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Show Sxrarra f J BY MjARY gEVEREUX 1 1 WTM ILLUSTRATIONS BY DON C. W4.30N CHAPTER XIII. Tho sun wns nenrly two hours high Alien Lnfitto nwoko from slumber, nnd propnred to mnke himself ready for tho responsible nnd arduous duties lying ly-ing beforo him. In vlow of Laro's dying request, ho had considered cnrcftilly tho arrangements arrange-ments for Lnzallo's Immedlato future, and this ho unfolded to Mn'nm Brlgldn, Lnzallo's old nurso and companion, after sending Ezrnh to superintend tho gathering of such stores as woro to bo taken to tho shore, preparatory to putting them nbonrd tho "Black Petrol" Pe-trol" and another craft, which wns to sail under command of Ezrnh, who, In nddltlon to his other vnlunblo nttnln-ments, nttnln-ments, wns n skillful navigator. Ab to tho slaves, of whom thero wero several hundred, It was not prudent pru-dent to attempt taking them In a body to Louisiana; nnd Lnfitto decided, for tho present, to lenvo by fnr tho greater great-er number of them upon tho Islnnd, whoro thero wns nbundnnt food nnd shelter, nnd tnko with him only a fow, Including such ns Lnznllo should select for hor own. A rustlo of drnperles, n stealing of perfumo like thnt of Jessamine flowers, a pair of soft arms thrown nbout his neck, and n rnln of passionate kisses on his face and head theso roused him quickly, as a rich voice, broken by tears, cried, "Joan, my own Jean." Ho tried to rise, and to unclasp tho arms clinging to him so closely that It was difficult for him to dlsengago them without risk of hurting her. Still clinging to him, sho throw her supplo form ncross his knees. "You havo been so long, so long awny, nnd I wns so glad you had como bnck to mo! Ah, Jean, will you not know how denrly I lovo you? I would follow you to death If you would but say that you lovo mo In return!" Jean Iifltto wns a mn.i, nnd possessed pos-sessed n mnn's nnturo. But thero wns senrco an added throb to his heart-bents heart-bents ns ho looked down Into tho benu- empty tho chests nnd pack tholr contents con-tents for removal. Tho chests wero soon emptied, nnd tho bundles lying rcny for rcmovnl. Early In tho nftcrnoon tho ontlro crow enmo nshoro with tho body of their dend cnptaln; and all on tho Island woro given n hnlf-holldny, In ordor thnt thoy might show respect to Its Interment. Lnznllo wns not present; nnd Lnfitto Ln-fitto snw her no moro until ovenlng, when, with high-hold hend nnd scornful scorn-ful nlr, sho Joined him nnd tho others at tho tnblc, to pnrtnkc ot tho Inst meal that would bo eaten on tho Bar-rn Bar-rn do Illcrro. In tho midst of It they wero stnrtled by tho sudden appearance In tholr midst of n bedraggled nnd wenry form. It wns that ot tho gunner, Lopez, who, still wot from tho sen, and his garments gar-ments .torn by tho thickets through which ho had pushed his way, dropped silently into n chnlr, seemingly too worn out for speech. His faco was white, nnd a bnndago enveloped his head. It was as Lnfitto hnd Btipposcd nnd contemplated. Khowah, by help of tho charts ho had stolen, hnd gnlncd tho enemy's fnvor; nnd tho latter, In consequent con-sequent of tho Information furnished by tho Indian, hnd lost no timo in repairing re-pairing damages, and setting sail In pursuit of tho brlgantino. Thoro was general rejoicing over Lopez's escape. But this feeling was, In a measure, tempered by angor at Ehowah'8 trcachory; nnd hn'rd Indeed would hnvo been tho Indlnn's fnto could any of those slnowy hands hnvo grasped his brown throat. When tho gunner's story wns ended, a half-suppressed roar hnd surged through tho room, to bo hushed by tho uplifted linnd nnd roprovlng frown of Lnfitto; for Lnznllo hnd not yet loft tho tnblo, but snt, with Mn'nm Brlgldn beside her, nt tho farthest end. Her red lips wero parted slightly, nnd nn , angry light glowed in her black eyes. "Are you Insane, Senorlta Lazalle?" he asked. tiful faco. Its glorious eyes, brilliant coloring, and full crimson lips affected him with a sudden loathing, whllo ho folt tho volvoty arms around his neck. Ho yot had tho arroganco of youth; and this gavo severity to his Judgment, making him fall to consider her girl-Ishncss, girl-Ishncss, her Ignoranco of conventionalities, convention-alities, or to make excuses for her lmpotuous, untrained nature. "Spcakl" sho cried, showering kisses upon his clothing. "Aro you dumb, that you will not nnswer mo? Then I will draw tho words from your Hps!" And pulling his head down, sho kissed him. At this, gripping hor whlto nrms with unconscious force, ho toro thorn from his neck, nnd pushed her from him as ho roso to his feet. "Aro you Insnno, Sonorlta Lazallo?" ho asked, In a tono whoso coldness caused her to shiver, ns sho stood lllto a crlminnl beforo n judge. "You nro unnerved by what has como to you, nnd do not know whnt you nro snylng," ho continued, In n low, oven volco thnt affected her like an Icy torrent rushing Into a troplcnl strenm. "I will bo your friend; nnd you must bellovo thnt you havo my sympathy, and my wish to bo of nil posslblo service to you." Sho showed no recognition of his offer, but romnlncd silent, with drooping droop-ing hend nnd hcnvlng breast. "Forgot what you havo raid, as shall I, and let us bo friends," ho added, add-ed, still calmly, but with kindliness. 'Lot us work together, for thero is much to bo done. Itomomber," ho said flnnlly, In nnsworlng to a questioning ques-tioning look In tho fnco sho now raised to him, "wo must sail this night for .ow Orlenns, or tho English mny mako us prisoners, and deal out such Insults to you as I might bo unablo to provont." Sho mado no reply, but turnod and loft tho room. Two stories of tho building woro nbovo ground; how mnny thero wero bolow wns known definitely to no ono savo Lnfitto, Lnznllo nnd Mn'nm Brig-Ida. Brig-Ida. Ezrnh nnd o fow of tho sub-officers know something of tho vnults and pnssnges; but thoy woro Ignorant of tho treasure conccalod thoro, Its bulk, valuo, and location. Lnfitto, not wishing tho Arab to obtain ob-tain moro nccurato knowledge, proceeded, pro-ceeded, with tho Irishwoman's help, to "Why did you fall to kill tho In-dlnn?" In-dlnn?" sho demanded Imperiously, as If holding Lopez nccountnblo for n gravo offense "Kill him?" repeated tho old gunner, gun-ner, whoso hnnd was carrying to his mouth a hugo plcco of turtlo meat. "Kill him, Sonorlta Lazalle?" "Yes," was hor hnughty reply. "You should hnvo killed him." "How wns I to do thnt?" ho asked with a scowl, as If feeling tho unjust-ncss unjust-ncss of hor accusation. "I had wasted my knlfo on tho traitor, nnd It now lies somowhero off Satan's Koy; my powder nnd pistols wero sen-soaked; nnd ho took good enro to keep out of reach, after I camo to my senses aboard tho English ship." "I understand," sho said, now In a moro gracious tono; "nnd wo nro very glnd you escnpod. But," sho nddod, "whnt could hnvo hnpponod, thnt Eho-wnh Eho-wnh should think of committing such nn net of trenchery?" Lnfitto caught Lopez's oyo; nnd, oboying tho command ho saw In tho former's look, tho gunner mado no reply. re-ply. Jiznllo nppenred to havo forgotten hor question, for sho romnlncd silent, and In n fow minutes wont to her own apartments, followed by Mn'nm Brlgldn. Brlgl-dn. Tho meal was soon finished; and then tho men gathered from tho tnblo tho gold nnd silver plato, packing It Into canvns bags, which woro borno to tho shoro, to bo taken nboard tho "Black Potrol." Tho greater part of tho slaves, to-gothor to-gothor with thoso brought from tho brlgantino to bo turned looso among their snblo fellows, wero, of course, Ignorant Ig-norant as to tho plans of tholr ownor; nnd when thoy retired for tho night, It wns to slumber but llttlo less deoply by reason of their brief resplto from lnbor, whllo tho now arrivals, half sick from tholr long Imprisonment, with Its darknoss and poor nlr, slopt far moro soundly. But tho noxt morning, tho former, nwnkonlng In affright nt tho Intoness of tho hour, nnd wondering why no ovorsoor's Insh had roused thorn long beforo, soon realized that something, unusual iad befallen; for tho sun wns not two hours high when n compnet body of scarlet uniforms nnd shining guns wns seen advancing ft:n th island's shoro. rH Tho greater number ot the Wi- 11 ened slaves fled Inland, to hldo la iU IH thickets nnd gullies. But somo ol flaH tho moro Intelligent sought tho shel-tor shel-tor of tho stono stronghold; nnd, And- 'H Ing It deserted, they quickly shut and JH barred tho oaken gate. It wns not long beforo a storm ol blows upon tho gato called somo ot thorn to It; nnd, looking through a loopholo, they saw tho strangers gath crcd behind a commanding officer whe wns demanding cntranco In tho klng't Tho terrified slaves a few of whom J understood tho words lost no time In oboying, and woro soon assured that no harm would como to thorn from tho Invaders, whoso leader, upon questioning tho negroes, wns made nwnro of the condition of nffnirs. Mcanwhllo, northerly sailed the I'l "Black Petrel," with Lnfitto In com- mnnd, and with him Lopez nnd a pick- ilH cd crow such men ns ho know hnd iJtfl his own cnttso nt heart. !iH It was noon when tho "Black Petrel" j reached Now Orleans; nnd Lnfitto i came nshoro immediately, bringing j with him Lazallo nnd Mn'nm Brlgldn. No others left the brlgnntlno, as Its ; commander's solo business In tho city wan that of providing for tho girl's Immedlato future, after which ho pro- posed snlllng nt onco for Bnrntnrin. Ono ot his most Intlmnto friends wns Philip I-a Itoclie, n man of middlo ago, and a banker of New Orleans. Ho wns of fine fnmlly, of high social post- il tlon, nnd n gentleman of tho strictest It wns to his enro thnt Lnfitto com- jH mltted Lnznllo, nfter seeing her qunr- H torcd snfely, In compnny with Ma'nm Brlgldn, at tho Ursullno convent In tho rH Plnco d'Armes. Lazallo had, during tho voyago, pro- jH served an air of calmness to which 1-iH was added an occasional touch of liiUfl scorn; but when, whllo they wero i'l alono, Lafitto bado her adieu, sho '!H put out a detaining hand, ns sho stood with downcast eyes beforo him. "When nm I to seo you again?" sho neked In a listless tono. iH "Thnt I ennnot now sny; but tho 'H mother superior will know how to com- hfcH munlcnto with me, it I am ncedod," ho answered gently. iH "And may I not return to tho Barra t:'H do Hlcrro later on nfter a whllo?" sho inquired, with a humility which surprised him. "It would bo most Imprudent for you to do so for somo tlmo to come, rifl If over, ns you must surely know," ho replied firmly, looking down Into jH her fnco. "Tho English must havo solzcd tho Islnnd, nnd will doubtless hold it; nnd, ns Lnro'a noxt of kin, you enn scarcely hopo for success, Bhould you assert n claim to It ns own-or. own-or. But why wish to go back, when Jt you aro In safety here, with n fortuno which will Insuro you perfect Indo-pendoncq? Indo-pendoncq? Whnt moro can you ask?" "I nsk your love, nnd I wnnt to bo Jt with you!" sho exclaimed impetuous-ly, impetuous-ly, snntchlng her hands nwny and throwing hor nrms around his neck, whllo with n sobbing cry sho laid hor hend ngnlnst his brenst. J Lafltto's faco hardened as his fin-gors fin-gors closed nbout her wrists nnd loosened her nrms. "Thnt can novcr bo, Lnznllo nover. I havo never known anything of lovo, JH end hnvo no dcslro to learn of It now I nm not worth nny womnn's loving; nor can I nfford to havo nny womnn'a fnto linked with mlno. Bollovo this, nnd nccept It, nnd let us nnrt friends." IH Sho turned from him, covering her faco with her hands. "Mr. Philip La Rocho will call upon you In a day or two. Ho Is ono whom you can trust, and with whom you can ndvlso safely; and I shall placo your affairs in his hands." Lafitto had moved toward tho door, and, turning at tho threshold, ho add- 'M cd. "Adlos, Lazalle; and bellovo me when I say that If you over need my services as a friend, you may count upon mo." She did not roply; and whon she uncovered her fnco ho wns gono. (To bo continued.) |