The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-10-01

WAS lihc liiEh hSAuo" "
common thought, panS burdened
and unwelcome to one. matter OF
hopeless Indifference to the other.
Mr.. Vernon picked up the top coat.
which had fallen from Burns's shoul.
ders, and replaced it with gentlo
care.
II knew Jane MacCollough," b,
said; "she was Jane Alexander betSco
she was married."
"Yes."
"And You said she had SON."
eyes; Kirk-Colonel Lorins-
Pierre Raneau. These three are one."
"You know this?"
! "You know it"
They stood there in tho rain an |
searching wind, the water dripping
from their hat-brims and thei- gray
locks tossing about. Mr.. Vernon
combel his a5uud dant beard with his
fingers.
Burns came closer to him.
"I think T had best tell you," he
said; "for, after all, you ought to
know"
T know already" Mr.. vernon
calmly replied, call that you can tell
me and more"
"No, not all. Kirk MacCol-
lough's laat-no. not exactly last, nor
yet his worst. but one Of his acts yon
have no account OF. will tell you"
Then the old man described his
meeting with Pierre Rameau in the
Pearl. River country aud the cold
blcoded event OF it. He showed no
senile garrulity iu delivering him
self. Indeed, the blunt thrust Of his
sentences gave an awful realism to his
story.
II felt that it was best to tell you"
he added at the end, with something
like suggestion OF regret or apology
for the inhiction.
"Oh, certainly" said Mr.. Vernon.
The GOODNESS Of this remark, not
far removed from sheer Indifference,
seemed to excite Burns iuordinately,
and, as If IN retaliation, he pegan st
once to tell what Rameau had said re-
garding the fate of Margaret, and con.
sciously with great cunning or uncon-
sciously with supreme feeling he pre-.
sented the absolute dramatic spirit OF
the terrible deed.
Mr.. Vernon stood in au attitude OF
stark attention. The story was
quickly told with few gestures and in
a low tone.
"But-but-" Burns hesitated
moment as he was concluding. gazing
fxedly the while though yon saved
my life, though I would all but die.
for your and yours, cannot spare
him-I caunot spare him even Tor
you"
Mr.. Vernon wruns water from his
beard aud stood silent. The rain
was soaking his clothes, but he did
not feel it.
A little later the two old men
parted, Burns refusing to accompany
the other any farther or to accept any
aid from him. Unconsciously, how
ever, he wore away Mr.. Vernon's com.
Portable top-coet.
At Chateau dor, meantime, Paul
ins and her mother were discussing a
subject which mothers aud daughters
have busied themselves with since the
first day that love and marriage were
lifted to true sauctity in human
hous aho.ds. Fairfax had just gone
away; aud Pauline, with true French
impetuosity, an Inheritance from
Madame Vernon, ran to that warm
hearted woman aud flung herself into
her arms. The act interpreted itself,
for the mother knew every movements
Of her child and it's meaning. She
had expected this anu was glad OF it,
aud yet she felt thrill that was more
than half a pang as she clasped the
1.-the, quivering form and began pas
sionately to kiss the blooming lips
and cheeks. She felt hot tears drop
ping from the girls eyes.
"But he is going 10 the army"
Pauline sobbed. "Going right away
to fight"
"And your father, loo, is going"
said Mrs. Vernon, stroklnS her bright
hair. sootbiu2iy. eve must be as
brave as they"
In the midst CT her distress, which
was SO largely Joy, Pauline felt dis
tinct satisfaction in the parallel i'm
piled by her mothers remark. 1t was
as if she had said: "My dearest one,
80, is going to join the army. II L
can let mine go, you can let yours s..
We are quite on an equality in the
the matter" The comfort in this
leycling and blending suggestion may
have been remote and obscure to
degree; but it was nevertheless un-
misteka5!r.
"But they will be killed! They
will be brought back dead!' Pauline
continued. putting a hand on each
side of her mothers face and gazing
through her tears.
"We'll hope not. Well pray for
their safety. my dear. God takes care
OF us all. He keeps our beloved ones