The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-16
OF AME1scAN LIFE DURING THE WAR OF 1912.
:3HSE
az MAURICE THOMPSON.

ClaSpou Q6r QauQb Auu utteTSu d iiG1io
cry Of pain md anger.
Loring smiled sardonically, feeling
her thought, as it were, flung upon
him.
"This country is too small for both
me and my enemies" he smiled, 'sand
80 for few days I leave them in pos.
session; bu when I return" and his
face showed sudden concentration
of passion, "when I return they will
be glad to get out of my way"
He turned and waved his hand, and
his men retired from the house.
"Go give them something to eat, "
he said to Lapin.
Then he began tramping heavily
back and forth across the floor.
Pauline went to him and timidly
yet with certain frmness laid her
hand on his arm. She walked beside
him. Itwas strange picture they
made. The girls impulse could not
have been explained by her; she felt
as if she could save him, as if some
great spring in her nature compelled
her to try.
The thought that the British army
was very near her had affected Mrs.
Vernon to such degree that she
could not feel the full force of what
was impelling Pauline. As for Mad
emoiselle de Sezannes, ashe stood
shivoring with chill of blended emo
tions while she gazed at Loring.
It is the last refinement of torture
when we feel that we hate and detest
and yet have to admire. Loring COM
PEELED Mademoiselfe de Sezannes's ad-
miration in some mysterious way.
His manly beauty, marred with the
gloom of evil as it was, had yet the
fascination which captivates while it
repels.
"Do not co." murmured Pauline;
s'stay with US. do not know why,
but feel that I cannot let you CO."
Her appeal was so simply spoken,
so earnest, 80 evidently straight from
the heart that Loring looked down
into her face with sudden softening
of his cruel eyes. he did not speak,
but she saw his look.
"You know that it is not right for
you TO-"
"Rightr he interrupted. IT never
did right thing in my life. Doing
right would be new experience.
"Begin now," she urged. "You
will find it very comforting"
"Do you know who I amp" he de-
manded, almost grufay.
eyes, I know"
"No, you do not. If you did, you
would not touch me, speak to me,
look at time. You would abhor me-"
"1 heard your name just while
ago."
"Ah, that name! Yes, you heard
that. Is it not dreadful to you9"
"You might be good man yet"
"The words come easily; but deeds
are not so lightly fashioned. If I had
always had one like you to influence
me-"
"It is yourself that mrst do that.
You are no child to be Influenced. I
am scarcely more than child myself,
but I know that"
"You know absolutely nothing"
IT know that, if you would try, you
could De good man. Forgive me, if
I say that you are bad; but"
: He laughed outright and looked at
her as one looks at child when it has
said some laughable thing.
She let go his arm and stood facing
him. Her attitude and her fresh deli
cate beauty made her look like tall,
graceful flower.
He reached hand and half caress-
ingly touched her hair. It was the
thing that brother would have done;
there was no way of resenting it.
"I'd rather have a biscuit than a
lecture" he said, lightly enough.
"Can't you offer me something to eat
and drink? I'm hungry.
"Yes, certainly"
They together approached Mrs. Ver-
non and Mademoiselle de Sezannes,
who had been standing helplessly look
ing upon what was to them an 'inex-
plicable scene.
"Colonel Loring has not had din
ner," Pauline said to her mother; "we
must be hospitable."
Mademoiselle de Sezannes shrank
away rs they came up.
Loring noticed this and gave her a
smile which made his face show all of
its evil beauty. He waved his hand
at her and said:
"You hate me because I punished
Ballanche for his impudence. His
lip curled.
"He and Jackson will be apt to re-
member me-" he added, after mo-
ment's pause.
Mrs. Vernon fastened to set some
food for him, and he ate and drank
heartily.
Pauline was in O strange state of
mind. She felt irresistibly urged from
within to do something, she knew not
what, for. the benefit of this dark,
wicked, fascinating man. It made her
shudder to see him, and she shrank
from the thought of his past life
knowing now that he was Pierre Ra-
meau, the outlaw-but yet some foun.
tain IN her heart oied for him, some
center of sympathy in the deepest
chamber of her soul sent forth thrill
in his behalf. She was, to q degree,
like one in dream, albeit she realized
to the full the hopelessness of the de-
sire that was forming in her breast.
How could she do anything to turn
this strong man back from evil? She
remembered that she had, when a
child, seen the officials taking a young