The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-10-08
CHAPTER XVI.
CONTINUED.


rushing impetuously into Pauline's
embrace. 81 am so troubled, SO ner-
vous! Para says that the enemy will
be in the city before the week Is
past"
Pauline pulled her down into her
lap with girlish tenderness and fond
ness, soothing herself by caressing her
friend.
Mrs. Vernon took Mademoiselle de
SeZaunes's baud and stroked 1t. The
three were drawn close together IN
striking group near the center OF the
room whose windows were festooned
inside with almost priceless tapestry
and outside with blooming vines. De-
spite the chill of the December air,
with its searching dampness, the per
fume of roses and violets were sweetly
prevalent throughout the house.
why, you have lost the set ofyour
rincr' Mrs. Vernon exclaimed, as her
fingers touched the little circle of gold
claws that had held large diamond
in place.
'sNo!"
''Yes. See!"
Mademoiselle looked down and
turned pale.
? .And it was the ring, he gave me-
my"
'Your engagement ring"
.. For the time they forgot war and
its terrors in their CONSERVATION over
lost bauble; but, then, the bauble
= stood for so much! They sprang to
their feet, and the diamond set rolled,
flashing, on the carpet. All three
stopped to pick it up, and so pressed
and crushed themselves together in
beautiful disorder, actually laughing
and calculating gayly.
"Oh, 1 could not-I could not lose
this" cried Mademoiselle de Sezan-
mes.
She kissed the stone and fondled it
against her cheek.
"You know I lost the large ruby
ont Of my fan on the night of your
party" she went on to say. I'm
having bad luck with my jewels"
:.Do you mean to say that you lost
the, Caribbean ruby, as you called
it?" inquired Mrs. Vernon.
eyes, the buccaneer. You recol-
iect, Pauline, that Mr.. Parker ad-
mircd it SO much that evening. l
was nearly heart broken when I found
that it was gone. Though would
rather lose hundred like it than this
darling set." And again she showered
kisses on the diamond.
1t would have been a trifle startling
to the ladies could they have been
informed just then that Parker, alias
John A. Murrell, had sold the ruby
in Memphis and made merry with
: friends in expeudiug the money re-
ceived for it.
Mr.. Vernon came in presently, wet
aud chilled. He went directly to his
own room to change his clothes and
be rubbed by servant.
When he appeared again it was 10
inform his wife and his daughter that
they we're to be sent to the plantation
to remain till after the impending
battle hail been fought. Preparations
for the move would be made immedi-
.atcly. Lapin, the cverseer, had been
notified, and would come early on the
morrow with the proper vehicles for
taking such things as would be needed.
Tie ladies would 90 in the family car
riaSe.
So sudden au announcepeut, at such
q time, added much to the feeling OF
dread ard to the confused apprehcn.
sions with which Mrs. Vernon and
Pauline were already oppressed. lt
had in ii the terrible reality OF imme-
diats and dire urgency. A Whit OF
2attie-smoke waited through the
house could not have been more
startling.
"Oh, if I could go with you"
cried NadeuoiseIle do Sezanpes. 1T
will be awful"
''But, you can go with u.s." sail
Mrs. Vernon. "Why not? There is
roola in the carriage"
''My dear child, yes" added Mr..
Vernon, with q serions smile. "1t
would be SO good CT you to go and
he company for Pauline and Madame
Vernon"
"But, papa and"
ooh, there is no hurry. You can
go home and confer with your father.
1t will be safest for you to be with my
family, I am very sure. Tell your
father that advise it and insist upon
it. The city will be no place for us
if the English defea. Jackson and
come in"
In some way, through a medium
thought at the time to be sufficiently
authentic, the story had come to New
Orleans that the British officers had
promised their men the freedom of
constituencies conquerors should they
CAPTURE the city. AS the rumors of
their approach and OF the overvheIm-
ing numbers they could oppose to the