The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-10-07
WASHINGTON, ID. c.
For the National Era.
H0NOR VS.. PRINcIPLE e.
ny MANY IRVING
CHAP
BY MARY IRVING.

was lust dipping into the CRIMSON "a'o'cS VI
Of mail tributary of the mississippi, as Jaded
horse which had been very reluctantly and
rerv forcibly urged up the riverside Tor hours,
stopped at a sudden twitch of his riders cheek
rein.
The place . the young horseman exclalm-
Cd in an undertone of delight, mingled with sur
mise He evidently shared none OF the ia
Tone he had inflicted upon his beast. There
was n flash of impotence in his eye, and a
nick compression of his lips, as he threw him.
55olf from the saddle, and, drawing the rein over
L;s laft arm, stepped toward large white lat
,;ood cate which obstructed his entrance upon
a WIDE winding avenue of catalpa and china
t.oos But before he had succeeded in opening
!; a woolly.headeds specimen ofhumanity scram-
Mod M from the long grass and bushes with
in frst upon four feet and then upon two, with
the exclamation
= Lawks. maussa-didn't knowed it was
youE
The gate flew open with a flourish, under
the auspices of this its lawful guardian, who
had been indulging himself with stroll in
the land of dreams The stranger cast q curl
Gus glance on his ragged blouse rolling eyes,
and glistening teeth; and remounting his horse
went briskly up the gravelled path. AS he
came within the glimmering of white walls he
checked his steed's pace involuntarily, with a
sudden convulsive bound in the region of the
heart.
"Will she be here ~ was thought not
shaped into words, as he nearly drove his
horses head against another gate half buried
in dropping foliage which a neat smiling mu-
latto boy in white handkerchief. and apron,
fastened to set open for him.
Thank you, my good fellow" observed the
rider, as the boy, having shut the gate by a
dexterous swing of the arm, jumped with alac-
rity to his bride rein, and guided him toward
the house, now in full view. "Your masters
family-are they all at home, and all well g"
Mass Leroy if you mean, sir-he have
gone off on 'lectrifying tower-but Missis
and Miss Gussie is hOme,' he added, with a
sly east of one eye as he rolled it up, to OBJ
serve the effect of this last clause upon his list
encr. 1t seemed to please him hugely for he
rolled his tongue into the cavity of his cheek,
slaughtered himself up, and called out, with
great pomposity, to a troop who were summing
under a large pecan tree at one side
You Tim! 10 pick yersels up quicker, and
tend here to the genPman's horse!
The bipeds thus addressed scrambled to their
bare feet, shook their shoulders and ears, and
coming forward, took each side of the foam
hecked bit. as the rider dismounted and the
white.aproned porter conducted him up the
steps Of the front verandah.
His eager eye took in vague impression of
climbing roses and honeysuckles green lat
tce-wOrk and low white walls but before it
had time for more, it was arrested by vision
more bewitching Ito one pair of eyes, at least
than any roses that ever breathed fragrance
over the bowers of the sunny South"
The hall door stood open, as well rs the
front windows. which were raised from the
floor, AS he moved toward the door, the flut-
ter of a white dress, like a sunbeam against the
wndow-blnd, caught his eye and ear. He
stepped back-and in an instant more fresh,
frank, happy face, literally brilliant with the
glow of undisguised emotion, told him all that
he cared to know or feel in that momemt-or
in many that followed it
He had drawn the white-robed vision within
the parlor blind, and let fall the screen between
the curious eyes of the negroes and the scene
which so evidently inspired them with more
delight than they could contain. before he
spoke word His countenance was calm,
but 1t was tablet of unutterable thoughts
and feelings
Augusta was the first low word that
broke the silence. 1t broke, likewise some spell
that had bound the tears of the young girl add
dressed for they burst from their dark foun-
tains, and deluged her cheeks in moment
Oh! ! thought you would never come!
she sobbed, impulsively
" 1t was not my fault that disappointed you
last week, he said, caressingly II had made
no calculation for the delays on your Southern
waters
The boats ! oh yes" she exclaimed, trying
70 recover her self-control. 81 watched so long
l had made up my mind you were killed
blown up in one Of those terrible explosions!
,on had not put on mourning for me,
zee Sa,a he with glance of meaning at her
aress' She 6iushcd, and laughed amid her
e "ars az s'ie drew slightly from him, and toss
"a oack ler tumbied tresses giving passing
.ouch 10 the wreath Of jessamines that might
n'se peeh shaken from her rich, glossy braids
'ou'nern girl never long forgets her dress.
iauy some years her senior crowned with
niue tuiie cap set with rose-buds, now step.
pea softly into the parlor, and served to remind
'he young couple that the world contained
some one besides themselves.
-. IN" exclaimed Augusta relapsing into
we young lady at once, MY sister-in-law
NIs Leroy-Mr Lester" she said, very de.
"rS Leroy gave the guest very suitable
ana hosP,table welcome apologzed for the alb
'gncc OF her husband, who was absent on an
pioneering tour, this explanation cleared
W .ne mystery involved in the porter's words,
%Ylng that Col Leroy had been uncertain
Hneh 10 expect him, or at what point he would
iand' @c The house was put in commotion
through Its length and breadth. Mysterious
Eyes now and then, ventured peep through
we crannes Of the closed blinds, or peered
ABOUT the crack of the half-opened door. From
ue old faithful head who had been
Augustus foster.mother, down 10 the very
onalleSt curled noodle on the plantation every
Az was i'ili OF curiosity to catch peepat oul
MISS Gussle's sweetheart
. "har did he hail from, you Vic?v inauir
none OF group who sat perched about the
s"e-posts, OF the white-aproned mulstto.
IN Wouldn't you give a heap TO know
YOU nggers!' responded that parsonage, with
sr,n OF contemptuous superiority, and a
witch at his head gear
r. Amt quality, no-how-hadn't a Niger te
' Dorse," observed one, sulkily.
i, LCr bless us!' exclaimed q stout woman
a A." ,"t Olae turban, who was just then carrying
W :" water on her head, through Che gate
nag 20 TO your nanny, Tim He's out o
boe,i"g Norard, whar niggers isn't thick a.
NJ e g. on a star-shiny night It's likely ouI
G,oh' IIss'e knows what's what up where she
"'ehed her dedicstion!n
Vie w., nsely you knows heap remarked
6rms "na, having swung himself into the crotch
er,II', ny two branches Of a live oak, was lii.
upon III az wen as fgurstively looking down
70 tsn ~" T., group, when you doesn't know how
sic fa,.h IKE folks It's education your Miss Gus.
you 'I ii.. up thsre--aud pity she hadn't Gin