The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-07-09
CHAPTER v.
CONTINUED.

feeling of his hostess. especially since
he was hoping and wishing that the
departure OF the .Vernors for New
Orleans would be fastened by every
possible good fortune. He was ready
to 60 with them at a moments notice
himself.
"Your experience here will be pleas
ant to remember" he said, "and l
should think that such m outing
would add an express charm to your
enjoyment of the city. I am sure thas
even my unheroic adventures with the
masked raiders from the wilderness
will afford me most enjoyable recollec-
tons so soon as I can get them IN the
proper perspective. To be perfectly
frank, I am myself quite willing to re-
turn to New Orleans"
"Father will be ready to 60 now"
spoke up Pauline, for the first time;
che will not wish to keep us here any
longer"
II was useless for Fairfax to try, he
could not lead the conversation away
from the robbers, and so they sat long
ut the table discussing the subject
most unwelcome to him until Mr.. YER
non returned just in time to take coffee
with them.
The incoming ofthe bluff and CHEEKY
host changed the atmosphere Of the
room at once; Mrs. Vernon and Pauline
were smiling and comparatively at
ease again.
ST have sent q small boat with or
ders to my overseer at the Chande-
aeurs to bring up another large
schooner; I'm going to take every
thing away from here" These were
Nh. Vernon's first words. "My sloop
is just in from New Orleans" he ad'
ded, turning some papers in his hands
~aThe war between England and the
United States is taking q new turn il
seems, and this coast will not long be
safe. We will return to New Orleans
at once"
Mrs. Vernon and Pauline exchanged
n glance of delight; evidently just then
they were glad of anything, ever war,
that would drive them away from their
wildwood home and back to the Sc.
-curity and comfort Of the city. They
forgot Pierre Rameau and his cavaliers,
they forgot Vasseur and his house in
ashes, as on the instant the vision OF
the mansion on the narrow street IN
New Orleans arose in their minds
with the murmur of mans activities
and the CLEAN of passing vehicles. In
deed, the thought of war was vague,
remote, snrouded in the misty dis.
lance; even the United States seemed
to them not the country in which they
lived, but rather some far-off land in
which they had but a nominal inter
est.
Fairfax had left New York just in
advance OF the beginning of war, and
perhaps no better impression can be
given of the wide, unconquered dis
tances of our country before steam and
electricity had compressed them, than
TO imagine that, although for some
months the fighting had been going
.on, the news of it was just fairly reach.
ling this nook Of the gulf coast where
he found himself so deeply and sweet
ly content that the thought of his
~country's peril or his duty, as the son
pf o patriot soldier, calling him to arms,
had not once arisen in his mind. He
had heard the war mentioned in New
OrlerDs;b 1t it had not impressed him
rs . n alter of importance to himself.
az am selfish enough to be glad
when I hear You say that you are 60
ang back to the city," he said, 'for 1
shall have to depend upon you to give
me room in your vessel. I was
Just telling the ladies that last
snight's experiences have quite dlled
my cup Of desire, and that I am will
ing to retire from this picturesque 80.
gion."
MI. Vernon laughed, but it wal easy
TO sec that behind his appearance OF
scheerfulness grave thoughts were
pressing uron him. His heavy,
bearded face showed unmistakabls
times of trouble, and in his deep.sst
Uy6S D olOUlu W8o uOV08AuSs o0 0sep0o
his coffee and made light remarks; but
-Psuins's quick sympathy discovered
his real mood.
a'SeNsthing has happened to dis
surb you, papa" she1sntured. "Thers
il something you dread for us to
know"
The perfect %frankneas Of her voice
4anG manner and the outright sincerity
of her words seemed to touch her
father. A slight flush crept into his
cheeks along the fringe of his ample
white beard; he looked at her with a
CLEAN of tenderness in his eyes.
"You are a very close observer" he
said, in half-banter. "You read me
as if my face were q book"
"He finds it hard to tear away from
the freedom of this wild place." re-
marked Mrs. Vernon. II wish we
could take the whole estate along with
ms to the city"
Il wish I knew that we could be