The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-12-05
DAILY CRESCENT.


usual mode of conveyance, and long before any
expeditions syst, n of travelling had engageu
the attention of mankind.
continued 10 sit by the fire till the coach ar
rived, and then walked into the street 10 count the
number Of the passengers, anu observe theH ap'
peurance. | was peculiarly struck WIN Tue ap
Iaarance Of one gentleman, who had ridden as an |
outside passenger He wore large black cloak, |
deeply trimmed with Grape; his head was covered
with black travelling cap, surmounted with Two
three Craps rosettes, and from which deF 'nded
a long black tasse The cap drawn so far I
over his eyes that he had some difficulty to see his
way. A black scarf wrapped round the low
er part of his face, so that his countenance was
completely concealed from my view. He appeared |
ANXIOUS TO avoid observation, and hurried INTO the |
inn fast he COnd. returned 10 the office and
mentioned to the clerk the strange appearance OF
the gentleman in question: but he was too busy TO
pay any attention to what had said
Presently alterwlrd porter brought a small car |
pet-hag into the office, and placed itupon the table,
Whose bag is that, 1ImmS! " inquired the
clerk
" ] don't wish to be personal replied the man,
but think it belongs to -" anu the fellow
pointed to the floor.
" You do net mean him, surely ~ said the clerk.
" Yes, do though at any rate, if he is not the
gentleman take him for, he must be second
cousin of his, for he is the most unaccounable IN
divdual that ever clapPed my eyes on. There is
not much good in him, II be bound.
| listened with breathless anxiety to these words.
When the had finished, said to him
How was the gentleman dressed Z"
In black
Had he cloak on -
"Yesp
"A travelling cap drawn over his eyes!
"Yes"
It's the man saw descend from the coach,
sald to the clerk.
" Where is he 2" inquired that gentleman.
" In the inn," replied the porter.
" Is he going to stay all night - | nqul red
" don't know"
"Its very odd" observed the clerk, and he put
his pen behind his ear, and placed himself in front
OF the fire very odd =" he repeated.
at don't look well, }" sad the porter, not at all
Some further conversation ensued upon the sub
ect, but as 1t did not tend to throw any light upon
the parsonage IN question: il IS unnecessary for me
to relate it,
Awhile aftcrvard, the clerk went into the hotel
TO learn, possible, something more relative to this
singular visitor He was not absent more than a
lew minutes aud when he returned his counten-
ance, | laucied, was more sedate than usual.
asked him il he had gathered any further intorma-
ton.
There is nobody knows any thing concerning
him. he replied; " for when the servants enter the
roDm, he always turns his back toward them. He
has not spoken to a single individual since he
arrived. There is man who came by the same
coach, who attends upon him, but he does not look
ike servant"
There is something extraordinary in his his.
tory, or | am much deceived
quite OF your opinion" observed the Cler K
While we were COnverslng, some persons entered
the office to take places by the mail, which t.
leave early the following morning. | hereupol
departed, and entered the inn with the view O
satisfying my curiosity, il possible, which was nov
raised to the utmost pitch. The servants, | re
marked moved about mere silently than usual, an
sometimes ! saw two or three of them conversln
together SOtiO u0ce, though they did not Wis
their conversation to be overheard by those aroun
them. | knew the room that the gentleman occr
pied, and stealthlly and unobserved stole up to /
hoping to hear or see something that nigh: thro'
light upon his character l was not, howeve
tE,,lt r,1t+b,
| fastened back to the office and resumed m
seat by the fire. The clerk and were still col
versing upon the subject when one OF the glr
came in, and informed me that | was to geta hOrs
aud gig ready Immediately, to drive gentleman
distance OF fifteen twenty miles,
Tonight" | said in surprise.
Immediately"
"Why, IFS already ten o'clock"
It's the masters orders | cannot alter them
tartly replied the girl.
This anwecolne intelligence caused me to col
init a great deal Of sin, for | made use OF a numb
oi imprecatuns and expressions which were quI
superGuOus and perfectly unavaillng. 1t was II
long before ] ready to commence the journe
| chose the fastest aud strongest animal in t
establishment, and one that had never failed me
an emergency. | lit the lamps, for the night W
dark, and | felt convinced that should requ
them. The proprietor OF the hotel gave me
paper but told me not to read it till we had p
seeded a few miles the road, and informed
at the same time in what direction to drive. ]
psper he added, would give me further nstr'
tons.
/ was seated in the vehicle, busiy engaged
fastening the eathein apron on the side on viii
sat in order to protect my limbs from the co
when somebody seated himself beside me. | he's
the landlord cry, " Drive on ;" and, without lOt
ing round, | laShed the mare inIo very fast II
Even now, while write, feel in some degree
trrpdatOn which stole over me when discover
who my companion | had not gone far
fore was made acquainted with this aStound
fact. II was az though an electric shock had 81
denly and unexpectedly been impaired to
itame, as, IN a moment OF perfect happiness
hal been hastily plunged into The greatest dan
and Distress A benumOng chjness ran lhrOu
me, aud my mouth all at once became dry
parched Whittier was | to drive! knew l
who and what was my companion! | was eqr
lV ignorant. IL was the man dressed so ianta
cay whom ! had alight from the Goa
whose appearance and nexpllcable conduct
alarmed a whole establishment; whose chara
was "A mater Of speculation to every body
whom he had come in contact. This was the
stance of my knowledge. For aught Knew
might he -. But no matter. The question
most concerned was, how was 10 tXtr
myself from This dilemma! Which was the
course to adopt? To turn back and decla
would not travel m such night, with 50 stran
person. or to proceed on my journey gre
feared the consequences of the former step WI
he fatal 10 my own interests. Besides, shou
exposed to the sneers and laughter of all who X
me- No; | had started, aud | would proc
whatever might be the issue of the adventure.
a few minutes we had emerged from the t.
NV courage was now put 10 the seVerest test.
cheerful aspect of the streets, and the light thl
from the lamps and a few shop windows, had
erto huoyed me up, but my energy and firmne
felt were beginning to desert me.
The road on which we entered was not a
thoronghlara at any time, but at that late no
III. night did not expect 10 meet either horse
or pedestrian to eniIven the long and solitary
ney. cast my eyes before me, but could no
csrn "A single light burning in the distance.
niCht was thick and unwhoes0me, and not q
Ia be seen in the heavens There another
ter which caused me great uueasiness. was
uGarmed and entirely unprepared for any al
should my companion be disposed 10 take a
t,ee of that circumstance. These things fl
across nv mind, and made a more torCible i'll
son than they might Otherwise have done, frc
fact of a murder having been committed in til
trct only a few weeks before, under the me
pravated circumstances. An hypothesis sugl
itself Was this the perpelrator of that deco
wretch VINO was 5ndeavOrng to escape iro
officers of justice, and was sugmatzed Wi
foulest, the blacklist crime that man col
guilty of? Appearances were against him.
should he invest himself with such my
WHY conceal his face in unacCOuntable d
ner What but 4 man conscious OF great Pl
the darkest crimes, would so tuTtlVely =
iun, and afterwards steal away under the da
of the night, VIXEN mortal eye could behOl
II he was sensible of innocence, lie might ha