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Show I AH this the landlord told me witl a great deal of gusto. I assure yoa i left a vague unrest in my mind that perhaps the old dame of Castle Lieut had not tried to deceive Gil; that Vi tress Rosemary Allyn's maid had gut by the river road; and that we were pursuing the wrong coach. It was about, though It was yet morning. It was no unnsual pitch-blac- k CHAPTER VI Continued. A comely mother held up In her rm her young babe. Its fat fingers clutched frantically a noregay of wild blossoms, and Its round face was vcrewed Into wrinkles of earnestness lest he drop It. 1 took it from him and put in its place a gold piece. The mother bobbed her thanks, while the glen rang with the ahousof good luck to the young lord. All were Intent upon wishing me honor and prosperity. No, not at all, for I caught words the reverse of honor and betterment words which made me leap from my horse as quickly as a stone is shot from a catapult. I caught the fellow as he slunk behind the women. It was Jim Scrags a Jealous fool. 'Sdeath! if a man dance a few twirls upon the green with another man's sweetheart, need he make an ass of himself because of ItT Meenle's eyes were black as night, and upon the occasion when 1 singled her oat to dance, they twinkled like a thousand stars merged In one. It was no doubt more because she saw her to-b- e lord and master llvldly green with Jealousy watching her (diablerie Is, I think, in every woman), than delight at the honor the young lord had conferred upon her. "You need a lesson, slrrab, I cried. I Jerked him out Into the open. The young lord will take time to teach you to put, as It were, a bridle to your tongue," 1 said to him. "A lit tie excitement will not be out of the way." I called to the men: "What do yon My to a fisticuff bout?" Leave him to me," said John, our sturdy farrier, a young stripling, with arms of ponderous weight 111 settle him." Jim Scrags' face went white as a "In front of us there clown's floured face seen at a county He was the sneak and bully. I filled with disgust at his cow-nethat I would have let him alone, but the men having begun preparations were not to be balked of their entertainment. One formed a ring by marking out a circle with the heel of his boot, others forced the crowd back. You see the primitive mode of settling disputes was still enforced at Long IlauL I could as Lord of Sackett and future Lord of Long llaut have used drastic measures an I chose; but I humored them by stooping to their level in this as well as in their merry making, and I think they lovdd me accordingly. The men forcibly pulled off his coat and amid much Jocularity helped him with an undealred assiduity. They were in their element. It was like a hounds worrying one pack of well-fe- . ss d mean hare. An upward cut, 'and the fellow lay prone upon the sward; so soon was it over. Had I known he possesed not as much science as the smallest urchin about the place, I had left him alone. Most of our men were good fighters and boxers, and they practised dally among themselves to keep their hand in. Gad xooks! there was no fun in so easy a victory. He had but floundered his bulky arms about like a wind mill on a stormy day. A mans passions soon blow over. When I saw the fellow lying as helpless as when his mother bare him I felt sorry for the mistaken wretch. I knelt and felt his pulse. The men muttered, "Dead, and from the huddled group of women there came a faint scream. Dead! I said, "not so. Give him air; hell live to make trouble enough In the world. With a fling I was in the saddle. 1 set off at so lively a pace that I outran the approving yells of the men, and the admiring glances of the women, but not the flash from Meenle's black eyes. That flash betokened undying enmity to the man who had bested her lover. Feminine logic! for while they rail at and abuse tlielr own, they want no one else trespass-du- g on their preserve. They should learn that what they themselves hold up to ridicule, all men. like carrion-crowwill flock to peck at. Gil Joined me after be had done some bullyragging on his own account, and, possibly, more on mine. s, thing for people traveling from on shire to another, to be lost in the hog Such an occurrence would not pies "You are a lusty fellow, said he, ure us, for we might wander about and I rather enjoy seeing a bit of a for days until discovered. Our oily fight when it comes In a day's run. safety, therefore (for it was next to In this case, however, you might have impossible between the darkness and wielded your whip to some purpose; the slough to keep our was in a sound hiding would have been more giving the horses their way), heads, trustof in keeping. Why the soiling youi ing to their instinct. Now they swan, hands on such mud?" now their feet touched bottom, and "81nce when have you become so w on, we went but with slow progress. of my solicitous about the soiling We entered a space where the forhands?" I asked him. "It Is not so est abounded upon both sides of as many years, if I remember rightly, ind the top branches of the trees meet 1 If me when you were ready to thrash iver our heads while the low ones did not thrash a certain lad for his swept the ground In places. It was a ill manners. l arrow path way and secretive enough A boy reaches maturity sometlmer .or lover's trysts. Beautiful too no In a day," he observed. "You have doubt on a summer's day, but riding made an enemy, whereas had you through it in the dark was quite anconwhipped him he would only have other thing. sidered it your rightful prerogative." My hat was swept off by one of the Damme Oil, I will settle my quar 4preading branches, and I might have rela as suits myself," I said, sharply A man. been left hanging there a second I knew that he was right. bad I not quickly ducked my when he reaches a mans estate, should put away childish things but :iead. We could not even look to the primhow few of us do? Gil's answer was a shrug of his fat ing of our pistols, damp no doubt. In' shoulders, unless be meant the words their hostlers. The powder, however, of the old song, which he began to was safe, for the flasks were in the sing, to have bearing upon the case: saddle bags hanging at the sides of the horses. What a place for gentlemen who They havs ta'en young Waters.I And put fetters on his feet take to the road, and have neither reThey have ta'en young Waters, Fortuspect for time or persons! Aud thrown him In a dungeon deep. nately they like nasty weather no I could not take exceptions to this, better than the rest of us, and on such for it was an old favorite of his, and a day unless In a deucedly tight box, were mostly likely to be found sang be oft sang it. So we Jogged along with patience and warm, drinking and carousing, toward our horses, myself somewhat lighting and gambling, in some haunt quiet, but who could be sullen on such of their own. a morn, when the skylarks were liftGils head careened first to one side ing their songs to heavens blue as and then to the other. He gave a they flew upward from among the sigh of relief. I looked up to ask grasses in the fallow meadows? Not why. He pointed ahead. I saw nothI, for one; certainly not Gil, for an- ing, but as we bad come out into the other. open, I supposed that that was the Soon I Joined him in his song, and reason. We had traveled at least a quarter of an hour ere I read that sigh rightly. It meant that the flesh pots of Egypt were near to hand. In front of us there glimmered a light It was like a lone star half way down the horizon. As we drew nearer It proved to be a candle turning a clumsy lantborn, set at the end of a long pole curving over the road. Ah. Its the White Swan! exclaimed Gil. "I had not thought it vas so near." Another sigh escaped him. f The White Swan It proved tolbe, and the heavens lightening a trifle, showed us many things. One was Joels Swan, the landlord, coming as quickly as his fourteen stone would permit noUwt mAlie Ua magenta colored coach standing lathe court yard, and the rain restorlifc it to its former pristine freshness. I "Here is the coach, I said, pointing to It, as we entered the inn yard, and Jumped off our horses. "And at (hey say in hunt the slipper we are getting Shall we ever reach that hotter. stage in the game known as the burning up one, I wonder? With a laugh I was about to push the inn door and enter, when open a glimmered light words uttered by mine host stopped we both chirruped as we rode through me. the lanes and short-cuts- , like two " Tis not the old comfort, sir, he troubadours: was saying, your falser was used to filled But I'll ne'er ride thro Stirling town, that youll find, with the house with those damnable hordes of JefWI' fetters on ray feet -- freys." Jeffreys!" I exclaimed, my mind harping to one tune only. Did Jefthe Magenta Colored frey's men come In that?" CHAPTER VII. We Overtake Coach. I am not going to tell of our Journey along that road of sloughs and quagmires except as it has to do with this talf. I might Ml page upon page of reading interesting enough to some, for we had a few adventures in which we did not come off second best. We had gone about fifty miles or so, when it began to rain a soaking rain, which came down as straight as a hanging curtain and soon made our camlet cloaks heavy with the wet. The water dripped from off us with an Incessant drip-driand even our boots became soggy. Our last stopping place had been the King's Head, that most hospitable of roadside Inns. The memory of its cheer still lingered with me in spite of the concern I had in keeping my skin dry. I was so filled with this delicate occupation that I no longer pondered over what I had learned from its host. It seemed that a magenta colored roach and four with a postillion had stopped at the tavern the night before and taken on fresh horses which had previously been arranged for. The iady or ladles had not alighted, but had been served in their coach with curtains down. He affirmed that there was hut one lady as far as he knew, for the youth riding with them and tending to their needs, had spoken of but one. A hostler declared, however, that peeping under the curtain he had seen two. This produced a laugh among the stable men to whom he had gossiped. They said that he had not recovered from his spree of the night before since he saw double. Being a vinous man he had taken their Joke in a huff, and offered to fight any one who doubted his word or sight. He said that they were anything biit doubles their masks being off be needed no spectacles to see that one was hold and black while the other, here words failed him for a spare, then he added with a watering An angel from the gates of mouth: heaven. I pointed to the coach. (To be continued.) HE WANTED TO KNOW. One Day in the Life of Human Point. "But, mother, why?" "Because, Kenneth, little boys who get wet when they play in the fountain, have to have their suits changed. Come along. Why do little boys who play In the fountain get wet, mother? O, because the water is wet, that's all." The small boy trotted upstairs and the suit was changed. Now. Kenneth, don't go near the fountatn again." "Why. mother?" "Oh, because I wouldn't. "But I would. May I go In the fountain. mother? "No, Kenneth. Now go down to the porch and see if you ran find Christine and Josephine. Run along, thats a good boy. Kenneth went down and after a fruitless search for the two little girls, he proceeded to "play he was a steam engine." At last Christine appeared and with a whoop of Joy Kenneth flung himself upon her. "Where were you? he demanded. "In the hammock. Why? Because 1 wanted to." "Will you play houses with me?" "I am busy now, Kenneth; I moat get ready for supper. What for?" "Because. The answer pleased and Kenneth went to look for his mother. Soon after supper this little human interrogation point foil asleep, after a last "What for, murmured, sleepily mother?" First you spend a lot of money to give a boy a college education and then a lot more to support him in living up to It. la the Mississippi valley, occupied by lAHTIE' liSOTSlANA. . BY jgARY JjEVEREUX WITH ftfer&g ILLUSTRATIONS &CO, Op fy BY DON C. WILSON 4 AfikOrv Atowwv? CHAPTER XVI. As she looked about her, in the tangled and shadowy forest, where the night was already coming darkly, a new terror arose within her, and she sought to return by the way she had come, but this was only to find her steps cut off by still denser masses of forest growth. Even as she stood hesitating, there came a faint cry, like that of a child, and a rush of hopefulness thrilled her at the thought of something human being near in the gloom and oppressive stillness. Then there fell upon her a freezing terror, as she suddenly recalled the slaves telling recently of a panther's voice having been heard at night, near the settlement; and she remembered that they had likened it to the erying of a child. Trembling with fright, she stood, glancing about in terror, wondering which way to turn, when another sound came faintly. It was a sound she had heard before, and one no hearer could ever forget; a short, quick 'bark, followed by a prolonged bowl the cry of the timber wolf. Gathering her draperies closely, she sprang forward again, all color gone from the dainty little face, now ashen with fear, against which the bushes and low branches beat unmercifully. Again and again the fiendish cry rang out, to be succeeded by another, and then another, as if the first call had summoned a multitude of wolves to the chase. But, for all her dainty femininity, she had a man's heart for courage in the face of danger; and, as she still kept on, with clenched hands and panting breath, a small cabin showed In a clearing before her. A new strength came to her at sight of this refuge, and she rushed toward It, to find rally an untenanted ruin, with its door fallen from the hinges. But she saw upon the floor a large iron ring, which indicated the entrance The touch and the words struck sharply through her benumbed senses; and with a cry of affright, she struggled to free herself. asked Lafitte. now "What Is speaking firmly and quickly. "Are you hurt, child are you injured in any way?" Do not do not!" the girl commanded, now uncovering her face, and looking up at him with an angry light sparkling In her eyes. "How dare you?" Drawing back a step, Lafitte stared at her in amazement, until suddenly recalling what Nato had told him a short time before, and realizing that what he had then feared was indeed true, he stood before her speechless, a new agony growing in his pale face. For a moment she met his eyes unflinchingly. Then, dropping her own, turned from him with a shudder, as she said coldly, I wish to be taken to the house, Captain She stopped as if checked at the thought of uttering his name. In a moment, mademoiselle," he answered with the cool courtesy he would have shown a stranger. "Your grandpere has been alarmed on your account He bad sent for you to come and bid me adieu; and then, when your absence was discovered. It was quite late. She said nothing, nor did he, for the space of a full minute. Then, with his face turned to the darkness out side, he resumed: If the day may ever come when you can think of me with less condemnation, remember always what I tell you now. I do not, nor can I ever, blame you. And, if I can ever serve you, you have but te comamnd me, always and forever." Some of the slaves, who had returned from the hunt, now sent up a Joyous shout at sight of their "111 Ma'mselle" unhurt; and, rising, she Itr some two hundred and seventy many of them women and chilof whom all but seventeen were dren, put to death by the Creeks, one of the tribes which the English had won over for allies. Gov. Claiborne had foreseen this threatened peril, but was powerless to avert it, for his forces were few and scattered, white tbe Indians seemed innumerable, and moved with wonderful activity. But the governor did all in his power to restore confidence; and not long afterward Gen. Jackson utterly destroyed the Creeks at Taller dega. My heart may be telling me wrongfully, Pierre," Jean said, as the two sat talking In their abode at Grande Terre a cabin outside, but luxurious within, "but I have a feeling that it I now go to the emperor I may find the opportunity for serving him; and that this may prove to him the love that has never died." "Perhaps," answered Pierre, hesitatingly. "But what is it that makes you think you msy be of service to tbe emperor and France?" "To say truth, 1 have no idea that is definite; but I feel an irresistible inclination to go, and see if the opportunity off els. If you should find service over per-sen- s, there then what? "Why," replied Jean, "then you can wind up our matters here, and come over to join me. Why not?" "Why not, indeed? That is assuredand Pierre ly what Iwould do. If hesitated for an Instant I could." "And what can prevent?" In such a case, Pierre replied deliberately, "there would be a valuable cargo to come with me, and watchful enemies here to blind. Then possibly, or most probably, by summer or fall, with the English vessels patrolling the waters around us, the safe getting away might not be so easy a matter. Summer and fall are not now," was the oracular declaration; "and by the time they come, it may be that the English will have been made to alias home again, as once before. "I dont feel at all sure as to that, Pierre commented, as he rose to cover the embers upon the hearth. Then, turning to Jean, he continued, as though there had been no interruption, "I tell thee, lad, that Louisiana has always possessed a great attraction for Great Britain. "Grant it, said Jean, rising and stretching himself. Then all the more reason why, in case they succeed in obtaining It, that we should wish to live somewhere else. "Ah, but 1 am not saying that they will rule here! exclaimed Pierre, with a showing of anger at thought of the possibility suggested by Jean's words! "God forbid!" Amen to that, said Jean, laughing at the quick change in his foster-brothemanner and look; and they soon parted for the night It was a bright morning in May that the Black Petrel, with Jean Lalltt and a picked crew, and bearing a ca go of rich merchandise, sailed fro Baratarla; and Pierre, his heart fillet with loneliness and misgivings, sat the bluff, watching her sails until tb melted away on the horizon. (To be continued.) ABOUT THE AGE OF A CROW. rs A Tag Would Indicate That One Lived More Than Twenty Years. A farmer living near Orrviile, Ohio, He stood before her, speechless. to a cellar; and, seizing this, she pulled at it with all her strength. A small section of the floor lifted, creaking on rusted hinges, and dashing wildly through dust and cobwebs that rose with it, she plunged into the and shallow opening, earth-waHefloored, the dust filling her eyes and her, as she nostrils, and panted sobblngly for breath. A few moments later she grew cold with an agony of apprehension, when she heard the noise of her pursuers' feet upon the flooring over her head, and their snuffling at the cracks in the cellar door. How long it lasted she scarcely knew, cramped as she was in the darkness, aching, throbbing with the dreadful creatures howling and snarling above ber head; how long It was before the baying of beagles, faint at first, sounded In her ears. Nearer and nearer came the sound, growing strong and clear; and then she heard the shouting of voices. This brought a new fear for might not these come from those fully as much to be feared as were the wolves? The Island, as she knew, was several miles long; and she had always known that it held others besides her grandfather's household . She listened tremblingly, a new dread encompassing her as the voices of the beagles now broke out dose to the cabin. Then there was a rushing sound, followed by an uproar indicating a fierce struggle. At length the combat seemed to surge through the cabin door, and a voice which she recognized as that of black Zebo, one of her grandfather's most trusted slaves, Dar goes de last debbil, shouted, makin for de woods! Shoot him, boys shoot eb'ry hide yer can see!" Roselle called to him, but ber voice sounded faint and unnatural to her own ears. Then the door was lifted, and the blinding light of a torch flashed in her face. Take me out; take me home!" she cried, raising her arms appealingly, while she sobbed like a terrified child. A mans voice, one she was too bewildered to recognize, answered her. "Little Rose my precious little Island Rose! A husky, shaking voice murmured these words against her ear, where she felt the pressure of warm lips. Ah. thank God. I have thee safe again! d half-cbokin- g smiled asv arouni says a correspondent of the Toronto has Just received a much-prizelittle aluminum plate marked as follows: Return to George McCarren, Orrviile, O, with which an interesting story is connected. George McCarren, Sr., father of the man who received the little billet of aluminum, was an eccentric naturalist and spent much time in the study of birds and insects. During McCarren 's youth, about twenty years ago, he says he remembers being told by bis father, the elder McCarren, of a dispute the latter had with a fellow naturalist at Akron, Ohk, as to the age to be attained by a common crow, and finally, to settle the matter, McCarren attached an aluminum tag to the crow captured In the fields and sent the bird forth with the plate securely fastened to Its neck by wires. The legend on the plate requested the finder to return it to McCarren in case anything should happen to the bird. As McCarren, Jr., remembers It, the two men made a bet as to whether the plate would be returned within twen ty years. If the crow were killed or died they counted on the little billet being found and returned te the address on the plate. If this were not returned they believed it would be sufficient evidence that the bird would Te still alive. McCarren bet that the plate would not be returned within that time; hence he won the bet The crow was killed by a farmer boy named Angers in Holmes county last week, and the billet returned to the son of the better, the elder McCarren having died before he could realize the proceeds and the satisfaction of winning bis wager. Th6 little billet is highly prized by the McCarrens as a memento of the father's eccentricity. Egg of Captive KtMiesnsioe. One of a boxful of four rattlesnakes sent to Fred Kempel from California three or four days ago laid an egg, which is said to be almost without precedent, as snakes in captivity never breed. Tbe egg is only a little smaller than a bens egg. and the small rattler can bn plainly seen curled up inside of tbo opaque membrane. It is expected to hatch within a day or two. Few naturalists have over been able to locate the eggs of the rattlesnake, owing to the fact that the snake is exceedingly torpid at the time, and seeks the bottom of its hole, so as not to be prey for the birds, which attack It. Milwaukee Sentinel. Globe, them as they gathered M of mem. Two under Laflttes direction, made a seat of their interlocked bands, and. bearing her between them, set out for the house, with flaring torches lighting the way. The proclamation of Gov. Claiborne resulted in inducing Count de Case-nea- u to return to his New Orleans home earlier than usual; and Laflttes house in the city was closed, while a trusted negro overseer was left in charge of the blacksmith shop, with orders to say that his master had gone away upon matters of business. It was to Grande Terre that Pierre had gone, feeling that a time was near at hand for the Joining of Issues between his confreres and the government, and wishing, as always, to share the fortunes of his foster brother. On the western shore of Grande Terre, with several miles 'of forest lying between It and De Cazeneau's "fort" of the house, was the Baratarlans, standing upon a grassy eminence dotted with magnificent live oaks, and terminating at a bluff not many feet above the sea. It consisted of a building and several smaller ones, all of wood, enclosed within a stockade; and a few cannon protected the fleet now consisting of two brigatines, some small schooners and sloops, and a large number of smaller craft anchored in the harbor at the rear of the island. Outside the stockade were many huts, constructed of logs, and with thatched roofs, where were always domiciled a small army of Lafitte's retainers, while he when at Grande Terre and a few of his bad their quarters inside. Shell Island, already mentioned, up one of the almost inaccessible bayous, was his most frequent abode, where he kept about him only a few devoted followers; and here, amid impenetrable forests, was conducted the building of v easels. War between the United States and Great Britain had been waging for a year or more; but it had not yet threatened Louisiana, cor had any preparations been made ct New Orleans to resist an attack from the enemy. But, in the summer of 1813, occurred the horrible massacre at Fort Mims, fair-size- d sub-leade- d |