The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-07-23
CHAPTER VII.
CONTINUED.

CONTINUED.
FaIr;ay turned about, and with
foidei arms stood apart, scarcely
thinking, but wrapped in a mood that
6lled the mir about him with confused
and indeiinable apprehensions. He
was not aware that Pauline had come
near Eutil she spoke, and then he
starte,l perceptib!y Ito himself, if not
to he.l, aud looked down ct her as If
frooa = great distance. We must re-
member that he had not slept during
the right; this might, to q degree,
account for the unnatural slowness
with which he responded to the fresh,
almost enthusiastic, manner OF the
girl, as she began to speak ofthe sun
glories that shimmered over the lone
" marshes of the Rigolsts.
Meantime. Lieutenant Gallanche
was informing Mr.. Vernon OF the
rrobability that o British feet was at
hand to cooperate with hostile In
dams in the effort to devassate the
whole country from Pensacola to New
Orteans, and that in the latter city
there was need Of wise counsel and
patriotic effort.
scThiugs are in q bad condition,
he said, ''and we need the the work
of men like you, Mr.. Vernon, to bring
order ont of confusion, and to urge
the citizens to a proper view o. duty.
At present, the most deplorable IN
Inference as to the outcome Of affairs
prevails in New Orleans; nobody
seems to realize our dreadful danger.
"rhe government seems to me most
to blame" remarked Mr.. Vernon.
"Instead Of building fortifca-
lions and fitting out such vessels as
can be had for defence, it is spending
most Of its time and money searching
for imaginary robbers aud impossible
pirates"
..It Is true that our defences are Of
no value, but You are wrong in think
iug hat our outlaws are imaginary.
4 have just been up Pearl River and
to Honey Island, where robbers are
more numerous than honest citizens.
It is not Of these, however, that we
need to speak; bad as they are, they
reless dangerous than those citizens,
ostensibly respectable and worthy,
vho use their apparent social super
iority as o cloak to hide the villauies
khey encourage"
Ballsnche spoke with an earnest
ness amounting almost to vehemence,
aid by the halt closing of his eyes
and a certain immobility Of all his
features, his face took on an intensely
Yesoluts expression.
Nj. Vernon looked calmly at him,
as If by o sort of masterful scrutiny
he could read his Utmost thoughts and
draw from them q more comprehen-
siye meaning than the speaker him
sesf realized in them. Presently he
said:
"You may be right, lieutenant; but,
for my part, I see many sides to the
question. New Orleans and Louisi-
ana owe very little to any govern
ment, save that which they themselves
represent. Understand, neverthe-
less, that 1 am for allegiance to the
government at Washington, or at
whatever other place the United
States councils meet, and that l am
Tor a rigorous defense Of New Orleans
agains. any British force that may
come; but I should advise careful
speaking when it comes to character
fzing our citizens as encouragers OF
sillsinies."
"But perhaps, sir, you do not
know she condition OF things in New
Orleans"
nLieItenans, I do know. How
eonld I help knowing? 1 kne be-
lore you were born; I have knew
ever since; I know now"
Bailanche made a slight, quick
movement and something like au al
mos invisible flush leaped into his
sliye-brown cheeks. Mr.. Vernon's
voice Had beeu so deep and powerful
Ima-Iis attitude so suggestive CT vIrile
OR leonine superiority that the young
man had felt q shock, which Cor the
moment confused him.
s.What reliable word lave yon tina!
. British fleet is near here?" Mr..
Vernon continued. his manner chang.
ing to one Of mere Inquiry.
t'None. The activity OF the Indians
and the presence of foreign emissaries
among the tribes seem to indicate,
however, that o strong movement is
to he made"
Sand what did you succeed in do
ing toward suppressing the Pearl
River robbers?" Nj. Vernon presently
asked.
"Of course, I did nothing-nothing
seems possible in the matter a. pres
ens-but I found out a good deal
about them, and have been thinking
over q plan by which it might DC pos.
sible to serve both them and tie
country"
3'That would be a singular achieve
ment. / should say"
Yes, at first Thought it would ap
near sn. hut 4 belieys eau be done"