The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-10-22
CONTINUED.


zannes, relapsing again into hyster-
ical weeping aud beginning to wiring
her hands. "Oh, please, Madame
Vernon, tell the coachman to take US
back! We shall all be murdered this
very night"
The suggestion was infectious.
Pauline caught the chill OF fear, and
Mrs, Vernon lost control of herself at
An unguarded moment.
The carriage rumbled on through
the forest, and, if there had been any
person to hear, the voices Of the
women crying in discord must have
sounded strange indeed under the cir
cumstances.
The coachman must also have been
affected, for he urged his horses i'm.
patiently and kept increasing their
speed until they were making rather
reckless dash of it along the road
within view of broad grassy marsh
stretching away to shining sheet OF
Iwater.
Mrs. Vernon drew all the curtains
close over the windows, as soon as
she could command herself. and be-
gan to chide Mademoiselle de Sc
cannes and Pauline for their foolish
excitement.
Just then there was the sound OF a
horse galloping by in al opposite
course TO that of the carriage. Paul
inc looked out of the little rear win
dow, her eyes still streaming tears.
"Why, it is Lieutenant Ballanche"
she exclaimed. "Why didn't he stop
and speak to us?"
Mademoiselle de Sezannes almost
thrust her from the pane in her eager
ness to look out.
''It is! 1t isl" she qusvered. Call
to himl Stop him! Oh"
She clasped her hands and gazed
while the vigorous bounds of the
house bore the young officer farther
and father hack along the meandering
road between tho trees, and presently
lost him behind a fringe of bay
bushes in the distance.
'sOh. he never looked back or made
even sign; aud he must have known
us!" cried Mademoiselle de Sezannes.
In few minutes the carriage WAS
drawn up in front of the plantation
House, which was oue-story, wooden
structure set upon high foundation
of oak posts connected by lattice
work OF slender boards. An orange
grove, dark and rich, stood in the
background, and over squat, broad
veranda grew closely-matted jasmine
vine. In the distance were rows of
cabins built under the shade OF I'M
mense moss. .draped live.oaks.
The coachman dismounted and
opened the carriage door for the
ladies', aud little Lizette, Lapin's
daughter, ran out of the house to
: greet them. A sharp, salt breath
from the marshes not far of was blow
ing merrily.
Mrs. Vernon descended first, fol-
lowed by Mademoiselle de Sezannes,
and then Pauline precipitated herself
upon Lizette, whose dark, pretty
face was all dimples and smiles.
The sun came out, too, as if to clear
away with food of golden light all
the gloom that had attended the little
journey.
"Well, weeming folks, dir mighty
much erbleeged ter ye for this var
ride vat ye let me hev'," remarked
the we'll remembered voice of Euos
Peevy, the scout. The old fellow had
found seat between the curved sus-
pension springs behind the carriage,
where he had ridden unobserved, and
now he stepped forth, gun in hand,
evidently satisfied with himself and
every person present.
SET We d or knowed at 3 thar, I
spec ye,'d a. cried more n ye did.
He-he-he! Ha-ha-ha! But ye didn't
know it, did ye?" He chuokled and
grimaced comically. "Well, weem-
ing FOLKS" he added presently, shout
dering his long rife and adjusting his
otter-skin bullet pouch aud his trans
parent powder-horn, "[ mus be a
goin'. Ef ever I kin do yea sarvice
I'll do it. Goodbye, weemiug folks. "
He turned about and walked away,
rs straight as an arrow and as brisk
as q boy; but before he had gone far
he looked back, stopped, appeared to
reflect moment and then called back
to them:
"Say. weeming folks. I'll tell' We
what: Ef I see any sign O. Britishers
eroun' var, wy, I'll ies' step in an
telfye, so IS ye kin git an skin ous
afore they cotch ye."
There was something honest and
earnest in the ring OF his voice, and
the gleam from his steel. blue eyes, il
not warm, was steadfast and friendly.
When he was gone, Mrs. Vernon re-
membered this and wondered why she
had not thanked him for his pro5ered
kindness: but the mention OF British
soldiers. coupled with the suggested
probability that they might visit the
place. SO alarmed her. that she could
not think of anything else for the mo-
ment that he was speaking.
They found the house most com.