The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-07-18
BY MAURICE THOMPSON.
-;ch., lse. and 1895 By Rober. Bonner's Sons

heluI uluS VuCASO Oh AVA
followed by a negro groom, she was
making her pony gallop briskly when
at q turn in the path he suddenly
scared, whirled about and flung her
off.
The object which had frightened
the fiery little animal proved to be an
easel roughly improvised by an artist
who had been sketching o cluster OF
moss-hurg trees. The artist himself
was near by, and ran to Pauline's as
sistance.
The fall, though hard, had rather
dazed than hurt the astonished girl,
aud before she fairly realized what
had happened, she found herself up
borne in the arms of strange, hand.
some young man, who held her as II
she had been little child.
"Are you hurt?" he inquired, his
face close to hers, his eyes tenderly
regarding her.
At first she could make no answer,
and she was too weak to struggle.
The groom hastened to the spot; but
seeing his young mistress in the pos.
session of a stalwart, heavily armed
white man, was afraid to say word OF
move o hand. The pony. freed OF its
burden, had run home at full speed,
and the thoroughly frightened negro,
after .glaring a moment, whipped his
cob and rushed away in the same d.
rection, leaving Pauline helpless
captive in the arms of her rescuef.
MIR. Vernon CHANGED to be at the
house, when the groom, wiid.eyed and
gasping, arrived with his but half-co-
herent story of the adventure.
"Pierre Rameau!" he hoarsely cried
in half whisper. "Pierre Rameau
done got Miss Pauline! Oh, de good
Lor', de good Lor', Marse Vernon run
dar quick!"
Mr.. Vernon did not need to be told
twice. He snatched brace of heavy
pistols, mounted the groom's horse
and galloped toward the scene Of the
tragedy.
Pierre Rameau was q terrible name
in the Gulf.coast region in those days.
more terrible even than that of John
A. Murrell became few years later.
Indeed, Rameau was reputed to be
the leader of oil the robbers, pirates
and creole forbans in the whole South
west. His deeds had hung o fasci'
mating mist of romance about him
which appealed to the Imagination oi
the people.
Little wonder, then, that Mr.. Yer
non felt, as he urged the clumsy horse
along the vague bridle-path, under
the trees, terrible whirl of mingline
and, so to say, crushing emotions
His daughter was his idol; he wor
SHIPPED her as only an aged man can
worship an only child, the offspring
of belated marriage.
Pauline in the hands of Pierre
Rameau! The thought was absolutely
unbearable, and yet it had to be borne
at least for o few minutes; and the
strain upon the old mans feelings
showed in the swelling veins Of hit
neck and forehead as he leaned for
ward over his horses shoulders ant
seemed trying to pierce the dark
thick woods with his gaze.
When he turned sharp curve O.
the way and looked down q straight
stretch between heavy liveoaks ane
under gray festoons of Spanish moss
he saw something which, as picture
hung ever after in his memory.
1t was Pauline walking side by side
with tall young man, who, armed
like q brigand, with rifle and pistols,
and bearing an artists portfolio, saun
tered with the careless ease and grace
of one at home in any place. The
two seemed quite on good terms with
each other, and were coming toward
Mr.. Vernon, who checked his horse
in time and glowered darkly at them
Pauline ran forward to meet hel
father, her face beamiug.
Papa, this gentleman is Mr.. Fair
fax, of Virginia; when my pony threw
me moment ago, he came to my aid.
"He is IN artist, and is staying at
Monsieur Vasseur's. I hope you will
thank him for his kindness to me"
The young man came up just then,
and Mr.. Vernon bent upon him q
steady, searching look.
care you Mr.. Burton Fairfax, sir?
he demanded, putting away the pisto
that he had been holding for deadly
use.
eyes, SIR" Evidently the young
man was surprised. His face showedit
"The negro tcld me that q robbel
hsd caught my daughter, so I wa:
scarcely prepared to see the son ofsmy
old friend, Colonel Stirling Fairfax.
Mr.. Vernon had regained perfec
composure, and was now smiling
kindly.
.sYou knew my father?" inquired
Fairfax.
"Many, many years ago, in Eng
land. We were the best of friends
and I am proud now to see his SOL
and to thank him for his gallant kind
ness to my daughter"
You giveme the deepest pleasure,
Fairfax said, the strangeness of th'
situation preventing a clear under
standing of it.
"Your mother was Rurton," Mr..
Vernon went on. He dislnounted ant
took the young mans hand "Fin'
old families, the Burtons and the Fair
faxes-fine old families. Glad to tak'
your hand, sIr."
ponlir,a stood nv looking on