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


flower garden great bouquets of roses
and violets (for, despite the unusual
cold weather, the vines and tangled
beds we're still mass of bloom), and
with these she had deftly decorated
the airy and fresh smelling rooms.
Moreover, a delicate luncheon was
awaiting them, set in a cozy alcove
where low, broad windows let in q
soft light which was first filtered
through screen of magnolia boughs
and gray fringe of Spanish moss.
Under the circumstances, it was
quite impossible for three women, ell
of them French, to be otherwise than
enthusiastic, even if their enthusiasm
did consciously root itself back i'll =
heavy sense of but half suppressed
dread.
Mademoiselle de Sezannes was, PEI.
haps, the most cheerful one. She
even tried to be CAV over the conduct
of Lieutenant Ballanche, whom she
persisted in accusing OF willfuliy
passing her by unnoticed.
1t is due to the young mar to say,
bowever, that he was scarcely aware
of the carriage as he rode past it. His
head was down, and his thoughts were
fixed on most important duty; for he
was flying to General Jackson with
news from within the enemy's linea
A fleet of barges, heavily manned with
finely equipped soldiers, was on Bayou
Bienvenu, and in few hours the Eng
lish would have an army safely landed
below the city. The information this
time was authentic, for with his own
eyes he had seen what he was to re.
port.
Naturally earnest aud intense in
his disposition, he felt to the fullest
measure the responsibility resting
upon him. He would not trust any
courier to bear the message winch
might hold the fate OF New Orleans
and the country. So he rode all the
way as fast as he dared urge his horse,
and on his nerves lay the strain of an
all-absorbing excitement. The car.
riage whisked past him as mere
formless, colorless incident of his
fight to headquarters. He remem'
bered aiterward we'll enough when he
would have given his life to know that
he had halted just long enough to bid
the coachman turn back aud drive at
once to New Orleans. Everything
and every person visible about the
carriage came out strong and clear,
likes a suddenly develowed photograph,
in his mind. The horses, the round
faced, snowy-wooled coachman, the
closely drawn curtains, the wheels
fecked with sandy mud-even the old
man riding on the projection between
the high-curved springs-he could
see all 80 plainly and yet through what
q film of horrible mystery! And in
that closed vehicle, though unseen by
him, the girl he loved, the girl who
ind so lately promised to be his wife
was going ON all unhindered to disap-
pear as completely and mysteriously
as if caught up by the spirits OF the
air.
Mrs. Vernon and the young ladies
passed the rest of the day i'll comrara-
tive comfort of mind. Lapin was there
with a score or more of strong colored
men to protect them; everything looked
peaceful aud sweet. Why should they
be afraid? They would not be afraid,
they declared they would not; they
would be brave women worthy of
strong hearted patriotic men. They
vowed in 1t their inmost hearts.
So long as daylight lasted. they
held we'll to their determination and
kept up a fine show OF it: but even
when dinner came, served so fault
lessly by Lizette. their hearts began
to sink little, and they felt the chill
creeping over tLem again.
Mrs. Vernon struggled vigorously
against what she knew wss the worst
thing for them. but what could she do
when dense fog blew in from Borgne
and the night became an enc;rcting
wall OF blackness, through which the
low moaning Of some tall pine-trees
crept with infinite sadness?
She looked for book to read aloud
and CHANGED upon an old edition OF
LA Princesse de Cleves," by Madame
Lafayette. The girls huddled close
to her, aud she tried to make them
interested i'll the story, taking care
not to go too far into it's sentimental:
ties. Her voice, however, sounded
unnatural, she thought, aud the vol
ume was soon thrown aside.
81 can never, never 60 to sleep to-
night" cried Mademoiselle de Sc
zaunes. "Oh, why did I ever come
here"
Lapin was in the kitchen: they
heard him singing patois ditty be-
tween his pipes. Lizette had gone to
bed
"We shall be ashamed of ourselves
in the morning." said Mrs. Vernon.
"The sun will come up, and every.
thing will be so bright and cheerful
that it will seem like sinful folly to
have been afraid"
"And think what they-wnat the
men who are in the camps tonight