The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-06-16
From Ballou's Dollar Monthly Magazine.
NV PASSENGER
An Adventu re with the Bourbon Pirates
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.


My ship cleared from Liverpool, and I
was bound for the Indies. In the cabin |
had some dozen passengers, most of whom
were army officers who had been home on
leave of absence Besides these / had
widow woman named Legrand, and her
son whom she called Walter Walter
Legrand was, according to the register,
five and twenty years of age. He was
very slight in his build, or at least he
seemed so when compared with the stout
infantry officers who surrounded him but
there were no signs of feebleness about him.
He was of the medium height, and smaller
than the ordinary class of men. His hair
was long and curly, and as black as night
His eyes were large and full, and burned
like orbs of light set in jet His couDte-
nance was very pale, and the brow, which
was much higher and fuller than is often
seen, was strongly marked by the blue veins
which stood boldly out upon it. His feat
ures were regular and eminently handsome
the nose prominent and straight, and the
lips thin and colorless His hands were
small and delicate as babes. His whole
appearance indicated the close, answering
student, and think he had the least of the
animal man in his physiognomy of any man
whom | have ever seen. Mrs. Legrand
must have been married very young, for she
could not have been more than forty years
of age, and was still as beautiful US ever.
A more lovely woman is seldom seen. Her
hair was of golden hue, and her eyes
seemed made for the abode of smiles and
love, though they were now oftener sad and
downcast. Her husband had died in India,
and she was going out to settle his estate,
she having an only brother still there. Her
husband had been Colonel of Cavalry,
and brave and honest man.
Mrs. Legrand had one female servant to
accompany her, and together they occupied
a small state-room which she had fitted up
with my consent, at her own expense
We found Walter to be very agreeable
companion, though he was reserved and
sedate. He could converse freely on sub
jects of general interest, and at times he
was startingly eloquent. For one l en-
joyed his conversation much, though /
sometimes noticed that some of the military
passengers We're inclined to wear sheer
upon their lips when he went deeply into
moral philosophy.
Matters passed on quite pleasantly for
several weeks. To be sure, at times, young
Legrand received treatment from one or
two Of the passengers which l thought
meant insult, and which should have re-
sented, but he took no notice Of it, so did
not make myself uneasy. One man in par
ticular seemed to dislike the youth 1t was
an infantry Captain named Savage. He
was profane, reckless man, and he seemed
to hate Legrand simply because he was so
unlike himself. Legrand never laughed or
even smiled at any of his profane, vulgar
jokes, but, Oh the contrary, plainly showed
by his looks that he did not like them.
We had cleared the southern capes of
Africa, and were standing up into the
Indian Ocean. One day at the dinner
table, Captain Savage allowed himself to
become more profane than usual. Neither
of the females were present, and he launch
ed out into course of stories and jests
which were indecent in the extreme The
wine circulated freely, and his boon COM
panions seemed to enjoy the sport highly.
Several times Legrand cast reproving
glance at Savage, and the latter noticed it,
but instead of becoming more decent, he
only tried the harder to displease and annoy
the quiet passenger.
At length the infantry Captain became
so outrageous profane and vulgar that Le-
grand would stand it no longer, and quickly
moving his chair back, he arose from tho
table and moved towards the deck.
"Come back here" shouted Savage.
But the young man took no notice of
him.
"Come back here"
Legrand did not turn, but with steady
step he kept on and went upon deck.
At length the officers finished their des-
ert, and most Of them went on deck. Say
age went up, and as soon as he saw Le-
grand standing by the weather mizzen rig
ging, he passed over.
"Mr. Legrand," he said, in highly
pompous tone, "why did you leave the din
ncr table,
"Simply because I wished to-" calmly re-
piled the young man.
But why did you wish to leave it 2"
"That is question choose not to an
swer."
But [ choose that you shall"
" o, would answer it with pleasure, if
l thought it would benefit you any to know,
but fear you would not improve upon it,
even were to tell YOU"
ALLOW me to be the Judge Tell me-"
Since you are SO urgent, will comply"
returned Legrand, in tone perfectly calm
and pleasant. "The truth is, sir, you con-
duct and speech were so unpleasant, that
suffered exceedingly, and so chose to leave
you with those who were better calculated
to enjoy or put up with it."