The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-10-30

more ODllSdllOu tuGI Sah S'Si NtS
charge"
Nonsense, child. do net mean to
bribe you, but do mean that no one
can ever confer q benefit on Constant
Quillebert without being the gamer
thereby"
what is it you desire me to dog
1T is this: My jockey has been very
sick since he was whipped for running
away. Some think be will die. That
incompetent De Roux does not know
how to handle the case. Oakfell, who
is thought to be paid by the abolition
lists, is in an underhand way seeking to
arouse public sentiment against me
and has already excited old Latiolais'
shallow headed granddaughter, who
has said some bitter things to the
priest Grhe and others. She has the
notion that the staggering American
is looking her way. and she struts
nightly"
"The double faced thing~ exclaimed
Laura vindictively.
Should Leon die," continued Quille-
bert, "it is thought Oakfell will urge
popular demonstration, maybe a pros
ecution. l would avoid all this. If
Leon recovers, l will pay back the con-
spirators with interest"
"EstelIe, too" demanded Laure.
"If she gets in the way, she shall
have her SHARE" he answered.
"Then what can l do?'' she asked,
with a satisfied air.
"This-persuade your grandmother to
give you the cure for Leon"
"Oh, NJ. Constant! I fear your un-
f!.iendliness to the church will pre-
vent"
"Eow? Does any one here give more
to the priests and the converts than l
do? But that is not to the point. am
not sick. The cure Is for Leon. Be-
sides, l am your friend, Laure, and
your enemies are my enemies"
"A1ust you have it today?"
"At once. There is not one minute to
spare. If Leon is not better by to-
morrow morning, he will not live the
week out"
81 will try" Laure consented after
short reflection.
"Take this; it may help your argu-
ment," said Quillebert, handing her a
shining double eagle goldpiece.
Back into the bushes, then, till re-
turn" said she,
Quillebert did as he was bidden, and
the girl walked rapidly to the cottage.
The half hour OF her absence appeared
to him all bu: interminable, and it was
as one freed from long Imprisonment
that he spraug from the matted vines
and brush when she stopped beside the
tree holding her hands behind her and
sang:
Soldier, soldier, marry, marry me-"
"Well?" he exclaimed.
"She was very unwilling" said she.
But
81 got it," she anticipated his Ques-
ton. Here it is" And, holding forth
her hands, she exhibited in one q mar
row band Of snow white cloth about
ten inches in length made Of unspun
cotton fiber beaten and pressed while
saturated with water. The other held
roll Of the cured skin Of q garfsh, in
which the cotton strip had been in
cased.
"Grandmother raised this cotton in
the garden from seed obtained in Egypt
by her brother, who was soldier Of
the emperor. She had every boil taken
from the stalk as it opened and carried
to her room. With her own hands she
picked the lint, muttering prayers arc
crossing herself all the while. Sas
soaked and pressed it with her own fl-
vers, and I am sure she put prayer
between every two layers. She says
that if before 8 o'clock tonight this
holy fllet is laid over Icons eyes and
temples he will get we'll"
Pretty one, you are Jeanne q arc!
Give me the fllet," Quillebert eagerly
demanded.
"Take it and win," said Laure.
"And share the spoils Of victory with
nv little lieutenant" be added, rolling
the strip and replacing it in the fish
skin. In an instant his horse was heard
bounding through the dry swamp.
Another sound of horses feet fell up
on Laure's ear, and she ran to the skirt
Of the wood to receive most elaborate
bow from the exquisite Evariste OAK
fell as he cantered along the opposite
bank Of the bayou and to catch the
notes Of bis fine tenor voice caroling:
"sold;er, soldier, marry, marry me-"
Her heart beat wildly with q delight
she could scarce explain, but was sud-
denly stilled by the thought that Eva
riste may have seen Quillebert, heard
her signal to him and construed their
meeting as she would not for the world
have him construe 1t.
The gait Of QuIllebert's steed was not
lowered from run until, throbbing and
covered with foam, he was halted at
his stable Quillebert took no chances
with the clock. but at once proceeded
to the cabin where lay the emaciated,
sinking, family breathing jockey. Pro
ducing the cleaning fllet, he stretched
it over the closed eyes and sunken tenn
pies Of the seemingly dying man and
on their lives charged the awed negroes
In attendance to see that there it re-
NAMED till morning.
Leon slept fitfully through the night.
At break Of day he awoke from de-
lirium, Cdette and freedom to conscious
ness, Quillabert and shackles.