Squatter sovereign., 1856-06-10

O@ AiiA OH OPPoitu1tey " 0SooPC AiOii siS
house. He did not dare to meet his
cousin, and he left by the afternoons boat
for West Point, in hopeless misery. a
few hours before with the bright star of
love beaming before him, he had rejoiced
in the promise of a radiant future; now
he was plunged into the seelusion of his
own dark thoughts. Visions of his child
hood passed through his throbbing brain
tones unheeded at the time-words
which had waited till that hour, for their
meaning-looks which he now interpreted
and Katrina's form was in ALL An
unquenchable feeling, like the thirst of one
who dies in the desert, parched his lips
dark shadows clouded the future, and ere
he was again in bis tent, his blighted heart
had experienced all that reyulsion of feel
ing which is deemed the work of years of
sorrow.
From that day, the academical career of
Horace, was retrogaded. 4 sneering
smile and sarcastic word, soon estranged
his friends. while the lava tide of despair
as it swept over his studies, he neglected
them entirely for the stake which he had
played was gone, ambition was driven
from him soul, and despair revelled in the
violated sanitary Of his affections.
1t was the morning after the battle Of
San Jacinto. and General Houston, the
hero of that glorious struggle, lay beneath
wide spreading oak. with his saddle for
pillow. A painful wound in one of his
ancles, rendered it impossible for him to
move, but his eyes, that had blazed on the
battlefield like beacon lights in raging
tempest, showed the JOY of his heart. His
small army, suddenly called from peaceful
pursuits, had routed a powerful Mexican
force, and the braggart Santa Anna, when
last heard from, was flying for his life.
An officer approached the recumbent
chief-it was Horace Morgan, but how
two years had changed his appearance.
His hunters costume was soiled and dirty
his dull eyes were sunk deep into his
emaciated features, and mingled ex-
preston of sorrow and of scorn, played
over his countenance. Leaving West
Point, he had found his way to the Mis-
sissippi, add so down to New Orleans.
Here he toiled as a laborer at times, to
procure sustenance, but though in this
world was not Of it. The heavy world ol
trouble, breaking over his barque of life
had carried away all its ornaments, and
left but a strained hull, which heavily
drifted along, regardless of its destination
Yet. when the news came that Santa
Anna had invaded Texas, that Crocket
and his brave comrades had been slaugh'
tered in the Alamo, and that the gallan
command of Fannin had been nassacreo
like dogs, he awoke to new life. Perhap:
the thought that i: was Mexican whe
had snatched his idol from its heart-shrine
had some influence. but certain it was tina
,, he enlisted as private. But his military
education soon developed itself, and ere
the struggle Of San Jacinto. he had beer
appointed by General Houston, adjutan
of the Artillery.
Well, my paladin," said Houston. a
Horace approached, have you returned
weary from the chase e
!, "One never wearies in well-doing
General; but we have found some rar
, game-an officer, who insists on seein:
/, the General in command"
"Ah. Well, usher him into our angus
: presence"
Horace beckoned to a group not far dis
:, tant. which immediately approached. L
8 their midst, was small, bright-eyed mar
: whose clothes were in tatters, and who ha
: evidently passed the night in Tnudd
+ swamp. No sooner did he ascertain tina
he was before General Houston, than h
!. advanced, and, with theatrical air, e,
claimed:
e "Soy Antonio Lopez de Santa A nn'
Presidente de la Republican, Mexican;
d Y general en- gese del ejercito de opera
clones !''*
-, aWhy, Morgan" said General Hc'
le ston, !" you are the captor OF Santa Ann
is Sit down, Mr.. President. and take son
al refreshments.
a The news soon spread throughout Il
so camp. and Horace was greeted as Il
nd acaptoT oe Aanta Anna" Indeed. Il
a soubriquet followed him to Galvesto
to where he was sent with dispatches, al
he stationed in command of small 70
ch which he was ordered to put in order
defence. The mental and bodily empls
,f- ment soothed his troubled spirit and
ad was actually persuaded to attend a ba
lis given by the residents of Galveston.
.ssI am Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Pre-
'a dent of the Mexican Republic, aud general
nd. chief of the amy of operations. -