The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-01-04

Seemeu 10 ule, WHICH uBdlh Bulueu
force. 1 stumbled and fell on my
face; and then at length found my
self on a little path. I had no more
notion than a baby where it might
lead. Yet at last it seemed they had
lost the trail.
/ am no Louisianian; I didu't know
at all the woodcraft OF that broken
land, whilo VALERIE knew it all. But
to be sure, ] had to go somewhere.
so i followed that path; and after a
half-hour, although / heard voices and
shouts, saw no one; and then the
path opened on great house.
knew it, my friends; the house
the Comte de Maur had bought; the
plantation where 1 brought my heart
boats to little Marie. de Maur. And
then again / heard the pursuit, close
behind. knew they would have me !;
while to my dismay, on looking out, /
saw the caps of some of the jack-tars
on the road beyond.
Now the servants of the place had
rushed out, eager and fearful. The
comte himself was shouting strange
French words from his front door. A
midshipman, hat in hand, was ap-
preaching him.
looked about; can tell you,
looked about. saw how the shrub
berry grew up close aud shadowed a
house, like that OF the servants quar-
ters on those plantations. L edged
up to it, and saw an open window.
Out of window L had come; into
window / would go. In brief
glance saw a fat negro woman stand
ing arms akimbo, looking out on the
King of England's men.
leaped in. She turned about, as
if 1 were a ghost. I thought she
would cry ont. As an actual fact, she
did nothing of the kind. She was
quick -witted, that old soul. Quickly
L explained In her dialect, half
French, half English, she saw way,
and taking some soiled linen from
basket, motioned me in.
You may believe 1 understood
Down l went into that basket, and
clean sheet was thrown over me, with
the soiled linen on top of that.
Presently heard gruff voice. My
friend grunted as if she didn't under
stand English. She was a wonderful
person, can assure you.
mot here, eh?"
\ sword-point touched my shins,
and poked down there till 1 thought
/ should cry out; but didn't, as was
lucky, for the owner of the sword
moved away, and the door shut.
] lay there half-smothered till I
could stand it no longer, and then 1
stretched my head up, and the first
sight L saw was the little mademoiselle.
WASN'T prepossessing sight. I'm
agine the situation yourself.
Monsieur the captain" said she,
with sparkling eyes.
Begging your pardon, said +, as 1
best could.
II had no notion you were the
man Celeste hid," she said, with
laughter.
"Or else you would have given me
up?" said /, mnch piqued. "Where
are they?"
"phey have gone, taking all the
meu and my father. / didn't have
to use my dagger. They were very
courteous"
The dagger was little trinket at
her belt. Every lady of the city and
the countryside wore one that week,
1 dare say thinking that their pretty
selves might have to fight the English.
For gossip had it there had been
toast on Admiral Cochrane's ship,
Beauty and Booty"
II will sing Yankee Doodle OF the
'Marseillaise,' if can get away-to
New Orleans" said I, impatiently.
You must get there" said she,
SOLDERING. "You must let them know.
They've taken all our men with them."
For moment she stood there re-
hecting, aud then taking q step nearer,
she said. You shall go back into the
basket"
"Well?" said I.
And Celeste and another woman
shall carry you--as il you were-"
'"Old Clothes" said i.
"No, a charming, brave gentle
man, said mademoiselle, clapping
her hands; and really it was the
vainest moment of my life.
That's good of you. said /. "But
what follows?"
"They will take you to a place in
the bayou where there's skiff. Keep
through the passage to the right, aud
you will reach the river near the
city"
81 will try it" said 1, getting back
into the basket, where / stood for n
moment looking at her. "You are a
brave lady, mademoiselle. 1 knew
there was more in my eyes than just
what those words conveyed.
"And you, / have said, brave geu.
tleman."
mo more?" said /. "No more than
that to you?"
Eyes" 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"
i sprang out OF my basket toward
her, but abe pushed me back. ''Our
love-making is not 30 important"
'As New Orleans?" said L. NOW
l don't know about that"
Besides, it is only ON the condi.
ton that You get there" said she.
Back and down into the basket l
went, without SO much as another
word. She threw the sheet and the
linen over me again.