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

hand and bestowed them in a pocket
OF his ample Jacket. meantime permit
ting Pauline to refill his cup. Then
he changed his tone and said that they
would sail for New Orleans tomorrow
moraing, if the breeze should be favor
able.
Fairfax saw that something of more
direct personal interest than news of
the progress of the war was demand
ing Mr.. Vernon's thought. A subtlety
OF insight, accidental and momentnry,
perhaps, gave him q half. glimpse of
what it was, or, at least, engendered
o suspicion of its origin, if not OF its
nature and substance.
How did you find Vasseur?" he
inquired. "Is he quieting down to a
robbed mans best philosophy"
"Poor little fellew!" Mr.. Vernon
answered. "He cries for his jewels
as a mother cries for her lost children"
"What is he going to do?"
ST don't know; no more does be;
but I should not like to be the man
that robbed him. BE = little, but he
is as deadly as q viper and as persist.
ent as time ITSELF"
Something in Mr.. Vernon's voice and
manner, as he said this, suggested to
Fairfax that there was q meaning be-
tween the words; but the truth was
that Mr.. Vernon's thoughts were not
on vasseur and his troubles. Upper
most in his mind was a shadow of what
the war might bring to him and
mis-. Not hat he had any cowardly
fears; but there had been matters con-
nected with his early career which
rendered the probabilities OF his fall
ing into the hands Of the English a
thing not to be regarded without I'M
s~peakable dread. He knew enough
about military science to be we'll
aware of the de~fenseless condition Of
New Orleans in the presence of such
a fleet and such an army as the Brit
ish Government might be able to send
there. Now the news that came to him
from one in high connection with tie
Government indicated that q strong
fleet and an army overwhelming in
numbers would probably soon be il
front Of New Orleans and under COM
mand of q distinguished British officer.
What would be the result? 1t seemed
to him that there could be but one
answer Tke city would fail, and the
whole rulf coast would be raTaged.
He excused himself presently, with
the plee that he had much to do in
preparing for the departure for New
Orleans, and went. out.
Fairfax felt compelled, under tbs
circumstances, to accept the hospital
ity OF the Vernons during the rest OF
his stnv, seeing that, since the burn
ing of Vasseur's place, there was no
other available alternative, and be-
sides he could not muster up the
slightest unwillingness in the matter.
He was glad, indeed. with a genuine
boyish gladness, and could not hide
the pleasure his situation gave him.
Fairfax was bold to make the most
OF his surroundings but Pauline wke3
she found herself for O moment alone
with him under the vines of the rude.
veranda, suddenly felt an access OF
shyness not in the least characteristic,
and shrank away from him, il spirit
at least, taking refuge within that i'm
penetrable close which is walled by
the reserve of UNAFFECTED girlhood.
He, however, was too happy to desire
more than to be near her and see'her,
to feel that he formed part of a picture
with her, that they stood on the came
plane and were outlined against the
same romantic background; and to
dream that perhaps they might 60,
side by side, through q long and
happy future.