The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-02-06
CHAPTER xxx.
CONCLUSION.

which the occasion demanded, held
his little army well together aud did
not relax his vigilance until he was
sure that the British had abandoned
all thought Of further efforts to take
New Orleans. He permitted Mr.. Yer
non to conduct Mrs. Vernon, Pauline
aud Mademoiselle de Sezannes to the
city, but Lieutenant Ballanche was
ordered, much to his chagrin, to re-
main with the army.
Kirk MacCollough, old man Burns
and Vasseur has been buried tenn
porarily in shallow graves near where
they had fallen. Later, Mr.. Vernon
had all three brought to New Orleans
and inferred in a cemetery where to
this day a heavy brick tomb stands
under spreading oak.
A few years ago the walls of this
tomb were crumbling to ruin; but in
1889 some kind hand restored them
and covered the whole with durable
stucco.
There was tumult ofreioicing which
lasted for many days and nights in
Orleans. Never, perhaps, in the his
tory of wars was there battle of such
consequence that caused 80 little
mourning to the victors. The killed
and wounded were so few that the face
of sorrow scarcely showed itself amid
the general fare of glorifcation.
The de Sezannes's mansion was
thrown open late in January for a
grand reception to General Jackson
and his officers. All the world was
there, as the creoles expressed it, and,
next to the grim commander himself,
Fairfax, who was able to attend as the
only wounded soldier present, was the
hero of the occasion, especially in the
eyes of the ladies.
"Ah, if could have been touched
with shot!" exclaimed Lieutenant
Ballanche, as he joined the group that
had gathered around the pale yet radi-
antly happy young man.
"But then we should not have had
the pleasure of being rescued by you, u
said Pauline.
"Oh, that was tame affair on my
part"
"Tame, indeed" remarked Made
moiselle de Sezannes. "You do not
appreciate romance.
"But I do, mademoiselle; only the
romance did not make me man OF
note. lam horribly jealous of Fair,
fax"
"And here I must sit, like cat on
rug, while you dance with all these
charming ones," said Fairfax. "It is
who lose most if accounts are prop
erly squared"
Mr.. Vernon was present, passing
among the thronging guests, his stal.
wart form and his massive head dis.
tiuguishing him as one cast in no com,
mon mold. He appeared to have
grown older, and the expression of his
face suggested some inward reserve ol
gloom, albeit he smiled and conversed
with much of his accustomed stately
vivacity. To him General Jackson
showed more marked respect than to
any other person in the house.
"You will not think me neglectful
of your gallant husbands inestimable
services to me and the country, mad.
ame," said the general to Mrs. Liv.
ingston, eff I say frankly that I owe
more to Mr.. Vernon than to any man
in my army"
"You may trust me not to mis-.
understand you, general" replied
that lady, with frank earnest
ness. "Mr. Vernon has al
ways been man of remarkable
influence and executive power. My
husband has often relied upon him,
and never without avail, in matters
apparently beyond hope. But do
you know" and she lowered her
voice, "that he is wholly mysterious9''
Yes; I confess that he is the only
man that I ever met whose motives
and whose character could not even
guess at"
''It is comforting to hear you say
so; it confirms me in my romance. "
She smiled reniniscently and then
added: IT have always imagined that
some great secret was locked IN his
breast"
cit is the secret OF greatness ham
pered by some controlling fate," said
Jackson, half in seriousness, perhaps,
but guided by his chivalrous impulse
to assist Mrs. Livingston in her ro-
mantle notion.
EDO you know that his word is law
with the forbans and outlaws?" she
suddenly inquired. "My husband
says that he controls them perfectly"