The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-01-23

often enter into conversation with her,
nor were his visits more than merely
formal. Pauline, however, in her
great desire to know what was :,oing
on and what was likely to be the out
come of the impending battle watched
for his coming each day, with the hope
that he would have something to say
which would lessen the strain Of sus-
pense.
Day after day went by, meantime,
with nothing to break the dread mouot-
ony or to soften the horror of seeing
the English troops swell in numbers
nnd of hearing the preparation OF an
| overwhelming column of attack which
was meant to sweep the little Ameri-
can band before it like dry leaves be-
fore breeze.
Mademoiselle de Sezannes hated
Loring more and more as the time
dragged on. She treated him with the
cold courtesy of scornful pollteness
when she was forced to accept favor
at his hands; but he appeared not to
notice her mood. His whole mind
seemed occupied with the thought of
contributing all that he could to insur-
ing the best disposition and direction
of the British forces. The little and
yet in some way strangely significant
marks of attention shown by him to
Pauline were the only signs OF any
turning, even for moment, from his
concentrated singleness of interest.
The house on which our attention for
the present centers stood at the edge of
q dark wood bordering q swamp. Its
front looked toward the plain upon
which were being made the prepara-
tions for battle. Westward and not
for away the muddy current of the
Mississippi tumbled along darkly be-
hind low levee. It was a rough
wooden building plainly furnished and
but recently abandoned in great haste
by its owner. Two elderly serving
women were appointed to serve the
captives.
After the night-6ght already hastily
sketched, Loring came to the house
and reported that the Americans had
shown their strength and mode of war
fare and that now it would be an easy
thing to attack them in force and de-
stroy them. He appeared somewhat
more animated than Pauline had ever
before seen him; but she could not be
sure what his excitement indicated;
it may have been, she thought after
he was gone, no more than the after
glow of the battle-spirit. It was evil
dent, even to her inexperienced mind,
that the British had not been success
ful in the engagement; but when,
later on, the reinforcement landed and
poured across the plain, when the
great cannon went numbering by,
when the flags streamed out and the
thousands of red uniforms shone in
thick array, seen in the distance
through the struggling orange grove,
she felt that all hope was indeed gone.
Mrs. Vernon and Mademoiselle de
Sezannes had been respondent and
given over to moaning and tears from
the first. Pauline, even when despair
came, preserved her composure. Lor-
ing noted this steadfastness of will in
the girl, and it seemed to appeal to
him as through strain OF likeness to
his own character, strange as such a
comparison might be; and once, when
Mademoiselle de Sezannes looked at
the two standing near each other, she
saw, as by fash of sudden revela-
tion, striking resemblance between
their faces, especially in the way OF
lengthening and narrowing the eyes
in moments of deep feeling.
81 hate you, almost" she said to
Pauline, when Loring was gone, "be.
cause you like that man"
"Look like himT' exclaimed Mrs.
Venom. "What horrid jest!"
"It is horrible, but it is no jest"
said Mademoiselle de Sezannes, with
emphasis. "Just now their eyes were
precisely alike"
Pauline was offended, and drew her
self up to turn away. The quick rush
of resentment, we'll repressed though
it was, exempli6ed the theory of Made.
moiselle de Sezannes. Madame Ver-
non saw the Aattening and leveling of
the beautiful eyelids and caught the
monetary CLEAN from the lengthen-
ing eyes.
She started hysterically,. and would
have spoken had not Loring returned
rather hastily to say that tho battle
would open on the following morning
this had just been determined upon
and that it was absolutely necessary
for them to remain close shut in the
house until all should be over.
And so when, in the small hours OF
the following night, the low, wide stir
began, the women knew that the
British columns were forming for the
great assault.