The silver star., 1900-02-16

That to you:"
Yes" said she, and her eyes were
downcast aud her face crimson. "If
you reach General Jackson, I'll marry
you-if you want to ask me again"
l sprang out Of my basket toward
her, but she pushed me back, ssOur
love making is not 80 important"
"As New Orleans?" said 1. .Now
l don't know about that"
"Besides, it is only on the condi.
tion that You get there" said she.
Back and down into tho basket I
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 heavy tread
and an explanation in Creole French.
1 wondered if they would be able to
carry such q burden as 1. But for
tunately Twas slight then, and Celeste
not of heavenly build, like her name.
For the two negro women, big and
heavy, carried me easily. Once SEN
tinel challenged; my heart went into
my mouth. Bnt the fellow became
satisfied with the women's answers.
Then after some iolts, we stopped.
The linen was pulled away, for
which was glad enough, you may be-
lieve. Ny 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 a
skiff. 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
skiff. As took my place 7 saw the
smallness Of the chance. But again
Vallere's quick action fred my spirit,
as it had in the leap from the window.
Yes, was in the skiff. l 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
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-her
promise. And then I thought of the
good VALERIE. Had he been shot or
taken?
But 1 must not tell you of all I
thought and fancied; of how l saw
some redcoats and avoided them. It
would make a story altogether too
long. You know that 1 reached the
city, and the cathedral bell was toll
ing, and the air was filed with shouts
and songs. You could hear yankee
Doodle" "La Marseillaise, LA
Chant du Depart" altogether, med
ley OF airs, of tongues. And then 1
knew my friend, Major VALERIE, was
safe.
Into the streets. out of all sorts df
lodgings, were running that motley
army, some in dandified clothes, some
in buckskins, some our regulars, some
Lafitte's staggering pirate gentry.
ALI, 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 1 found VALERIE. Tears
were in the brave gentleman's eyes as
he told me how he had hid in cypress,
covered by the moss, aud 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 I.
And what followed? Ali, my
friends, the great battle, when those
splendid Englishmen-as brave men
as ever lived-were moved down like
scarlet-topped meadow by the
scythe!
And the pity and the uselessness of
it, when, il we had known, the treaty
had been signed, peace already had
been madei
Did mademoiselle keep her promise?
Well, You may believe / made her
keep it, or the events following my
strange adventure, the chisfest for
me indeed was not the battle, but
inst nv meeting with mademoiselle.