"Ah, Dakota—m-m. That is far, far away?"
"Yes; far, far away."
"I have never been there. I have never been anywhere, but have always lived here in Bienville Parish. I was born here, a creole."
They now walked down the wide hall, and where he gazed into the deserted rooms on either side, all of which revealed a once great splendor.
"Here," she said, "is a room that once played a conspicuous part in the old south." She led him then into a large room, much larger than any other in the building. It was a round room, and he could see that it had been made to be used for convention purposes. She was explaining.
"It was once used as a temporary capitol, and later as a rendezvous for secessionists. And still later, after the war, Sheridan made a raid, and arrested many conspirators."
"I suppose," said Sidney, "that this place has seen many grand occasions?"
"Ah, indeed it has. All the aristocrats of the southland always stopped here, as well as counts and dukes and lords and great ladies, and still from South America and Mexico the best people stopped here."
They passed out of the room, across the hallway, and entered another room that was furnished. "I live here," said the woman, to his surprise.
"Here—alone?"