The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-05-16

IeavIng the rest or MS companions, a
score of them, lying butchered.
'The next morning after the ambush
it was his good fortune to fall in with
party of English trappers, and by
them he was picked up and cared for,
being carried BY them with much diff
ficulty farther toward the west to the
headwaters or tributaries of'the Mis-
sissippi, and from there, after some
weeks. was foated down the river on
f1atboat to the gulf of Mexico.
"The papers like to prove his identi-
ty and left with the spirit flask were
the same that had been picked up and
brought to France, and indeed he who
had brought them told but the truth
when he swore to seeing the owner Of
them lying dead beside them, for it
was he who found Courtray and had
hastily gathered up what he thought
a dead man would have no use for.
"But need not make long story of
this, Gillicuddy, so will just say that
my gentleman wandered about the
face of the earth, mainly in and about
the Spanish main, being n negro trader
at one time in the West India planta-
tions at Jamaica and at another time
speculator at Guiana. Indeed, Gill
cuddy, have small doubt that piracy
was one OF his trades as well. for he
was none too good to refuse service in
any mission the devil might proffer. 1t
was little he cared whether his family
In France thought him dead or not, and
in truth 1t was not till he got back to
France after a ten years absence that
he heard Of his own death and funeral.
"He had come back to France about
the time that the French gentry were
getting over the frontier, and he found
but cold hearth and small prospect Of
ever seeing fortune smile in that quar-
ter again. He was now gentleman at
a disadvantage, as [ may say, and not
like to think Ill of friend who might
| come forward with n small loan.
You see, Gillicuddy, my gentleman
could get no profit among the aristoc-
racy, for deed there was little Of that
breed left in France, and his pocket
was far too shallow to keep mp >np-
| pearances, so he was just in love with
the common people and lived among
them rs Citizen Picot. after the new
style, denouncing the king and the
equality md fraternity as If he
| were Marat himself or that prince of
mountebanks, Philippe dOrleans. So
here he was born again to new life
among the canaiLle, with the old life
of high station left behind with all its
debts unpaid. and must confess, Gil
| licuddy, that I was myself much in
the same fashion at the time, for 1t had
become In Paris an unwholesome thing
to be counted one of the quality, and
| indeed if it had not been for the polit-
tcal obligation of the times and a low
ebb OF my own financial streams /
| would hardly have been dining myself
In the Rue st. Honore that day.
AFTER had heard the long story he
had to tell of his adventures and we
| had emptied several bottles Of cheap
wine asked him question which had
| been In my mind more than once that
| night. The young lass you took from
the convent said - she that was
| called yourwife. Have N>u heard aught
| Of herr
"''That have said he, and the best
news that have heard ,'or this many
! day. If it were not for the news I've
/ III VI hcI, Il llOl itlt ~
| cOntented without Il louis dor i'm my
| purse. That wife OF mim' comes like
an angel to me In my distr uses; comes
| like an angel dc fiji rncc. Holding out
both palms to me flied viii fair Eng
| lish pounds sterling. She's II mine of
! wealth, ! hear and. I look to dclve
| where the vein is r-icir. What think
| you. IaunstOn. OF my little Scotch
| French wife just throwing off her
| widows weeds and catching II Scotch
man with q fine esfaae for me?'
| land is that the plot Of the play?
said 1.
"Its the first act, IL you like said
he, or you may Call 1t the prologue
| "'And what Will be the end Of the
playr i asked.
HE shrugged his shoulders and lift
ed his eyebrows. as the French have a
habit Of doing, and said:
! "The end Of it wiz be-, M. PEcot
with n lien on n Scotch estate, a1d
madame the banker paying Picot,
| debts
| F-o w., o>~x,r~cx,urSf1