The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-03-17

y
enue, the branching oaks flung slant
ing shadows. The sweetness of Bank
STA roses dwelt in the Virginia sun |
shine, where the trailing vines crept |
up the grey walls, and around the |
jewel-like panes of the mullioned win
dows, winding about the stately col |
umns that guarded the portals of Cor
don Hall. The peace of the country
Sabbath had laid It's hand upon the
daily come and go; quiet that
brought every far off moving thing
very near in the rustic of mighty
silence.
Mistress Esther Gordon came slowly
down the broad winding stairs. The
light from the great oriel window
above her head, shafting down into
the gloom below, played quivering
halo of golden notes about the fair
young head. In the dark setting of the
old hall, the dainty figure shone out
as some royal dame stepped down
from Romney picture, the blue bro
cade cut away from the firm white
throat. where the pearls rose and fell
amid the foam of lace, and the small
feet clad in the high heeled satin shoes.
-Four" booms the clock that towers
the thud of galloping hoofs come up
the avenue. Lansing had been true to
| his tryst although just across the riv-
| err lay the army of CORVALLIS, and the
| hail of the pickets could be heard in
| the clear evening air. There was
scarce an instant's pause ere the RI
| der's spurred heel rang on the stone
step, and Lansing strobe down the
| 80 =, L,u A
this young continental. albeit the buff
| and blue were a trif1e tattered and ia
ded, the blue eyes. We're bright, and
the stalwart form carried 1.-THE grace.
| that betrayed even more than the
tinged cheek, the good red blood of
Powhatan. The Romney picture
awoke, and Mistress Esther, the sweet
face all aglow, held out her two white
| hands.
You foolish boy" but there is no
Gliding in the lovely eyes-and then
his grave face brought the question to
her lips. Before she could voice it the
faint sound of a distant bugle rang
across the river. Lansing sprang to
to his feet There they are. Hide
me. Esther, for the love of the sweet
saints. hide me- 1t is the Kings
troopers"
Over Esther Gordon's face a white
ness went. Between lover and King
lay the choice of a moment, but be-
fore that tribunal where a woman's
verdict is fore-ordained. A moment
later and Mistress Esthers own lit
tie page was speeding the great red
roam to a hiding place in the swamp
and Mistress Esther herself was fitting
~
lowered on the STAIR To and fro
swung the great round disc of the
pendulum, and the hands were point
ing to ten minutes past four, when a
laugh, and a clatter of Announcements
in the avenue warned them of the dan
ger close at hand.
Mistress Esther closed the case, and
hid the key among the laces about her
white throat. One little foot was pois-
ed on the last step of the stair, as the
Captain entered the door his glitter of
gold lace on the Kings scarlet lighting
up the gloom where. the sun-rays failed
to penetrate. He bowed low, as Mis-
tress Esther advanced to meet him, and
the ungloved hand, half-douhtingly
held out to her. was white as a wo-
mans, for Captain John Willoughby,
of NV Lord CORVALLIS favorite regi-
ment. was versed far better in the lore
of courts than in the tactics Of these
wild colonists, who fought as Indians
from tree to tree rather than as well
trained troops, standing up to be killed
in the open. There was an instant's
embarrassment, as he halted and
stumbled through the unwelcome duty
of announcing his errand.
, Mistress Esther, l am forced to com
; nit the indignity of asking your per-
mission to search the Hall. Believe
me, the loyalty of your house is IN
, questioned by My Lord CORVALLIS, a:
we'll as your humblest admirer." anC