American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-08-31


Nevertheless, he still cherished a devout at
tachment to France, and had sent his only child
Julia to be educated in Paris. With this sturdy
descendant of the invincible Normans, Chef
wood formed an intimacy that nigh! have as
pired to the dignity of friendship. The Baron
was indeed delightful companion, and his
very foibles made him only the more amusing,
for they were drowned by his high qualities and
embellshed by his wit and vivacity. Though
careless, almost slovenly in his dress, any one
initiated into the mysteries of good breeding
could tell he was u gentleman mile distant
The Baron carried Chetwood everywhere, in
troduced him to all the beautiful Creole ladies',
and would have conferred on him more sub
stantial benefits had occasion required or OPP
portunity offered.
The month of April, which in that genial
cline comes laughing on the zephyr's wing and
clothed with flowers and breathing odors, had
now arrived, and one day the Baron invited his
friends to join in fete, which was to take
place few miles above the city at the chateau
ola wealthy planter, who luxuriated under the
title of Marquis, on the opposite side OF the
sublime father of waters. The company en-
barked in the ferry boat, and nothing material
occurred until they arrived at the opposite
shore, when a plain elderly gentleman, who
did not seem to belong to the party, on step
ping from the boat TO the bank, missed his
footing and fell into the river which was then
at the Spring food and run with rapid current,
apparently composed of an infinite combination
ofboling whirlpoos: He was swept away in
stantly, and would unouestonably have been
drowned had not Chetwood, quick as thought,
jumped ashore. ran along the bank until he
overlook the floating body, which was kept
from sinking by the force and density Of the
al, 10 tl,o hnil
seized the poor gentleman by the skirts. BY
this time others had followed, and as Chef
wood and his companion fortunately hoated
into little nook where there was a counter
current expedients were adopted which sue
ceeded in rescuing both from the imminent
danger in which they were involved.
ChetWood felt nothing more than tempo
rary exhaustion, from which he soon recover
ed, but the old gentleman had become insensl-
BILE and it was some time before he exhibited
signs of life They both returned together in
the same boat, and the old gentleman asked
the name of his preserver, on learning which
he fecbly exclaimed, "That is also my name
No further explanation took place, as he was
too much exhausted to converse, and on part
ing he had only strength to squeeze Chetwood's
hand and say, ''We shall see each other again.
That very day the young man received a letter
which was in the North and he departed early
the next morning, without again seeing his
namesake, to the infinite discontinue of the
Baron, who signi6ed his intention of forthwith
sending for his daughter Julia to comfort him
for the loss of his friend.
Seine years had elapsed, and all know few
years produce great changes in the world, es'
pecially in this New World of ours. The city
of the crescent waxed great and mighty through
that magic influence exercised by the grand i'm
pulse which Liberty gives to the mind of mar
and destiHies of nations, The spirit of specu
laton waxed rife among men; the staid, pru
dent Creoles had become infected; the worthy
Baron de NJ. was deeply inoculated by pvecep
and example, and in an evil hour, was seducet
by bilious, cadavarous schemer to purchase
tract of land adjoining his own estate, at
price which not only absorbed all mis- read,
money, but involved a mortgage on his pater
nal property almost equivalent to its entire va
- lue, estimated according to the exaggerated nc
tons which then prevailed. But the tide whic
had flowed so high at the food sank proper
tionably low at the ebb, and the unfortunat
ry Baron now saw himself and his property a
Id the mercy of man who had the reputation O
he being little better than miser. Julia had re
a turned some years before, and her beauty, he
ed virtues, her affection and her obedience, woul
Mt have almost reconciled him to his fate, had no
he his heart bitterly reproached him with haVin
n by his rash cupidity robbed her of an inher
d, lance that he was. bound to preserve for her.
of Things were in this state when one day Chez
I'D wood received letter from an eminent citze
ne of New Orleans belonging to the legal prote:
de son informing him of the death of one Roge
no Chetwood of that city, who had devised to hir
MS his whole estate, estimated at more than mi
ce lion of dollars, and requesting his immediat
er presence to settle affairs and take possession.
The will of which copy was enclosed ran
Ike these words:
his 81, Roger Chetwood, mo gentleman,) of \
al Orleans, being of sound mind and unsoun
- body, having none that cared for, and non
I'D that cared for me that know of, had determir
at ed to die without making WILL in the reason
re able expectation that my heirs at law (Wheevt
nd they may be- would consume good porto
il of nv estate in law suits. But inasmuch m
SIS, cousin, (sx times removed, Eustace Chetwoot
is of Hillside in the State of New York, from tt
ne mere impulse ofhumanity and not knowing n
rs fiom Adam, did confer on me the only benei
on ! ever recolect to have received from any
lie, my living tellow-creatures, by saving me froI
nd the NAV of old father Mississippi, do hereb
as in acknowledg ola favor which thong
he of little worth, was well meant, bequeath m
whole estate, real and personal, to him and h
to heirs forever, or until either he or some one
led his posterity, spend it in riotous living or was
1y it in idle speculations as think quite probabl
ard and do hereby request the said Eustace Che
po- wood ia case he should ever see or hear of al
sed of my relations worthy of the gift, he will b
ich stow on them such portion of this my beque
,ed as ne may deem proper, or none at all, just
eer pleases."
md Chetwood lost no time in proceeding to t
,ar, crescent city. Here his first inquiry was ait
lbs, his old friend the Baron, who he learned W
ing on visit with his daughter, at plantati'