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(For The 8unny South.] TRESSINE. “ SPLENDIDE MEND A X. ’ * BY C. WOODWARD HUTSON. Were the winds wet to-ni^ht, Tressine, That shook thy brown locks loose? * No, no—ah! no,—there is no rain at all.” Hast thou shed tears to-night, Treseine, At hint of broken truce? ' No, no—ah! no,—there was no war with Paul.” Why the wild stare that chills, Treseine, My very heart to see ? ‘ No, no—ah! no,—there are no scared eyes here.” •Horror! ’tie blood that wats, Treesine, Those brown locks flowing free! ‘No, no—ah! no,«— ’tis but the red lamps flare.” Killed? Was it that they cried, Tressine, Below there in the street? ' No, no—ah! no,—all stabbed men do not die.” Child, are you faintiug?—you, Tressine, As pale as any sheet? ' No, no—ah! no,—it was not Paul—‘twae I!” [Written for The Sunny South.] WRITTEN IN BLOOD; —ob,— The Midnight Pledge. A Story of the Last Napoleon’s lteign. BY M. QUAD. CHAPTER XIX. Two days after the execution of those of the Red Band who had been sentenced to the guillo tine, the balance were made ready for transport ation to the penal settlement. Walter and the rest of the men had their faces shaved clean, their hair cut close, and were droned,in semi-prison garb. The Colonel pro tested against this “outrage on a free American citizen, r ‘ but the prison authorities bade him remember that Walter had been convicted of a very grave crime, and would have suffered at the guillotine but for the Emperor’s clemency. It w r as not until all the prisoners had been brought out to proceed to the transport that Walter and Imogene had a chance to exchange glances and nods of recognition. Her hair had been cut close, and she was dressed in coarse garb, and the change in both was so great that even love’s eyes had to look twice. Colonel Burton had been allowed to visit her in her cell, and he had found much in her char acter to respect and admire. He saw that she had been led to turn conspirator through a sort of enthusiasm, and that on all other subjects she was perfectly rational and well learned. She grieved much that she had brought such trouble upon Walter, and the loss of father and brothers was a heavy blow. The Colonel sounded her as to her hopes of escape, which she acknowledged to be very faint, although she was willing to enter into any plan having a promise of success. Marie had almost lost her mind, not so much because of her having been detected and tried for conspiracy, as of the failure of the plans which would have made her a countess. She could not be depended on in the least. The men were about as weak-hearted as Marie, having no hope of escape and spending their time in weeping and lamenting. If any one plot ted to escape, it would be Walter and Imogene, and the Colonel was not interested in what became of the others. Up to this time the offi cials had refused to countenance the Alabamian’s wish that a marriage should take place, but he promised Imogene to make one more effort. He wanted her to be on the alert in case he was not permitted to see her again, and he left the prison feeling quite certain that his plans would be suc cessful. One evening about nine o’clock the prisoners proceeded from the prison to the transport at Havre. Roberts had been aboard for a week, and the Colonel had described him to Walter and them to him. The two women were given quarters in rooms of the cabin, reached by a separate companion- way, and the men were stowed away by them selves in a sort of steerage, which was little better than a pew. Each one was provided with a straw bed and blanket, a tin cup, spoon and plate, and Walter looked at the tilth all around, and silently wondered how many of them would be alive when the ship reached her destination. The women’s quarters were a little better, though their beds were the same and they were j to have the same food. There was more room, i better light, and a few articles of plain furniture were allowed. The Colonel’s “ one more effort ” to secure per- j mission for the marriage was successful. When ! it was found that he stood high in the estimation j of the American Minister, and had plenty of ' money, official minds underwent a change in his ! favor. The transport was to sail Wednesday, and Tuesday afternoon the Alabamian went aboard i with a written order to the commander to see ! that the wishes of the American were complied with. He was jubilant at having accomplished his 1 mission, and Walter and Imogene were happy, j He went to a jeweler’s and secured the ring, one ] of the officers of the ship went after a clergyman, ! and that evening the marriage took place.* The j Colonel furnished wines and a collation for the officers, grog and tobacco for the marines and sailors, and his interest in the prisoners and his lavish expenditure of gold extracted voluntary : promises from the officers that Walter and Imo- I gene should receive all the privileges which could be allowed under the rules. The bride and groom stood up in their prison garb to be married, and the Colonel gave away i the bride and was the first to claim a kiss. The ; ^officers granted permission for Walter to occupy ! THE MARRIAGE OF WALTER AND IMOGENE ON BOARD THE TRANSPORT. the quarters at first set aside for the women alone, and the Colonel added further articles of conven ience. Before leaving the ship he whispered to Walter that something would certainly happen before the end of the voyage to release him, and he managed to pass to him a purse of gold and an American revolver, with a good supply of ammunition. “Now, my son,” he said, in the hearing of the officers, “ you got yourself into a bad scrape, and you must take the consequences like a man. Obey all orders like a soldier, be contented with your lot, and some time in the future perhaps the Emperor will look kindly upon a petition for your pardon. ” He dared not pass a secret word with Roberts, who passed very well for a Frenchman, but while leaving the ship the two exchanged glances fVill of words, and Roberts’ look plainly said that he had made all possible preparations and that he could be depended on to do his best. “Hanged if I don’t feel weak in the eyes!” muttered the Colonel, as he stood on the quay and looked through the darkness at the ship anchored in the harbor. “ I’ve fixed things the best I could, and now Providence and backbone has got to do the rest! ” Next morning, before he was out of bed, the La France was miles on her voyage, and Walter and Imogene were showering blessings on his head. Money will not always open prison doors, but it will make prison life endurable and soften official hearts which can not be melted by words or tears. The officers of the transport were kinder toward all the prisoners for what the Ala bamian had done. It was the intention to keep the men shackled, but this was not carried out. The irons were removed, cards given them, and discipline was content with keeping a marine pacing up and down before the door, and another across the companion-way. Three times per day, after the voyage was fairly begun, the pris oners were allowed to come on deck by fours for air and exercise, and had little to complain of. For appearance sake a guard was on duty before the quarters occupied by Walter, Imogene and Marie, but either of the three were at liberty to pass him any hour after eight in the evening and walk the deck. Imogene and Marie seldom availed themselves of this privilege, but Walter was frequently on deck. Even in his prison I dress he had the look and bearing of a gentle- | man, and the officers whispered among them- Sometimes the cook carried the provisions down 1 had experience, he was told to take his baggage to the prisoners, and again the boy Louis was sent, and noticing the freedom in this respect which these two persons enjoyed, Roberts se cured the ground-work for a plan. He had a fair knowledge of cookery, and by cautiously inquiring among the crew, he found that he was the only one who could go into the galley in case anything happened to Henry. Once en joying the privilege of carrying meals down to the prisoners, the American could have oppor tunity to plan with them. How could Henry be disposed of? He was a good-natured man, had the good-will of all the sailors, and as he was in the best of health, there was no hope of his falling sick during the voyage. Once in awhile, when he had a leisure moment, he went forward and chatted with the sailors. He constantly hungered for liquor, al though he never drank to excess, and this weak ness of his was a strong point for Roberts. He had smuggled aboard the transport before she sailed a quantity of arsenic and laudanum, having determined in his own mind to poison the whole ship’s crew if he could not release hiss prisoners otherwise. He had slyly saved a por tion of the grog furnished by the Colonel at the wedding, and as soon as his plans were fairly and change his quarters. Thus far, his plans were successful, but any exultation which he might otherwise have felt was suppressed by the thought that be had caused the death of a kind- hearted companion. Next morning the new cook served breakfast so well that no fault was found, and it was or dered that he should remain in the galley until the voyage was over. The boy Louis was sent down with the prisoners meals, and he was the first to inform them of what had occurred. He was not personally pleased with the change, and was free to say so, and Roberts saw that the boy would do him an evil turn if he could. It was three days before the American dared venture down among the prisoners. Walter and Imogene looked at him meaningly and inquir ingly, and when Marie was not looking he nod ded his head, and they no longer doubted that this was a part of his plan to enable them to es cape He had opportunity to hold a few words of conversation with them, but it was not until his fourth or fifth visit that he informed Walter that everything was working smoothly. CHAPTER XXI. Roberts did not want to commit another mur der, but he was desperate. “Will you agree to keep silence ? ’ he asked of the boy, letting go his his hold for an instant. “No! no!—I will have you hung; mur—” Roberts seized his throat again, and rendered reckless by desperation, held the boy against the wall until life was extinct. He did not realize until the body sank to the floor that he had pressed his throat so hard, and he bent over and sought to revive him. Life had departed, how ever, and for a moment Roberts shrank away from the open, bloodshot eyes and the contorted, blackened face of his victim. Then he seized the body and dragged it into the little room where both slept and pushed it under the lower bunk. Some time during the night he would find opportunity to carry it out and drop it over the rail. Not more than ten minutes had passed from the time Roberts met the boy until he was back in his galley again, trembling with excitement and apprehension. The lad would be missed as soon as any one aboard the ship, and what could the cook say to account for his absence? It came time for him to carry supper down to the prisoners, and in a few swift words he com municated to Walter the fact of the new murder, and his fears that it would be discovered. As soon as he had gone, Walter looked himself over to see that he had nothing about him which would give rise to suspicion, and anxiously awaited the lapse of time. Prudence whispered to Roberts that he should throw overboad the poisons in his trunk, which would be strong proofs against him, but he de layed. While supper was being served to the crew some one inquired for Louis, and as no one had seen him for hours, the inquiry soon became general. When Roberts was questioned, he replied: “I cuffed his ears soon after dinner, and he has found a hiding place somewhere, and is sulking. ” “Oh, well, let him sulk and go hungry until he can behave himself, ” replied the sailors, and nothing more was said about the lad. When evening came, the cook made ready to dispose of the body. That once out of the way, and there was no proof against him. The window | in the galley which looked out upon the sea was 1 not large enough to admit of the body b«ng pushed out, and Roberts m'ust take it in'his | arms, step out of the galley, walk several paces and throw it over the rail. Night came on dark, and the breeze blew up freshly—two things to favor him. He extinguished the lights in the galley, dragged the body to the door, and waited until his path was clear. The moment at length arrived, and he picked the body up, stepped to the rail, and was in the act of pushing it over when a hand seized his arm and another the body. It was the corporal of marines, who had chanced to pass that way at an unfortunate moment, and his keen eyes and quick wit told him the story in an instant. “ What deviltry is this !” he exclaimed, as he grasped the cook and his burden. Roberts wheeled and tried to break away from him, but the corporal held his grip and raised an alarm which brought half a dozen men around them in a moment. “Murder has been done here !” cried the cor poral, as he pointed to the body of the boy, bal anced on the rail. “Why, it’s stiff and cold !” exclaimed one of the men, as he laid hold of the corpse. Roberts was caught, and for several minutes he was so dumbfounded that he could not reply to one of the hundred questions hurled at him. He was placed under guard, the body laid on deck, and in a brief time the whole ship knew what had happened, and the excitement was intense. “What made you do this willful murder!” asked the Captain, as he stood before the prisoner. “The lad provoked me to anger, and I killed him before I knew what I had done !” answered The boy Louis was a thorn in the new cook’s side, being sullen, impudent and lazy; and one laid, he allowed the cook a sip from the bottle I ^ a y> about a week after taking possession of the now and then. i galley, Roberts gave the lad a smart cuffing. Roberts knew enough about the action of ar- | The boy was forced to submit, as he knew that j t> , er f g senic to understand that an over-dose would de- be"’ 0 old. receive no sympathy from the officers, | H a placed j n chains and the officers made feat death, but render the patient very ill, and but he vowed that he would be rev enged That | a gearch J hig effects . when they came npon very likely bring on a fever which might last afternoon, as Roberts returned i a a t to the arsenic and laudanum, they were puzzled for for a fortnight. He had determined to dose the I the store-room, he found the lad had broken moment and then a S u 8pl cion of the truth cook, which was his only way to secure his j °P“ bis trunk. He was just,mtune to catch flaghed acr ’ 08S their minds . For what other pur- place, and outside of this strong dislike to take (be boy, who had the paper of arsenic in one g could be want them except to poison some human life, except in self-defense, he really j band and the bottle of laudanum in the other, : ^ perhaps all of them? It was not long liked Henry, and hoped that he would suffer ; ( ent *n carrying them to the comma d r, when , ^ f they called up the fate of Henry, the cook, no more than a few days of sickness. | the articles were wrested from him, and his ears ^ ^ J ey that he had dl J’ 0 f poison ; When the La France had been out from Havre i CU t , a & am ’ , , ! and that the poison had been administered by three weeks and a day, Roberts executed his , “ I know what those things are, for I read the Roberts . plans. He charged the liquor heavily with the l a P e ^ s » whined. 111 go and tell the Cap- The next s t e p was to pi ace shackles on every poison, and that night about ten o’clock the | biin^that^you ve^go^t poison in your chest ^ - male prisoner, Walter included, and to double cook, according to previous agreement, slipped down into the forecastle, found the bottle in a place agreed upon, satisfied his thirst, and crept back to his quarters. Roberts at once secured the bottle and tossed it overboard, and then he overhauled his chest and secreted everything which could raise suspicion against him. In a short time after reaching his quarters, the cook was seized with violent pains, and the guards. Travelick was interviewed by the “Hush, you fool! isn’t it my business to poi son all the rats I can ?” . ; Captain and charged with having been engaged “ And I believe that you poisoned Henry ! | SO me plot, but he was so cool and assured, shouted the boy; “you wanted his easy place, and you got him out of the way !” “I will have you flogged at the grating if you repeat those words !” said Roberts, holding the boy by the collar. I’ll fix you for shaking me this way !” hissed and answered all questions so promply, that he was raised above suspicion and. freed from his irons. The officers could not, however, be convinced that the other prisoners had not been plotting with Roberts, and they made themselves believe selves that it was a shame to send such a man to ! w } 1 il e attempting to find a remedy for them, he : the y°nng tiger. “ 111 go and tell about find- j that thev had had a narrow escape from a bloody wear out his life in a penal settlement. j f e n down i n a sort of spa8m and the officer of m S this poison, and 111 tell em that I heard , revo lt, or from becoming the victims of a pois- Roberts, as one of the crew, gave satisfaction j the deck bad to be i nforme d of his condition, yon speaking in English to that American . oner, to his superiors, and made himself a favorite There was no doctor aboard the transport, Dut - “Come. Louis, let us be trieds, replied Rob- Roberts found that silence would serve him as He realized before the vessel f roni her medicine-chest, the officer used such e F ts ’ knowing that the boy could arouse 3uspi- we n as any a ttempted explanations, and main with his watch. had been a week at sea that it would be next to , remedies as he judged the case demanded, impossible for him to concoct any reasonable The cook had that evening eaten freely of plan for the escape of the prisoners so long as gome sweetmeats which he had packed away in he was serving in his capacity as a sailor. He his trunk, and after being convinced that he was had no chance to exchange words with Walter, ] no t a victim of bilious colic, as he first believed, and was not allowed by the rules of the ship to - pass near the spot selected by the young man for his daily walk. A guard was there night and day to bar the passage of the prisoner’s quarters, and Roberts felt that if he could not secure some other situation he might as well abandon all hope. He pondered and plotted for two or three days, and then his opportunity came. CHAPTER XX. It was the duty of Henry, the cook, to pre pare the meals for the prisoners, as well as for the officers and crew. He had an assistant in the person of a boy named Louis, a lad of four teen, who was possessed of such a deceittul, ly ing character that he soon had the ill-will of all tbe sailors. cion against him. “I’ll have nothing to do with a murderer!” growled the boy. “I saw a man die once from arsenic, and he acted the same as poor Henry!” “It was the sweetmeats, and you know it!” he was of the opinion that the sweetmeats con- answered Roberts, but his change of tone and tained poison. Two or three of the men worked [ ook were evidences of guilt in the eyes of the over him for several hours, but in spite of all i bolder ** » ® al “* ., that could be done, he suffered great agony, and 1 ‘ ^ k /. ^ lc * n * 11 ^. a * e . m °re than finally expired, much to the sorrow of every one did, and I was not even sick from it. Ah. tained a sullen demeanor and would not answer another question put to him. If Travelick had any fears that his fellow-countryman would betray him, they were groundless. Roberts was determined not to open his lips again, much ! less to criminate any one else. The commander knew that the proper course was to return his prisoner to France and have him tried for murder on the high seas. There T -» —. 7 . could be no doubt of his fate, but the feeling on board. " : I believe you poisoned him, and I believe you among officers, marines and crew was so strong Roberts was greatly grieved when finding that have 8 ot this P oison to dose us all, and release that it was finally dec ided to put the prisoner he had committed murder, pad also rendered * ke prisoners ! ; on trial and execute the sentence of the judges very nervous for fear that (he crime would be j Roberts tried to reason with him, but the ugly j forthwith. charged to him. He finally heard it said that rascal saw that he had an advantage, and he was . Through the balance of the night Roberts was the sweetmeats had been the cause of death, determined to 7 report his suspicions to the offi- ■ chained to the rail and guarded by a marine, and and the sailors were not backward in wishing cers. next morning he was informed that he was to be that the boy Louis had been the one to receive ! Finding that words were of no avail, Roberts i put on trial at once, charged with the murder of the dose. Before the watch went below, the of- j resolved to commit another murder before al- j Henry and Louis. As all above deck were prej- fieer of the deck interrogated each one as to his j lowing himself to be betrayed. The two were j udiced against the prisoner, the officers decided ability to fill the place just made vacant by the alone, and he seized him by the throat and ! that six of the prisoners should sit as jurors. If J death* and when Roberts replied that he had . backed him against the wall. J they decided, after hearing all the evidence, thatv ThKTTNPT PI? TNT