The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-12-24

\ u:SuiH! LOW manu-, NJ" o"SSe- AN
lnurmured. "AEd the battle is over,
and We shall not be parted any moren'
The little woman drew back from
the sleeper and turned pale; then q
hot glow suffused her cheeks. She
trembled and held her brow with both
hands.
pauline! Pauline" she whispered.
"He loves some one-Pauline! Paul
inc! But it may be his sister. Yes,
yes, his voice was so gentle and calm; !;
Pauline is his sister,"
Once more she cast herself upon the
priedieu and lifted prayerful eyes.
| A black woman, with spotless
white turban on her head, came in,
carrying a silver tray with coffee,
which she placed on the table. She
glanced askance at Madame Souvestre,
and then silently withdrew.
The rich brew in the shining pot
filed the room with its fragrance.
A plump-faced masculine saint looked
down from a dark frame on the wall
his lips appeared ready to ask for a
cup
Fairfax awoke.
| pauline! Pauline!" he gently
called.
| Madame SoUvestre sprang up.
ooh! AhT ha mtirmured, looking
at her inquiringly.
"You have had good Sleep" she
remarked, ''and you look refreshed.
Here is some coffee"
"I have been dreaming" he said,
smiling apologetically, land at
| first"
cat first you thought Mademoiselle
Pauline was here"
"How do you know?"
"You are not reserved. You speak
freely when you dream"
"Do I? Well, it is all right if I did
not disturb you"
"Disturb me? Oh, no, not at ell.
l only heard you calling for Made
moiselle Pauline. She is your sis
ter?"
'It was q most vivid dream. But
the battle! Have you heard? Do you
know how it IS golng?'
"You do not hear any more guns, >"
she said, turning to help him with his
coffee, "but no word has arrived yet.
Surely, Monsieur Crapsoussin will
arrive soon."
She put one hand under his head
and with the other held the cup to his
lips, while he took hearty draught
of the pungent black liquid.
"Thank you, madame, That was
.delicious-the best coffee that I ever
tasted; and I feel so much better.
Surely, there will be good news: But
what is that noise?"
Madame SoIvestre set the coffee op
the table and hastened to the window.
People were rushing along the street,
shouting, gesticulating, grimacing
wildly. Men, women, children, all
appeared to be possessed by On un-
controllable excitement. Hats flew
up into the air, old men were behav-
ing like boys. She turned toward
Fairfax with great light in her face
and said:
cit is victory! I hear them rejoic-
ing! Listen!"
The tumult increased momentarily,
aud above it all they heard voices
singing the "Marseillaise."
A servant admitted Crapaud Cra-
poussin whose left ear was under q
white bandage that showed stain OF
blood
"lt is glorious!" cried he, pirouet-
ting across the floor, "and see, I am
wounded! A bullet tos cash in
my ear; 1 shall have honorable men
tion. But, oh, it is a great victory!
We tore them all to rags!'
He went to the bedside and took
a hand of Fairfax between both OF
his.
"Ah, monsieur, the whole plain
down yonder is red with dead British
soldiers, and our army is not hurt"
ne went on rapidly, almost out OF
breath.
"Crapaud," said Fairfax, "go fetch
Mademoiselle Pauline Vernon here to
me-"
Madame Souyestre started and
looked quickly back and forth, from
Fairfax to the dwarf.
"Mademoiselle Pauline Vernon"
she repeated with confused express
sion IN her face, cob, to be sure;
but" she hesitated.
"I made a foolish request" said
Fairfax, quickly. "Of course it can
not be done. Forgive me; fear my
strength has fallen off until my mind
is weak"
"No, no, monsieur; but you talk
too much; you must not do it. Ger
tainly, though, Mademoiselle Vernon
can come to my house to see you. Go,
Crapaud, order my carriage and bring
the mademoiselle here"
She followed Crapaud out of the
room, and when they were on the stair
she stopped him and said:
"Is Mademoiselle Vernon his cousin