Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-08-15


beds we're still mass OF b'oom), and
with these she had deity decorated
the airy aud fresh smelling rooms.
Moreover. delicate luncheon was
awaiting them. set IN coy alcovc
where low, broad windows let IN
soft light which was FIRST filtered
through q screen OF magnolia boughs
aud gray fringe Of Spanish moss
Under the circumstances, 1t was
quite impossible for three women, all
OF them French, TO be otherwise than
enthusiastic. even # their enthusiasm
did consciously root itself back I'm a
heavy sense OF but half suppressed
dread.
Mademoiselle de Sezannes was, per
haps, the most cheerful one. She
+ even tried TO be CAV over the conduct
+ Of Lieutenant Ballanche, whom she
persisted in accusing of willfuly /
passing her 0y unnoticed.
II Is due 20 tho young man 20 say. I
however, that he was scarcely aware t
OF the carriage as he rode past IL. His +
head was down, and his thoughts were .
fixed on a most important duty; for he
was flying 10 General Jackson with
news from within the enemy's lines
4 fleet Of barges. heavily manned with
finely equipped soldiers, was on Bayou
Bienyenu, and IN afew hours the Eng
lish would have IN army safely landed
below the city. The information this
time was authentic, for with his own
ewes ne had seen what he was 70 re-
port.
, Naturally earnest aud intense IN
his disposition, he felt 20 the fullest
{ measure the esp0nsibility resting
b. upon him. He would not trust auy
courier 20 bear the message which
I might hold the fate OF New Orleans
and the country. So he rode all the
4 way as fast as he dared urge his horse,
e. and on his nerves lay the strain OF an
r. all-absorbing excitement. The car
q riaue whisked past him as mere
V formless, colorless incident Of his
Y flight 20 headquarters. He remem-
bered afterward we'll enough when he
e would have given his life TO know that
n he had halted just long enough 10 bid
!. the coachman turn back and drive at
Is once 20 New Orleans Everything
m and every person visible about the
M carriage came out strong and clear,
N likea suddenly deyelowed photograph,
e. in his mind The horses, the round
-e faced. snowy wooded coachman, ia,
ne closely drawn curtains, the wheels
IA heckod with sandy mud-even the oil,
le man riding on the projection between
Of the high-curvcd springs-he could
n see all 50 plainly and vet through VIVA
a film OF horrible mystery And II
nj that closed vehicle, though unseen b.
ne him. the girl he loved, the girl VIII
IS had SO lately promised 60 be his wn
to was going on all unhindered 20 disap
tn pear as completely and mysteriousi
W. as IL caught up by the spirits of th
air
81 Mrs. Vernon and the young ladic
IS. passed the rest of the day ia comp ara
Eli tive comfort of mind. Lapin was ther
" with score or more OF strong colore
men To protect them everything locke
,ar peaceful aud sweet. Why should the
all be afraid? They would not be alrai'
tie they declared they would not; the
would be brave women worthy
lty strong hearted patriotic men. The
var vowed In 10 their inmOst hearts.
Ted SO long "a daylight lasted, The
los held we'll to their determination al
lsad kept up a fine show Of IL; but ev,
us when dinner came, served so fauI
sc, lessly by Lizette. their hearts beg
nd to sink "A little, and they felt the ch
nd, creeping over them again.
and Mrs. Vernon struggled vigorous
against what she knew was the Won
,, thing for them. but what could she
lid. when a dense fog blew In from Borg
Int and the night became an encircli
and wall of blackness, through which
en- low moaning of some tall pine-tre
oul- crept with infinite sadness?
his She looked for a book TO read alo
ans and CHANGED upon an old edition
e n LA Princesse de Cleves, by MAZDA
vice Lafayette. The girls huddled cl'
KS" 20 her, and she tried 10 make TIA
way, interested in the story, taking C
risk not TO go too far into its sentiment
far ties. Her voice. however. sounC
i to unnatural, she thought, and the '
back ume was soon thrown aside.
81 can never, never go 10 sleep
| We night" cried MademOiselle de
hers cannes. ooh, why did 1 ever CO
an herew
out Lapin was in the kitchen; &
heard him singing a patois ditty
and tween his pipes. Lizette had gon
and bed.
5, If 1--WE shall be ashamed OF oursel
idly. in the morning" said Mrs. Nern
4 re- ''The sun will come up, and eve
= she thing will be so bright and chez
fered that it will seem like sinful folly
itish have been afraid.
ssted "And think what they-what