The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-11-14
CHAPTER XVI.
CONTINUED.

be in the city before the week is
past"
Pauline pulled her down into her
zap with girlish tenderness ard fond
aess, soothing herself by caressing her
friend.
Mrs. Vernon took Mademoiselle dc
5ezannes's hand and stroked it. The
three were drawn close together IN
striking group near the center of the
room whose windows were festooned
inside with almost priceless tapestry
and outside with blooming vines. De-
spite the chill of the December air,
with its searching dampness, the per-
fume of roses and violets were sweetly
prevalent throughout the house.
"Why, you have lost the set OF your
riner' Mrs. Vernon exclaimed, as her
fingers touched the little circle of gold
claws that had held large diamond
in place.
"No!"
eyes. See!"
Mademoiselle looked down and
turned pale.
"And it was the ring he gave ne
my"
tsYour engagement ring!"
For the time they forgot war and
its terrors in their CONSERVATION over
a lost bauble; but, then, the bauble
stood for so much! They sprang to
their feet, and the diamond set rolled,
flashing, ON the carpet. All three
stopped to pick it up, and so pressed
and crushed themselves together IN
beautiful disorder, actually laughing
. and calculating gayly.
"Oh, 1 could not-I could not lose
this!" cried Mademoiselle de Sezan-
mes.
She kissed the stone and fondled it
against her cheek.
"You know I lost the large ruby
out of my fan on the night of your
party" she went on to say. 'I'm
having bad luck with my jewels. !" .
"sDo you mean to say that you lost
the Caribbean ruby, as you called
it?" inquired Mrs. Vernon.
eyes, the buccaneer. You recol-
lect, Pauline, that Mr.. Parker ad-
mired it 80 much that evening. l
was nearly heart broken when I found
that it was gone. Though I would
rather lose hundred like it than this
darling set." And again she showered
kisses on the diamond.
It would have been a triae startling
to :he ladies could they have been
Informed just then that Parker, alias
John A. Murrell, had sold the ruby
in Memphis and made merry with
friends in expending the money re-
ceived for it.
Mr.. Vernon came in presently, wet
and chilled. He went directly to his
own room to change his clothes and
be rubbed by a servant.
When he appeared again it was to
inform his wife and his daughter that
they were to bo sent to the plantation
to remain till after the impending
battle had been fought. Preparations
for the move would be made immedi-
ately. Lapin, the cverseer, had beer
notified, and would come early on IT,,
morrow with the proper vehicles e. G.,
taking suct things as would be nee;o
The ladies would 60 in the familyyeo eor
riase.
So sudden ON announcement
a time, added much to the 4ss1;nr . Ii % ~
dread and to the confused aunrabeU e
sions, with which Mrs, verppn md
Pauline were already 5pprasssd. pssned '1s II
had in it the terrible 3ealitv Of imme.
diate and dire urg urgsnc1 , " wbiff of
battle-smoke wal tbrnnmh % tta 20
house could nSt u have 'He been more
startling. ~ ~ ~ '
,-;.s "9h, ,;.jinH il Hoould go with you"
will be awf'! II" Ir'''l'' N' 0IA
,,.. 0q., w. gu can go with u.s." said
aea, mes: ZION. "Why not? There is
'oe ..N,n - the carriage"
IVY dear child, yes" added Mr..
Yernlyn with serious smile. SIT
%o"j1 be so good CT you to 60 and
%TEompany for Pauline and Madame
yernon."
out, papd 1heb
f "Oh, there is no hurry. You can
30 home and confer with your father.
It will be safest for you 10 be with my
family, I am very sure. Tell your
5,ther that advise it and insist upon
it. The city will be no place for US
if the English defeat Jackson and
come in
In some way, through medium
thought at the time to be sufficiently
authentic, the story had come to New
Orleans that the British officers had
promised their men the freedom of
conscienceless conquerors should they
capture the city. AS the rumors OF
their approach and Of the oyerwhelm-
ing numbers they could oppose to the
little handful of Americans were
coupled with a report OF such dark
Significance, the invaders were re-
garded as savages worse i'll every re-
spect than the red men who had been
go recently conquered by Jackson. A
thrill of apprehension shot through
the heart OF the city; but the bediz
ened dens OF vice and infamy abated
not one line or point of their cupidity,
ceased not by night or by day their hid
eous carousals. There seemed to ht
as much danger within as without, II
The event OF such disorder as woult
follow the defeat Of Jackson.
What aggravated the danger wa
the clash between Jackson and this
very class, whose leaders were, il
fact. the chief men of the State. The