Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-09-04
Second prize sOry--frOm sartans' Magazine.
THE OLD OWL of the ABBEY,
nv THE REV. JAMES ABBOT, MGrLL COLLEGE.
MONTREAL, CANADA,
CHAPTER VI.
Il III l. ID n + A NJ .
MONTREAL, CANADA,

river in the then solitary wilds Of the Far West,
but now well-settled and highly cultivated Sec
ton Of the country, group OF the migratory in
habitants had assembled on its right bank, and
were impatenty waiting to be ferried over.-
Among them were two horsemen, unencumber-
ed with families or household stuff, who, on that
account, were the first to obtain footing in the
rude and unwieldy scow. And some elk
ing" for the debarking of wheel-carriages had
to be attended to on the opposite landing place,
the sturdy ferrymen pushed off with their scam
ty freight
The two strangers, for such indeed they
seemed, as well to each other as to all around,
after paying their fare, mounted and rode off to-
gether along the only path they could discover,
over the rolling prairie, which extended its des-
ert loneliness in all directions, as far the eye
could reach
"Do YOU think the Winnebagoes are
out ?'' said the foremost Of the two travellers,
carelessly, after riding some time in silence, and
now only asking the question to break it; but
not receiving an immediate answer, he turned
his head TO scrutinize more minutey the ap-
pearance Of his unsociable companion.
In his figure he was tall and thin, but athlet-
ic withal His eye, which was deeply sunk in
his head, was dark and lowering, with subducd
ferceness in it, which once might have been
conveyed a feeling of that dislike which is near
ly allied to hatred and disgust, it cleaned ra-
ther than flashed upon the speaker from beneath
its shaggy brows. His face was of pale and
CHASTITY hue and the wrinkles upon it told more
of care than years.
He was, in short, a man whose scietoy would
be rather Stunned than courted, even III the
desert.
The Young man of bold and reckless bearing,
for such he seemed, who asked this question,
which had been superseded even i'll his own me-
mory by far other thoughts, was instantly i'm
pressed with the idea that he had seen his sui
ien-looking companion before. When, or where,
or under what circumstances, he could not tell,
and chilling sensation of horror, which he
could neither define nor repross, seemed inti-
mately connected with it.
And they rode on together for some time be-
fore any further attempt was made by either
party to renew or rather commence the con-
yersaton.
There are two (there may be twenty) extra
ordinary contradictions in human nature, both
of which were cxemplifed on the present Occa-
sion. The one is, that when man feels it pc
culiarly incumbent upon him to be silent, he
must talk: the other, that if there be but one
solitary subject upon which prudence forbids
him to touch, this very subject, when he does
speak, will inevitably be the topic.
Instead of answering the question put to him,
the elder traveller asked another, evidently orig
mating in his own absorbing reflections.
Are you from Galena, may ask? ?"
81 ann was the prompt reply from his asto-
nished companion.
sand may inquire, in return, he continued,
show you came to ask the question, since do
not appear just now to be coming from that di-
rection?"
And he turned upon him, as he said this, a
more searching look than he had yet bestowed
upon him, from which his companion seemed tC
shrink, but soon regaining his self-possession
he replied with some commonplace remark a.
bout the public attention being so entirely en-
crossed with the rich lead mines lately diScov-
cred there and then another long silence ensueo
which neither party seemed at all anxious tC
disturb.
The sun had Just set, and the last tnge Of
gold and purple upon the light heecy clouds il
the west had no sooner given place to a sombr'
gray, than one star after another began to peel
forth in quick succession, and to shed upon oul
lonely wanderers feeble and nickering ray
and it was nght-darkness was around them OF
the wild and painless prairie. If they felt al
inveterate, though undefnable dislike towards
each other in the daylight, it was mingled will
fearful imagnngs now; and these increased
with the gathering gloom. The sudden appear
ance, however, of twinkling light from th'
hut of a new settler, was hailed by both alik'
as happy relief from an overwhelming feeling
of oppression, which would probably have beer
longer endured.
Hospitality, in all new and thiny peoples
countries, is as striking characteristic as 1t l
amiable and convenient. The honest and indus
trious inhabitants evidently remember that the.
tborseIyes were once nilprims and soiourner
In strange land. Hence, food and shelter
freely afforded to any wayfarer benighted nea
their dwellings, not as Il boon grudgngly an
niegardly bestowed, but as a tax upon them t
which they cheerfully submit, or rather as
debt they Justly owe and which they willmgl
and gladly pay.
Our way-worn travellers well aware OF thl
kindly feeling among the new settlers, especial
ly in that part of the country, hesitated not
consider themselves at home for the night.
On reaching the hut, their horses wer
properly cared for, and plentiful supper Wa
prepared for themselves. 1t consisted of Ind
an bread and steaks from a newly killed builal
broiled upon the hot emberS, TO which, as hun
cry men, they did ample justice. Dried skin
OF the same animal, or rather Of the same sp
cies as that which had afforded them so hearty
supper, were then spread upon the rude floor
the hut near the fire, and they betook then
selves to repose for the residue OF the night
"To sleep :-perchance to dream J"
FatigIed and weary as they We're, deep al
refreshing sleep soon fell upon them both.
was not, however, enjoyed for any great leng
III