Show r AFTFIE ff 1 UISIANA I BY GARY VEREUX WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY DON C WILSON l Gfyrjgit 9 y LtifAo twn dC zY Ujl QIg le R c CHAPTER V It was the afternoon of the fourth day when Jean fearing lest Laro might come to neck him and thinking that perhaps Gralolro also would becoming be-coming decided to go to Lc Chien Huuroiix Pierre having already gone out to see some of his military friends Tim air was crisp and Jean walkIng walk-Ing rapidly was turning the corner of the street leading down to the Inn when he saw Laro approaching I Ha runaway the latter called out a smile lighting his dark face I was but Just coming to see you I gilt to sea this night Joan started and stared Aye this very night with tho Aisle set sail for Ixulslnna continued contin-ued Laro Would you not like to t > o with meyoll and Pierre I will take both If you but say the word Jeans cheeks were filled with sudden sud-den color and his eyes sparkled with excitement But this all passed away as he said sighingly Aye I would like to go but Then It Is but for you to come urged the tempter Jean paid no heed to this but inquired In-quired Why aro you going In such hasteWell Well replied Imo lowering his tone There is In tho city a certain wealthy royalist who has fled from Paris with his daughter Roselle a most beautiful demolsolle of eighteen Ho and a few others have made It worth my whllo to carry them to Louisiana where they will seek new homes Come lad he added coaxingly make a run of It and come with me over seas Come with me I say and youll reap more gold in shorter time than did ever an aristocrat of France Not on this trip Laro replied Jean calmly I but with unmistakable firmness You have said you would < = T = H 1 411 be coming and going so some day I will turn my back upon France and go with you Well well be it so then said Laro although with evident reluctance reluc-tance But youll not speak to anyone any-one of our sailing tonight Naynot I Why should 11 asked Jean as ho opened tho door Ill see you again before sailing time Jean walked slowly along the streets seeing nothing for a time He was going toward home and had almost al-most reached the narrow street upon which stood Margots cottage when he saw approaching that which sent his dreams flying and with them all thoughts of Laro and Louisiana It was Orelolre who appeared to have seen him at tho same moment for he paused as If waiting for the boy to come near Tell mchlye you seen him What said ho Jean demanded before be-fore they had gono half a dozen steps Never mind whether or not I have seen him replied Grelolro rather slowly Let It suffice that ho knows I of my having met with you and of your anxiety to see him But ho bids you with his love to stop at home for tho present Walt quietly here as ho asks of you and you will be sure to sec him In a short time See him here exclaimed the I boy How can that be I cannot tell you that only wait and you shall see He was not pleased that I ever thought to encourage your leaving the city and so you must I promise not to attempt it A rebellious light shone for a moment mo-ment In the dark eyes turned to meet tho soldiers stern look Then It was gone and Jean answered with a deep sigh Yes I will do as ho wishes 0 It lacked but a few minutes of eight oclock and the neighborhood of Le Chien Heureux was unwontedly quiet liinUIe however there was tho usual gathering of soldiers and citizens citi-zens Lara was not In tho room with tho other customers and Jean upon inquiring In-quiring for him was told In a low tone by Thlol that the captain was in his own apartment Ho then Invited Jean to follow him and after bidding Pierre wait where I he was and to open the door to no one ho led tho way to the passage Dropping on his knees no grasped a ring and a square of the apparently appar-ently solid wall rolled up with a grating grat-ing noise until It was level with his head as ho still knelt and a rush of damp air as if from out of doors stirred the short locks on Jeans forehead fore-head as ho stared with wondeMllled eyes into the dark opening that gaped before them A minute later tile boys eyes wore nearly blinded as ho followed his companion into a cnvo hike room with a floor of rock which was also the material of Its ceiling and walls It was furnished but scantily and around a table at the farther side were several men while somewhat apart from them sat two women As Thiel entered with Jean close behind him the men ceased talking and stared with evident displeasure at the boyall except Laro who railed out Aim my young mate Is l it thyself Welcome my seagull He put out an inviting hand then as the lad came to his sldp he said turning to a slenderly built man of middle age seated next him with an elbow on tho table and a hand supporting sup-porting his cheek Count do Caze neat permit mo to present to you my young friend Jean Lafitte who Is somo day to bo my mate and who Is as dear to me as an own son The count did not cnange his position posi-tion but stared moodily at tho handsome hand-some boy while murmuring a courteous cour-teous acknowledgment of his presence pres-ence As for Jean he scarcely heard I the words so engrossed had his senses become with the beautiful taco confronting him from the other corner cor-ner of tho room The young lady was looking at him and from her clear blue eyes there Hashed a smile that opened the red lips to show two rows of little pearl like teeth as she said In a voice whoso sweetness held yet a noto of l u 1 rr i 0 1 i p I will give you this ring of mine command Come over here pretty boy and talk to me I was feeling lonesomo In this dreadful place and If the sight of you Is so pleasant what may not your words do to cheer me And she smiled again He know her to be the counts daughter of whom Laro had spoken and he felt a still more poignant I regret re-gret that he was not to sail in tho Algle that night Have you been long In Toulon Jean Inquired somewhat at a loss what to say and yet longing to man ifest his sympathy for so lovely a being Since last summer she answered and bent toward him as from a sudden impulse while she said Did you ever meet people who were strangers to you and yet who from the moment you looked into their faces seemed otherwise She had laid a hand upon his shoulder shoul-der and a puzzled expression showed In his face ns he looked Into her earnest earn-est eyes But this gave way to a halfmischievous but wholly winning smile as ho replied with a gallantry hardly to have been expected in a lad of his age Neveruntil this moment mo-ment She laughed and drew her hand away the wildrose color deepening In her checks The smllo was gone as she said speaking In so low a tone that ho scarcely caught her words9ls ho related re-lated to youthis Laro Oh no mamsellc ho whispered I have known him only a few weeks And do you like him Sheperhaps unconsciously raised her voice a little and the gravity of Its tone coupled with that which showed In her face caused Jean to stare at her with surprise Sho loaned forward until her face was close to his own Jean Livfltte she said slowly and distinctly I never had a brother but If I could have one I would wish him to be like you I should not like It that you grow to bo a man such as I feel this Iaro must be Again Jean was slow in thinking what to say and all ho did was to look into her lovely face Into tho lustrous eyes fixed so Intensely upon him You may forget me Jean she resumed re-sumed as he did not speak but I shall hope not Yet for fear I may slip from sour memory I will Bird you this ring of mine and sho drow one from her finger I wish you to wear it and to think It says always Rosalie do Cnzeneau gave mo to you and sho will always pray for you that you may be a gallant gentleman loyal to what is true arid right Will you have the ring say this to you Her words touched deeply tho boys chivalric Impulsive nature and bonding bond-ing over the hand that proffered tho ring ho pressed his lips to the Jeweled Jew-eled fingers Thank you ho said as now with a smile she slipped the little circlet upon tho fourth finger of his loft hand and tho touch of her own warm and gentle sent a thrill of delight through his young veins I shall never forget you ho declared de-clared looking up into her taco and no matter what or where I may be you and yours will always have my love and service It is now my turn to thank you she said forand a farseeing look chased tho smllo from her eyes who shall say but that I or mina may call upon you to make good your promise Before he could reply thoy were interrupted In-terrupted by tho entrance of Laro r with Thiel closo behind hint and following fol-lowing the two was Pierre who with open eyes and mouth stared about him wnnilnrinclv Laro gao his orders hastily but clearly after which < ho turned to Pierre who stood near him Good night my boy I am sorry you are not to go with me for I would like greatly to have your stout heart and strong arm aboard the Algle You will come with me next time laying his hand on tho boys shoulder shoul-der Jean remained silent standing with lowered eyes while the bell jangled a second time 1 Ill bo In this port again within two years added Lam and then I am sure you will bo ready to como with me Until then dear lad goodnight good-night And ho moved away motioning mo-tioning for the others to follow Good night Jean and adieu said Roselle as sho was about to pass him Do not forget me nor what I have said to you Sho was gone leaving the boy standing mute sensible of tho odor of violets and regretting ruefully his inability In-ability to have acknowledged her gracious gra-cious farewell But the sound of I Thlels voice soon aroused him from his selfreproachlngs Come tho landlord said sharply como with me The hooks of a ropo ladder wore soon fastened Into two Iron rings bolted bolt-ed to tho rock A call of rope was then put through the opening and lowered carefully until Laro who kept a hand upon It felt It grow taut with a pull from below Good night again boy my heart is sorry to leave thee behind be said to Jean who was close to him Good by again and good luck He had while speaking stepped through the opening and as the farewell fare-well came from his lips disappeared down the ladder Ropes were fastened under tho arms of the young girl and of her maid One of the counts friends followed fol-lowed Laro then tho maid after him next the count himself and then his daughter the two remaining gentlemen gentle-men going last of all There was no sign of fighting when Jean and Pierre left Le Chien Heu reux that night and the sough of tho rising wind was all that broke tho silence Next time I will surely go Jean said to himself as he and Pierre after af-ter putting out tho light which Margot Mar-got had left for them took off their shoes and crept softly upstairs to their respective bedrooms Laro said he would return within two years and In two years I shall be larger und she will not call me a boy I Will go and I will find her To be continued |