The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-16


her nature; but she was aware now OF
just enough to arouse all the romance
as we'll as all the pity that an inexper.
fenced young girls heart can compass.
When Loring arose from the table
at which he had eaten, he turned to
Mademoiselle de Sezannes and ap-
peared about to speak, but h e checked
himself.
"Thank you," he said to Mrs. Yer
non. ''I was very hungry. I will
now go to the British lines, unless
he hesitated just for breath-''unless
you will permit me to help you and
the young ladies back to New Orleans.
Indeed, this is no place for you"
He had scarcely ceased speaking,
when one of his men unceremoniously
broke into the room and exclaimed,
with blunt, rough vehemence:
"We're surrounded The British
are all around the place"
When Loring's companion ran in
with the cry, "We are surrounded!
The British are all around the place"
the ladies were dumbfounded. They
stood like white.faced statues.
Loring did not appear to find any
thing startling in the situation.
He walked boldly out through the
front door, followed by his man. As
he passed close to Mrs. Vernon, he
stopped toward her and said, with a
ring of impatience in his voice:
"Your husband must have been
ouite out of his senses when he sent
you ladies out here. But be calm.
You shall not b, ill-treated."
There was a stir out-of-doors "a
sound of voices. Some low commands
were given. Mrs. Vernon and Made
moiselle de Sezannes became hysteri-
cal, but Pauline, though pale as a
ghost, seemed TO have found ample
strength to bear whatever was to
come. She thought she heard her
fathers voice at the door. 1t was
Loring speaking with the British Off
Ger. The two entered moment later.
"They must be taken to some place
where they can be protected" Loring
was saying.
Certainly, if it can be done" the
officer replied. "But we are in no
condition to take care of ladies.
"Send them to New Orleans"
"No, sir. That is against positive
orders. We are to permit no white
person to 60 from US to the enemy.
No; we must take them. II you are
what you claim to be, the general will
receive you kindly and gives the ladies
the best comforts that he can COM
mand. That is all that cau say."
"I advise you to treat me with re-
spect, sir" said Loring, very calmly,
and fixing his eyes with malignant
stare on those of the officer. "You
will know more of me-"
"Do as T command you'll" exclaimed
the sturdy Englishman. "I'm not to
be bullied by a prisoner! Bundle up
these women and put them on your
horses. You will walk. There's no
time for talk. Move alongI"
Loring compressed his lips, but
said not another word. He saw that
for once he had found check to his
arrogance. He explained to the
ladies that all were prisoners and
that they would have to go to the
British commanders headquarters" ="
IT commend you to the goodwill
of Lieutenant Barnaby," he said,
bowing with perfect ease toward the
officer. "He feels as big as drum
major at present"
"Silence, sir, or I'll have you
gagged in an instant" exclaimed the
lieutenant.
"You could not gag q hen!" sneered
Loring.
The lieutenant whipped out his
sword; his face was ablaze with
choler.
The ladies began to shrek. Paul
inc sprang between the men. Lor-
ing put her gently but forcibly aside;
ther lifted the lapel of his coat and
leaned forward.
"Put your sword-point through
that!" he exclaimed, laying his finger
on o shining badge that covered his
heart. "Thrust away, young man!
Thrust away!"
The face of the officer paled as sud
denly as it had Redeemed. He stood
as if faltering for moment, and then
saluted.
Loring responded with lofty indif.
ference, and turing to Mra. Vernon
bade her make haste to go with her
captors.
IT will protect you ALL" he said,
turning to Mademoiselle de Sezannes.
"You will be safer with the army than
in New Orleans" After a moment
he turned to the lieutenant and said:
Hurry things up, let us be off,"
It was a curious change; the pris-
oner seemed to be in command.
"Yoq will ride my horse," he said
to Pauline, taking her gently by the
arm, "and + am going to walk along
beside you. Wrap yourself up well.
for it is chilly out in this night fog."
(To BE coNTINUED.)