The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-07

ne nad got away before we were
down on the beach. 1t was a wild.
goose chase, at best. And so | told
his Excellency. the governor"
"A thankless task, no doubt! But
the shots we hear0-"
An imbecile soldier saw a shadow:
fired at it. and"
The others followed suit" laughed
the visitor
Exactly" The commandments face
grew red; fiercely he pulled his mus.
tacne. What can one expect when
tney make soldiers out OF every
dunderpate that comes along?"
True!" assented the marquis. "But
tnis fellow, this Black Seigneur-why
Is the governor so anxious TO law
hands on him? Who is he. ami what
mas he done? confess" languidlv
Ito mild curiosity.
Hes a privateersman and an ont.
law and has done enough to hang
himself dozen times"
When you capture him!" inter.
posed the visitor lightly. A moment
ne studied the massive oak beams ut
the ceiling. why do they call him
'ne biacK Seigneur? An odd sobrl-
Quet!"
HIS father was Seigneur-the
last OF the fier of Desaurac. The
Seigneurs have all been fair men for
generations, while this fellow"
Then he has noble blood in him p.
Inc marquis showed surprise. where
is the fief?"
The woods on tho shore mark the
beginning Of it."
Butt don't understand. rhe father
was Seigneur; the SON"
bluntly the commandant explained.
the son was a natural child. tho
motner, common peasant woman
whom the former Seigneur had taken
to his house
i see!" The young nobleman
tapped his knee. And that being the
case"
Under the terms of the ancient
grant, there being no legal heir. the
lands were conascated to the crown.
HIS Excellency, however, had ALREADY
pougnt many OF the incumbrances
against this property, and. In view OF
this, and his services to the kline. the
nef. declared forfeited by the courts
was subsequently granted and deeden
without condition. to the governor.
TO the governor" repeated the
marquis.
VINO at once began rare clearing.
out; forcing the peasants who for
years had not been paying metayage.
70 meet this just requirement, or
move away!"
And did some of them object?"
Iney did; but his Excellency found
means. The most troublesome were
arrested and taken to the Mount
wnere they have had time to reflect
his Excellency believes in no halfway
measures with peasants"
"A rich principality, no doubt"
half to himself spoke the MARQUIS.
Il have heard" blurted the com.
mandant, hes going to give it to the
Lady Elise; restore the old castle and
turn the grounds surrounding it int,
a noble park"
The visitor frowned, es If little lik.
ing the introduction of the ladv's
name into the conversation. And
what did the Black Seigneur do then"
he a9k-c cold!y, when he found h,s
lands gomez"
"C!".r'ed 1t was plot!-that his
mother was an honest woman, though
neither the priest who performed the
ceremony nor the marriage records
could be found. He even resisted at
hrst-refused to be turned out-and,
skulking about the forest with his
gun, kept the deputies at bay. But
they surrounded him at last; drove
him to his castle, and would have cap
tured him, only he escaped that night,
and took to the high seas, where he
has been making trouble ever since!"
'Trouble?"
He has seriously hampered his
Excellency's commerce.; interfered
with his ships, and crippled his trade
with the Orient"
"But--the governor has many boats,
many men. Why have they failed to
capture him?"
For number Of reasons. In the
first place he Is one of the most skill
ful pilots on the coast; when hard
pressed, he does not hesitate to use
even the Isles des ROchers as a place
Of refuge"
"The Isles des Rochers?" queriec
the nObleman.