Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-08-29
~ MAURICE T+OMPSOrI-
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intermediate agent. aud IN the mean
time had formed o close friendship Tor
Colonel Loring. whose vast operations
in Mexican mines ne had shared.
furnishing a large amount OF money
aud receiving good returns upon the
Investments. Lately the truth had
been coming into MS mind, apd he
now knew there was no Colonel Lor-
ing. no Mexican mines add TO invest
mcnts no an npon which las receipts
had ostcnsiblv hecn based TIA fact %
appeared that Pierre Eamcau hnd
. been an This time decoiviug hin and
fostering in gaming houses and other
places 81 iuilUity az his expense
simply pavirg him interest on the
amounts sqnandcrcd. RE now saw Co
what his years of illegal operations
had brought him. and he reviewed
with q sickening at heart the whole
dark. hidden life that ne hal been
living: but what was all this 60 an
other thought which since his several
interviews with OH man Burns had
shaped itself 90 such proportions.
that now it filled che whole vault OF
cousciousness "a with uebuious hor-
ror? Thi- Colonel Loring, this mys-
ferrous Pierre Rameau. this man
whom all the world ol She southwest
knew of anl tremblel at but had
never been able 60 see. had suddenly
become 60 him the embodiment OF
conscience aud retribution.
Aud what was O. bc the eud3 SIR.
, Vernon hesrd this question cchoing
, about IN his lnmost heart where he
kent his wife and daughter shrined?
What was 20 De the enl2 Would they
soon know what he know2 Must has
: whole past life Toe unmasked 20 them
But they? They were IN danger TINS
3 moment In danger, Had not th'
3 scout said that they were carried away
by British detachment? Tie could
Y not realize the situation. nothing cam,
20 his mind with dis,inctncss. so blur
% ring was the cloud Of his distress.
Ballanche and his men followed Mr.
e Vernon as fast as they could ride, but
e. did not overtake him till the planta
81 ton was reached There they fouu'
IL iustas Peevy had said The hons
was empty and silent 4 body Of IN
q enemy had been there. both horse an
K foot. a. they could see by the prin;
In the sandy soil all around. Most q
b" the negroes were hiding IN the swan
Il or in the tall grass OF the salt mars
T. TO the eastward.
Mr.. Vernon leapod FROM his hors
and ran into the building but theI
was nothing 10 greet him save th
r.. sound OF his own heavy footballs.
.r When Lieutenant Ballanche cam
mp. he too rushed into the house ao
gazed eagerly around as he hastcnc
from room to room.
-e An old negro woman was foun
r. hiding in corner OF the kitchen pal
v. try. whittier she had run on hcarif
il their approach. From her they mas
aged 90 get pretty complete accou.
.h of what had happened tt was,
substance, the same story as that 60
or by Euos peevy. The ladies, includii
KS little Lizette Lapin. had been carrie
ar away by a band OF soldiers. The 20
"a old soul was still SO frightened ia
her eyes rolled white aud Wild, an
ar she stammered SO that she could hard
MS speak.
ed The rain was still drizzlng. blo'
'ul along by wind from Borgue and g
ais marshes. In every direction, gr
and dim, the country stretched on
m with not "a moving thing III sight sa
.al the tossing tree-tops, the waving hor'
y" tail grass and the waterfowl beati
Nc along the shore-lines OF bayou q
TO lake. Ii was a landscape which mig
,rv have we'll served the artist of Ion,
i2' ness.
rs Mr.. Vernon and Lieutenant e
all lanche went on. of that desolate hol
out and remounted their horses. Tn
was nothing left for them 20 do but
of go back TO their duty an the army
igh jackson.
or II was just as they passed thror
ad. the gate OF the close that shot r.
sep out sharp aud short down an
mt, woods beyond the road.
iilv Lieutenant Ballanche was all at.
.es- ton at once; he ordered his men
fall into line. Another shot, and q
1ht a scattering sputter OF musketry
,om lowed. A moment later, Enos Pc
skulked into view among the ms
dirt draped trees some hundred ya
ok. away. He was STOPPING low, trail
his long ride and running rapi
toward them.
con Ballanche understood the situat
AS az a glance, aud formed his men
the open order behind the. fence
way nanked the road on one side.
the Peevy soon came mp aud stop
behind a tree TO ram home bulle
ms his gun. They saw him uustop
OK power horn with has teeth aud c
nm. fully til the printing! pan. Ballal
air rode close to him and spoke IN