The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1852-01-24

learned tf1af she and her mother were
: both wives Of Master Masons. Soon
after fhe clerk was seen gallanting the
two ladies into the cabin, and the por.
terfollowing with their baggage. The
best state-roomsa were assigned them
and if the captain had been The brother
or son he could not have been more
| devoted to their comfort and happiness
At the tnouthafz Red rivefthe captain
took the latiies to the only house then
at that place, and saw them provided
for while waiting for packet Before
leaving he etold the elder lady that they
expected and wouaao a1oqgsFv asFviBBlaep fBap redE HEX
greater expenses than she was then
able 10 meet, aud handed her a. hundred
dollar bill With emotions deeply min
gled with gratitude she Sasshfed him
that though she was al that time almost
destitute. she was not an 6biect of
charity, ianda hence doubted the pro-
priety of accepting his generous offer.
On being informed, however, that the
money was rendered as loan, she said
to him, * Captain, | know not that
shall have it in my power TO see you
again, how then can return your
money!" f24E r. sAa - t&t
The captain assured her that as her
son and son-in-law were Masons they
would know how 10 insure hisreceiving
it when it was entirely convenient TO
repay it, and bid them an afectionate
adieu. At this moment both ladies
were overcome by feelings of gratitude;
and tears, not words, responded 10 his
parting farewell.
Ny companions and myself continued
on the boat to Orleans, not Knowing
whether we should proceed thence by
sea TO Galveston, or by the Red river
ronte. After remaining some three
days in the city we found boat up for
Alexandria, and determined to take
passage on her and proceed as far up
the river as we could, and thence by
land to San Philip de Austin On the
steamer Lioness we had very pleasant
trip to the mouth of Red river, al which
point we took on several passengers.
and among thenumber the two heroines
of nv narrative The old lady soon
recognised and sent for me. Up to this
period had not spoken to her. but from
the intimacy which she had observed
between the captain of the other boat
and myself. she said she supposed he
had told me certain things. and especi-
ally if was. as she supposed, Mason,
and she added, q If you are, let me
know it. for 1 have received so many
-favoIs from that source unasked that /
desire to know all Masnnlss4 rs miih VI ham
N | iaformeG her that | was yonho
Mason. but had never done any good
AZ sneh. and assured her that claimed
no credit for the favofs she intlmated
she had received from the captain, that
whatever these favors were, the captain
had rendered them. as all good Masons
w5nid do. with no other hupe OF reward
than a consciousness OF having DIS
charged his duty.
o"I pfesnme. sir,n she said. "the cap
tain informed you of his generous and
mapnanimous conduct on taking leave
of us al the mouth of the rIyer.'
4 = No. madam,'' I replied. II heard
the captain speak in the most respectful
terms of YOU and your daughter. but
in no wayidid he aIlude 10 favors done
for either of you -"
:" And did he not tell you, sir, of our
free passage down, and of his noble
generosiiyfin urging US TO accept the
means of defraying our expenses the
balanceof our journey ~
= NO. madam" said |, 1.-THE captain
iatimated nothing of the Sort to me,
and am very certain there was not
passenger on board who did not sup
pose you paid your passage, nor dld any
one suspect the captain OF giving you
aid in any way" f4
She then attempted 10 give me de-
tail of events, b. her feelings over
came her, and bursting into tears she
retired to her state-room.
Our passage up the river was pro-
tracted one, in consequence OF the low
stage Of water. and ( occasionally en-
loved the society of The ladies and spent
an hour very pleasantly. but no further
allusion was made to the captain.
At Alexandria we were informed
that the boar could not ascend the
river any further, and we were all
forced to take our chances by land con-
yeyanee. NV companions agreed to
take charge of our baggage, leaving
me at liberty to give my attention TO
the ladies, and see them provided for.
In charge Of the ladies was about to
descend the steps from the boiler deck,
when the young lady remembered to
have left a small package in the ladies'
cabin. Immediately fastened back,
and on my return TO resume my charge
/ was rather taken aback by beholdlng
4 man rather roughly clad. of tall
stature. spare built, having long, rough
hair. black sunken eyes, large mouth,
and of swarthy compIexlor-ln short.
his whole appearance was anything
but prepossessing, and yet this man
was actually embracing the innocent,
the pure, the beautiful young lady, and
anon anon seized an occasion 70 give the
old lady a most hearty and affectionate
salulafion. The hustle and excitement
Of such a meeting being over, the
young lady turned and introduced me
to to .her husband. He seemed at once
to divine nv position, and proceeded IN