The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1854-11-29
LOUISIANA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 1854

.sHere we were interrupted by the entranc
; of Miss Eveline's mother, and ! took nv leav
quite cured Of my love-ft, and very Thankful
that had not subjected myself to the pain of
refusal
"But | am spinning out my story too long.
"When Elliott returned from his furough, h,
treated me with even greater coldness than be
fore, in fact, wenever spoke to each other at all
except when duty compelled us to do So Thi
made it SO disagreeable to MT, that | was on the
Poinsof applying for an exchange, when thu
war with Mexico broke out, we were ordered OF
active service, and private animosties were for
gotten in our zeal against the common foe.
"Elliott and continued on much the same
terms, although, in spite of my dislike, / could
help admlrlng his bravery, his noble daring
his energy and presence Of mind, and his
fatherly care of the troops under his command
Still. however, the flame was smoulderinr ir
our bosoms, only waiting an opportunity tc
break out At last the opportunity came
| "Elliott had been left in charge of large
number of sick and wounded, while the rest q
the army pressed on toward the halls ofthe Mon
tezumas. I of course was there, with several
assistants. We were encamped ina picturesque
little hamlet, situated in wild, romantic neigh
borhood, and the country being pretty quiet
we were in the habit Of ysnturing some dis
tance, Or perhaps flirting. for you know our fel
lows did not extend to the Mexican senortas
| the hostile feelings with which they regarded
the men, For myself cannot say that | ad
mired them much, some of them were very
pretty, to be sure, but that abominable habit
they have of smoking cigaritos spoiled them in
my eyes I like good cigar myself" said the
doctor, relighting the one he held, which had
gone out, ''but [ don't like to see woman
smoking. I couldn't fancy Venus herself with
a cigar in her mouth.
swell, one morning | had sauntered forth,
portfolio in hand, for the purpose of taking
some sketches, and in the course of my wan
derings came upon a pretty little dwelling by
the side Of a waterfall, in a sweet sequestered
| spot. On messy bench by the door sat a
young girl of wonderful beauty, in snowy but
picturesque dress, with a guitar in her hand
| the sweet melody of which blended delightfully."-
with the soft murmuring dash of the waterfall
and the gurgling of the little stream beyond it.
1t was a picture Of surprising beauty and love
illness, and | Immediately sat down on a fallen
tree to commit it to paper s
"Whle thus employed man was observed
approaching, whom | soon found was none
other than Elliott himself AS he neared the
cottage, the young girl, who had evidently been
expecting him, threw down her guitar, and ran
eagerly to meet him. He sat down beside hel
on the bench, when suddenly observing me- he
started as if serpent had stung him land hastily
approached me. He gazed upon me with a
look in which all the hatred that had been gath
ering for SO many years seemed concentrated
''This is the second time, sir" said he, ,fercely,
s'that you have crossed my path-it shall be
the last time! Follow me if you dare!''
"lf by crossing your path" said l, ''you
mean an allusion to that young woman, l as
sure you have nopspoken to her, nor ap
preached nearer to her than am now"
"Must | call you a coward?" said he. evil
you follow me or not?'
II threw down my writing materials and fol
lowed him. He entered the chapparal and lee
the way to clear space near running brook
Here he turned, and drew hissword ''Defend
yourselfn' he exclaimed.
"Captain Elliott - Said I, salthough am
not conscious of having injured you, I am ready
to give you the satisfaction you demand. But
had we not better return to the camp, obtain
seconds, and conduct the affair in regular
manner?"
mo" said he, II will not wait I will hold
no further parley with you, defend yourself!''
"Thus adjured, drew my sword, but had
scarcely done so when something whizzed past
me, a sharp report was heard, and with wild
cry Elliott fell at my feet. l looked for an in
stant behind me, and saw the dark countenances
Of half-adozen Mexicans as they prepared to
reload stheir pieces, and then fled into the chap
paral, tarrying nolonger to question: On-on
| sped, this way and that ways through the
tangled thicket, tripping my feet on long trail
ing vines, Scratching my hands on thorns until
completely worn out, climbed up lofty tree
and hid myself among its branches. Here l
remained for several hours. and heard my pur-
suers crashing amongst the underwood shouting
swearing. calling to each other, but gradually
the sounds died away, the chase seemed to be
given up, and l was left alone il the wild un-
broken solitude.
''The afternoon was far advanced when, dri-
en- partly by hunger, partly by dread of pass
ing the night in the chapparal, I ventured to
descend from my lofty covert, where the mos
keys had chartered at me with their strange,
mocking gestures. By the aid of my pocket
compass, found my way back to the clearing
whence I had so suddenly departed. After
carefully accommodating, to see that none of my
Mexican friends were lingering near-(to this
day | suspect that ateyoung woman of having
sent them after us)-I advanced to the spot
where poor Elliott had fallen.
He was lying on his face in pool of blood.
his hands clutching the grass, his hair and uni
form dabbed in blood, and his fine manly form,
(he was one of the fnest-looking fellows in the
army,) pierced with three or four ghastly
wounds. "Ah! poor felow!'' said I, as stood
and gazed upon him. for though was rid Of
mortal enemy, I could not help feeling sorry that
SO brave soldier should perish like a dog, shot
down by an unseen foe. "But, thank Godn' |
CALCULATED, with thrill Of indescribing pleasure
"thapk God, did not kill him!"
Il had turned him over on his back ,and as
thus stood moralizing, thought perceived his
bosom heave. | placed my hand upon his
heart, and found that he still lived. As knet
by him, uncertain what to do, he opened his
\ q IT. rod ovoc and 7 saw his marched Inns try