The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-06-11

The old sayingis, it e raj MS but
pours. Scarcely had old Max Burns
gone away, leaving behind him the
almost weird impression of his strange
story AMI of his mysterious person
atty, when another wanderer thrust
himself into the life OF the Vernons;
ind this time it Was a young nan of
distinguished bearing, handsome, win
ming and withal not devoid of most
that goes to add man to char
acte-.
Pauline had beer out to the cabin
Of one Lapin, the overseer of her
fathers servants, to see Lizette, the
overseer's daughter, who had been i'll.
Returning thence on horseback and
followed by a negro groom, she was
making her pony gallop briskly when
at a turn in the path he suddenly
scared, whirled about and flung her
off.
The object which had frightened
the fiery little animal proved to be an
easel roughly improvised by al artist
who had been sketching a cluster Of
moss-hurg trees. The artist himself
was near by, and ran to Pauline's as
~sistauce.
The fall, though hard, had rather
dazed than hurt the astonished girl,
aud before she fairly realized what
had happened, she found herself up
borne in the arms of a strange, hand
some young man, who held her as if
she had been a little child.
"Are you hurt?" he inquired, his
face close to hers, his eyes tenderly
regarding her.
At first she could make no answer,
and she was too weak to struggle.
The groom fastened to the spot; but
seeing his young mistress in the pos.
session OF q stalwart, heavily armed,
white man, was afraid to say a word or
move a hand. The pony. freed of its
burden, had run home at full speed,
and the thoroughly frightened negro,
after glaring a moment, whipped his
cob and rushed away in the same dii'
rectiou, leaving Pauline a helpless
captive in the arms OF her rescuer.
Mr.. Vernon CHANGED to be at the
house, when the groom, wild-eyed and
gasping, arrived with his but half-co-
herent story of the adventure.
"Pierre Rameau!" he hoarsely cried
in q half whisper. "Pierre Rameau
done got Miss Pauline! Oh, de good
Lor', de good Lor', Marse Vernon run
dar quick"
Mr.. Vernon did not need to be told
twice. He snatched a brace Of heavy
pistols, mounted the groom's horse
and galloped toward the scene of the
tragedy.
Pierre Rameau was q terrible name
in the Gulf-coast region in those days,
more terrible even than that Of John
A. Murrell became a few years later.
Indeed, Rameau was reputed to be
the leader Of all the robbers, pirates
and creole forbans in the whole South
west. His deeds had hung o fasci.
mating mist of romance about him
which appealed to the imagination OF
the people.
Little wonder, then, that MIR. Yer.
non fell, as he urged the clumsy horse
along the vague pridle-path, uLier
the trees, q terrible whirl of minglinG
aud, so to say, crushing emotions.
His daughter was his idol; he wor.
SHIPPED her as only an aged man can
worship an only child, the offspring
of a belated marriage.
Pauline in the hands Of Pierre
Rameau! The thought was absolutely
unbearable, and yet it had to be borne,
at least for a few minutes; and the
strain upon the old mans feelings
showed in the swelling veins OF his
neck and forehead as he leaned for.
ward over his horses shoulders and
seemed trying to pierce the dark.
thick woods with his gaze.
When he turned a sharp curve OF
the way and looked down q straight
stretch between heavy liveoaks and
under gray f~estoons of Spanish moss,
he saw something which, as a picture,
hung ever after in his memory.
1t was Pauline walking side by side
with a tall young man, who, armed
like a brigand, with rifle and pistols,
and bearing all artists portfolio, saup'
tered with the careless ease and grace
of one at home in any place. The
two seemed quite on good terms with
each other, and were coming toward
Mr.. Vernon, who checked his horse
in time and covered darby at them.
Pauline ran forward to meet her
father, her face beaming.
Papa, this gentleman is Mr.. Fair
FAX, of Virginia; when my pony threw
me a moment ago, he came to my aid"
'sHe is an artist, and is staying at
Monsieur Vasseur's. I hope you will
thank him for bis kindness to me-"
The young man came up just then,
and Mr.. Vernon bent upon him O
steady, searching look.
care you Mr.. Burton Fairfax, sir?"
he demanded, putting away the pistol
that he had been holding for deadly
ftcn