thing"
Parker was exquisitely dressed,
aud upon his own hands and bosom
sparkled diamonds of no mean size.
His air at that moment was that of a
connoisseur delighted to have been
permitted to look at marvel in
his special field of knowledge. He
lacked the peculiar air of ease and fin
ish, so to speak, that made Lieuten'
ant Ballanche so notable in company;
but there were O self-sufficiency, q
readiness and sharp vigilance that
even the famous lieutenant could not
command. Evidently he was one to
watch, if you would not have him beat
you in any race. -,
He looked bodily into Mademoiselle
de Sezannes' eyes, and said:
"Will Mademoiselle de Sezannes
honor me with the next dance?"
Ballanche had been just on the
point of asking the great pleasure, but
the quick youth had forestalled him.
eyes, monsieur, with pleasure, I"
she answered, ''but let Us pass one
dance, if you please am a triae
tired"
"Take my arm, I will find you q,
seat"
He stepped close to her and bowed.
He was 30 prompt, 80 taking in some
way, and withal 80 outright that there
was no denying him.
A moment later Lieutenant Bal
lanche found himself standing there
alone, while the tall girl was walking
away leaning with superb grace on the
arm of the spry little muscular
stranger. A flush of anger mantled
the usually cool cheek of the soldier,
and he turned on his heel, as if to give
an order to company behind him.
He came near upsetting an old
gentleman of short but portly figure.
"Your pardon, SIR"
"Ah, pardon"
Both men bowed and apologized.
The old gentleman was Madamoiselle
de Sezannes's father, Octave de Sezau-
nes, the banker. He rubbed his
hands togther in a businesslike way
and smiled with that perfunctory read
mess noticeable in men who make
money by sharp turns. The seal of
his watch was maltese cross of gold
set with diamonds.
Pardon, monsieur, we heavy men
rove but slowly and awkwardly; we
are in everybody's way"
"But it is I who ar to blame, Mon
sieur de Sezannes; T sprang around
as if I meant to run away. I was an
cry, however, and you know an angry
man is fool"
hs spoke lightly, but the ring of
his sudden creole fury was not yet out
of his voice.
II saw, I saw; T know what you
mean," said Do Sezannes, with the
air of one from whom nothing escapes.
"The young fellow swooped down like
hawk and took Marie right away
from you. Ha, ha, ha!'
Lieutenant Ballanche joined the
old gentleman but 8fyly in his little
laugh.
Through rift in the company and
beyond a curtaincd doorway he could
see Madamoiselle de Sezannes sitting
in q tall, carved chair and Parker
standing by her side. They appeared
to be charmed with each others CON-
pany. A little later they were going
through dance together, while Bal
lanche was talking with Monsieur de
SeZannes.
In tho meantime, Mr.. Vernon was
laboring to convince Fairfax that Col
onel Lorlng was not Pierre Rameau.
Loring himself stood by, apparently
quite Indifferent as to the outcome.
holding his head high and turning his
half-closed, inscrutable eyes toward
the ceiling.
Fairfax found himself in a predica-
ment very difficult for one of his tenn
permanent and disposition to control.
BE felt that he could not be mistaken;
he recollected with absolute memory
every feature of the face disclosed to
him when the loose cloth mask of the
robber fell partly away on that very
noteworthy night in March over at
Vasseur's place. The form of the
mau, the peculiar beauty OF his hands
Uong, shapely, muscular) and then
the ring on his last fnger-that of
| itself was Identification beyonC doubt.