The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-19

Night GelgnCd IN virginia. ne prime
val forest, unbroken save by the fort
and few struggling huts on the Island
of Roanoke. stood mantled in shadowy
fields. Myriads of stars glimmered down
upon the other world and a full-orbed
moon. whirling up like a silvery wheel
from the distant sea, slowly eclipsed them
with greater glory. Ever and anon
the sharp zap of fox, or the querulous
boot of an owl reverberated through the
surrounding swamps, where numerous
providers of the night pursued their vari-
Gus ways.
The solitary sentry at Fort Raleigh
paused a moment, held his watch to the
light of the moon, and, shouldering his
musket. continued his monotonous beat
lie was a handsome man, as women es-
TEEN it, being tall, well-formed and with
a certain merriment lurking in the depths
of his honest blue eyes His mouth and
chin, now somewhat roughly delineated
beneath weeks growth of yellow beard,
were scarcely strong enough for a phil
osopher or soft enough for a philan-
thropist. And. in truth, Edward Thorn
hurst, with the blood of his Saxon for
hears flowing warm and strong in his
veins, could have been, by all physiolo
gical laws, only what he was-a lover of
life. He had not passed twice along the
stretch of sand that fringed the shore
when the flicker of white robe betwixt
him and the dark outline of the fort be-
spoke the approach of a woman. He
halted, and, leaning on his musket, await
ed her with fIuttering heart and a flush
Of pleasure mounting high upon his
bronZed cheeks
Am l late, mon ami?" she queried
with soft French accent, as she swept
gracefully to his side and placed
tremulous white hand upon his arm.
yes. you are always late, though you
come an hour before time, my little
LOUISE
"Ah, mon chere ami, you must learn
to wait-patience, patience-it conquers
the world
And the heart of a maiden, Louise?"
he said, drawing her to his bosom, ''the
heart of the sweetest of all maidens?"
''Sacre bleu! but you are sudden, mon
sieur," she exclaimed with mock satire
flashing from her great eyes. You Eng
lish make love by storm. You are worse
than we French.
But the sentry, disdaining her impotent
effort to disengage herself continued: II
love you Louise, above all earthly treas
ures. Though we are beleagured by the
sea on one hand and savages on the other
hand. | swear to make you happy with
my love-to live for you-to die for you
to"
ALIAS, that you love me. since twill
bring bitterness and pain. Gaspard de
Vincent has sworn to kill you, and in la
belle France his word was death. It's
well to love but tbs better to be wise.
Ne est pas?" She hesitated moment,
then continued. LET me treat you with
outward GOODNESS so as to deceive Gas
pard, till monsieur lie GouYerneur shall
return with the ships-the heart shall be
warm within" The beautiful woman
paused and gazed anxiously in her COM
panions face.
Think you l could offer you my love
if | were afraid to defend it? You do
not know Edward Thornhurst; you do not
know his contempt for coward Let
Gaspard de Vincent come. against me if
he will He will find no lackey to lick
his boots, 1 warrant.
''Pardonncx moi mon ami; | was only
thinking of your welfare and of the
colony The Indians may attack US at
any moment We cannot afford to weak
en- ourselves by strife. | am only wo-
man, but L can foresee the danger that
threatens us. Death stares us in the
face-tiIl Monsieur lie Gouyerneur re-
turns with aid" The sentry suddenly
bent over and pressed his bearded lips
TO her mouth intereepting further speech.
go your ways, little prophecies" he
said softly, land forget your sorroWs
will keep watch in Virginia this night
with the seal Of love upon my heart"
She darted from him with a musical
Eau revoir" and sped toward the fort. |
Presently he heard the good natured old
warden opening the door, and gazed long
ingly upon the palisade tnat protected
Sir Walter Raleigh's colony from hostile
savages. AS he turned his eyes from the
scene, shadows fell swiftly athwart the
sand at his feet and, before he could |
raise his musket, he was seized by power !
ful hands and forced backward. With
mighty effort he sought to wrest himself
from them and, failing in that, raised his
voice to give warning to the colony, but
rough hands stifled the sound in his /
throat. Then the light of the moon faded |
from his vision, and he knew no more.
II.
The sun was mounting up over the tree /
tops that looked down upon the village |
of the Indian chief, Wanchese, hard by |
the yellow waters of the Roanoke. The /
gray treepee5 had long taken on the
semblance of life, and the painted war
Iiors were now beginning to assemble in
o large tent in the center of the village
known as the council chamber. Present
ly, to the harsh rattle of a toni TOM
two braves emerged from the teepee of
Wanchese with white prisoner walking
unsteadily between them. His face was
pale from loss of blood, some of which
was still visibly clotted in his light har.
When they entered the council chamber,
the bucks, hideously besmeared and be-
feathered, began to dance about them, ut
terng weird cries and pausing at inter-
walls to prod the prisoner with sharpened
sticks
Finally an old Indian, with many
feathers in his head-dresS, arose from
deer skin upon which he had been sit
ting and made a signal for the dancing
to cease, at the same time motioning the
two braves who held the prisoner to come