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

"a SO&C 1nODOS1Sn1
Jules Vernon with his wife, who
was much younger than himself, and
his only child Pauline went to the
Vernon plantation house, or Vernon
Place, as it was called at Bay Saint
Louis, to spend some months. There
we're few residents on that wild,
lonely and lovely shore in those days;
for our story begins at the time when
war with England, commonly called
the War OF 1872, was at its high tide.
Why Mr.. Vernon had sought this
isolation will be disclosed, perhaps,
In due time; at present we must be
content to know him with only such a
glimpse Of his character and motives
as circumstances permit.
He is q man of giant stature; and
his face, almost covered with grizzly
beard, wears that look Of rugged
strength which perfect health often
gives to the countenance Of. an aged
man whose life has been spent at sea.
Hi shoulders are square-set and
powerful, his head large, shaggy,
leonine, his arms heavy and Muscular.
When he laughs, there is u sugges-
zion of sea-roar in his voice-a mellow
hoarseness not unlike the beating OF
long swells on q reef.
His wife is a bright, clear-faced;
volatile creole, just beginning to show
Che lines OF age in her pretty face,
albeit her hair is almost snow-white.
As for Pauline, she is lovely, a girl
60 catch the eye aud heart of almost
any man, with her regular features,
her expression of modest simplicity,
lighted up with a charming vivacity,
her plump, supple figure and her
lnxuriance OF shining hair.
Here they are, these three, living
for the time a life of utter loneliness
in o large, rudely built house, in the
most out.of-the-way nook to be found
on the wild gulf coast.
IL was not as strange as it seems
romantic, that they were thus lso-
lated; for in those days men ven.
tured without fear and risked every
thing without hesitation.
Mr.. Vernon was a very rich man,
! who, since he abandoned sea-faring
life, had been one of the chief leaders
Of affairs in New Orleans. His busi-
ness relations had been many and
fAr-reaching. Perhaps he now wished
to get rid Of some of them, and had
come to this lonely plantation with
the hope of breaking away from en-
xanglements which had become irk-
some to MIN.
A tall, slender, emaciated, but yet
seemingly vigorous old man, n
stormy March night, sought the hos
pitality of the Vernon household. or
course, as was the old Southern Gus
tom, they took him in, although his
actions were myterious to the point of
suggesting q doubt as to his sanity.
He had crossed the bay in a little
open boat, which capsized with him
near the shore; and when he entered
Che house it was evident that be had
suffered much. Next morning he was
i'll, snd for many days he seemed at
at the point of death.
In this extremity, he con6ded his
life. secret to Mr.. Vernon. Simply
told it was this: His orphan grand
daughter, 8 sweet and beautiful girl,
while get scarcely more than a mere
oAili, had been influenced by a dar.
ing young scapegrace to elope with
him and become his wife. This was
IN Scotland. The old man, who gave
his name as MAJ Burns, did not dis
close the name of his grand daughters
abduetor. Perhaps he had good rea.
sons for keeping it a secret; but he
went on to tell touching aud almost
incredible story of how he had spent
many years and a large fortune in try
ing to fud aud in some way take back
his wandering grandchild Margaret.
The young man, immediately after
marrying the girl, took her to Italy,
where he became q robber. The
grandfather followed him, Only to find
that he had fled to Spain. There, too,
he was an outlaw; and after some
years of picturesque and terrible adj
venture, he was SO closely pushed by
the authorities thai he lett the
try ard was next heard of in San Do
1ninso From there, at length, he
came to New Orleans.
An this time Max Burns, who was a
Presbyterian preacher, had followed
him as best he could, making every
effort that money and t~ireless energy
could Sustain to capture the man and
regain Margaret.
And now, almost penniless, his for
time dissipatcd in his vain ~endeavors,
his health badly broken and with old
age gripping his v%;tals, he was once
moro close upon the object Of his long
and apparently hopeless quest.
".And So" he went on in a feeble,
painting tone, Gust as I can almost
reach him 1t seems that I must die.
On, Margaret, Margaret" and he lay
gazing at the ceiling as if in prayer.
The story was SO strange that, told
nnder the peculiar aud pathetic cir
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