The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-09-08

meant, but she did as he desired.
They sat thus without suffering the
watch to relax during three delightful
hours-delightfu Notwithstanding the
danger Mark was in. Laura wanted
an account of his adventures in Chat
tanooga and he gave it. When she
came to Souri's part in his escape
Laura was visibly affected; indeed so
intensely were her feelings wrought
upon by this portion Of the story that
she started at every sound. realizing
the more perfectly that Marks neck
was still in jeopardy.
Then carne an account Of the trial;
the march to the courtroom; the Yait-
ing for the counsel; the arrival Of Cap
tain Cameron Fitz Hugh.
captain Cameron Fitz Hugh!'
Then it WIS all out that Laura's
lover had deicn1ed the spy. and Lau-
"a confessed that she was Fitz Hugh's
betrothed.
In the midst of the excitement at
tending all this Mrs. Fain entered car
rying a silver tray. on which was a
basket of cake and decanter and
glasses.
"a little luncheon may not he amiss.
Mr.. Rhett," she said Il don't know
your South Carolina customs in such
matters, but my daughter and | occa-
si lally take biscuit at this hour"
Mark rose and faced about. His
hand went to his heart, and he bowed
low. Laura. too. rose and stood look
ing at her mother.
Madam" said Mark, ''can I ever
forget this kindness?"
"If you will discover the ore you
seek on our property shall feel am
ply repaid" said the lady sententious-
".
'Trust me, madam, will have dill
gent search made"
"Are you geologist"
t'None but a geologist would be hunt
ing for ore in the government service"
'That is a fascinating study" re-
marked Mrs. Fain, who was great
reader and a very intelligent woman
Now Mark. though an educated man
and born to a taste for the sciences.
unfortunately knew less about the
profession he had temporarily adopted
than any other.
''There are some curious geological
facts" Mrs. Fain went on. (which al
ways interest me. Twas reading yes
terday that a famous geoiogist has
said that centuries-1 have forgotten
how many-were consumed while Nj
agara falls were wearing their way
from Lewiston to the present site.
How long was it, professor2 I'm sure,
you have that title"
TT could not have been less than
five hundred years, madam" said
Marx, laying great stress on the fig
ures as something enormous.
''Five hundred? I thought it was
something like twenty thousand"
Mark perceived %hat he had made a
gross blunder, but it would never do
Aux I'LL dShuO W4COSO ~
II am aware" be said. that such is
the opinion Of a certain school Of
geologists with more assurance than
brains. I refer to those scoffers who
are continuously trying to find evil
dence against the Mosaic account Of
creation, but I regard their position
untenable:''
There was a pleased look on Mrs.
Fain's countenance. She belonged to
the Baptist denomination and believed
thoroughly that the world was made
in six days of twenty-four hours each.
"Professor.' she said. withdrawing
from the room at the sar1e time, Il
trust that you will remain in the
neighborhood a long while, and beg
you to honor US by making this house
your home in the meantime"
Mark was standing with half filed
glass of wine in his left hand. while
his right was on his heart. MIS-. Fain
made her exit through the door by
which she had come, opening into the
dining room. AS the door closed Mark
was bending to the floor, admirably
representing a South Carolina gentle
man of the olden time.
He heard something like low cry
half surprised, half terror-from Lau-
"a. Turning quickly toward her he
saw her eyes fixed in stare on some
object at the door opening into the
hall. Another turn Of his head and
there stood the figure Of Captain
Cameron Fitz Hugh
Twice before had Mark seen that
face, once when Fitz Hugh had ap-
preached the Fain house the morning
Mark had left it for Chattanooga, and
once when the young Confederate had
o+ M 4rfo1