Rocky Ford enterprise., 1905-05-12

was the reply. uttered with spiris
and emphasis that appeared to re-
store the speakers composure. She
knows nothing OF II. | tell you. II H."
with manifest indCcision-"only that
! felt unhappy and | cannot tell my
self why. But."-as II determined to
find reason-''I wish that Capt. La
fitte had not come to see Gen. Ia
Roche this morning"
"La-ia." said Zcney. new light
| creeping into her shrivclcd face. while
she nodded her turbaned head until
her long earrings clicked against the
string OF gold beads tightly cncirclins
her skinny mech. Then good Capt.
Jean is srill alive and well! am
glad-so glad"
why should you he glsd7 What
makes every one love him so?" de-
mAnded her mistress pctulantly, ms
she wiped her face and eyes with the
morsel OF cambric and lace serving
her as handkerchief.
why should not be glad. my prct-
~ one? Aye. 80 long a. Zency lives.
she has reason to he glad when al
Is well with Capt. Jean"
But why should you bc?' repeated
| Madcmoiscllo de Cazcn.au. her man.
ner softcning somewhat nj Zcncy'S
evident sincerity. And why should
you. and every one. like him 80 much
such a wicked. dreadful man.
The adjcctlycS were indispGtably
harsh-mOrc 50 than the manner In
which they were uttered. and tho yio'
let eyes held II suggestion that III"
speaker would not object to knowing
that her application Of them was mis-
| placed.
"wIcEcd--trcadfil!" echoed xSncy.
| shaking her head Violently. NO. no.
never In Captain Jean either Of
| these"
But Mamman Ziliah once told me. /"
said MadomoiEciic dc Cazcnchu. with
the mir uf ono seeking to remove un'
| pleasant doubts from the mind. that
y-nrH ago when Ehc belonged to
man up Ai contrnband Bayou. she saw
Capt. Latte and two other men so
into the woods with horse. They
had shoycls and picks. and Shc fol-
lowed ihUm to see what they would
do. She saw them digIln. hole.
like "a grave: but II wnS big chest
they dug up. And there was gold In
tn. chrat, for she saw II when tho
men began filinR some bags. Then
Fhc wnH No frightened for fear they
would 500 her that she ran home TO
her cabin. And" here Madcmoi'
sCiic do CaEcnrau'N eyes opened wid"
Ia their full width and her voice took
a minor note. while her manner be
came Imbucd with horrible suggest.
| iy"nCaa-"a few hours later she saw
/ the horse come out Of the woods. with
tho bags across It's back: but only
| Cant. Jean camo out OF tho woods
with the horse
Zcncy laughed dcrIsivoly. and again
shunk her head.
THAT story came on horseback.
Missy. along with the others you have
heard. and Ziliah ought to be well
whipped for telling such wicked lie.
II she ever saw such u thing. then the
two men had gone on In some other
way to look after their own business.
which was what Zillah ought to have
boon doing"
hut MadcmoIHciir dc CaScncau was.
although apparently aEainEt her
own will. still unconvinccd.
for she added imprcsslvcly.
"Zillah said that they aftcrwari
found the two ricn dead in tho woods.
And I have heard other stories. too
OF how he has made men jump into
the sea when he burned or scuttled
their ships. and took all they had on
board
Capt. Jean steal, Capt. Jean muir
dcr!" cried Zency. her eyes flashing
with indignation. such things he
never did. and all such stories arc
| llcs-black lies. How can you be-
llcvc them. or think OF them. my
honey. when you once thought him
so good and noblc?"
The question was unanswered. and
Zcney, after a moments pause. added.
II there is any truth in such talk.
It was wicked Capt. l.aro who did
these things: but Capt. Jcan-never."
"L.aro-Capt. Laro!" said her young
| Mistress. with a puzzled little frown.
and raising a hand to push back the
clustering hair from her now cooled
checks. An. yes: It comes to me. |
have heard my mother speak Of him:
II was he VINO brought her from
| France"
1T was he. too. who brought Capt.
lean here to Louisiana
He did?" the girl asked in sur
prise. And did yon know him then
when he was a boy?'
The negress nodded. He seemed
n comradc then. young as he was. of
the captain's-a comradc in business.
| IIt. was wickcd-very wicked man
'scallcrat. this Capt. Laro; and it
WIS surely he. and not Capt Jean.
who did the wicked deeds you have
heard about. my honey"
And where now Is Capt Laro-
do you know. Zcncy?"
"Dead and gone, Missy-so I've