The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-12-17
probable order of their distribution,

, probable order OF their distribution
nor did he neglect to exhibit, as i
half by accident, the newspapers con
tanning the sensational accounts of hi:
daring assault upon General Jackson;
| nose. He volunteered to lead re
connoitering party in the direction ot
| the American lines, and the result was
full confirmation OF his previous
statements regarding the probable
plans of JACKSON for the defense OF
New Orleans. All this aided him, but
his personal magnetism went much
farther. There was something in him
that drew men of daring and reckless
courage to him and held them there.
His voice, bis manner, his steady, fear.
less eyes and the look of absolute self
assurance which seemed to be the
natural expression OF his face made
way for him even in councils of the
generals. Men Of iron found him a
man of adamant, nor did they look
through to the darker side Of his being;
men rarely trouble themselves with
what is not most available il theif fell
lows.
Loring found time to be kind to the
captive women, and especially to Paul
inc he showed almost tender solicitudo
in seeking her comfort. He did not
often enter into conversation with her,
nor were his visits more than merely
formal. Pauline, however, in her
great desire to know what was going
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 monot-
ony or to soften the horror of seeing
the English troops swell in numbers
and 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 b1seZe.
Mademolsei.e de Sezanles 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 Tor a moment, from his
concentrated singleness of interest.
The house on which our attention for
the present centers stood at the edge OF
a dark wood bordering swamp. Its
front looked toward the plain upon
which were being made the prepara-
tons for battle. Westward and not
far away the muddy current of the
Mississippi tumbled along darkly be.
hind low levee. 1t 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-fght 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 alter
glow of the battle-spirit. 1t 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 ig
the girl, and it seemed to appeal to
him as through a strain of likeness to
his own character, strange as such Q
comparison might be; ana once, wnen
Mademoiselle de Sezannes looked at
the two standing near each other, she
saw, as by a 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.
II hate you, almost" she said to
Pauline, when Loring was gone, "be-
cause you like that man."
"Look like himp' exclaimed Mrs.
Venom. "What o horrid jest!"
CIT is horrible. but it is no lest"