Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-10-01
From DicEens's Household Words.
THE PRINCESS ROYAL.
STRANGE ADVENTURE IN TEXAS

With certain American captains and CO.
|onels and men-at-arms, in small place }
On the Brazos River few miles north |
Of Jose Maria, in Texas. l had paid
visit to this place, near which a dear
of my youth had been mur-
dered. We were school-fellows, and for
five years we had been brother officers
IN the same regiment. He went to the
United States just when the war broke
out with Mexico, and became captain of
q company of Kentucky rifemen. A
Few months after the battle of Vera Cruz,
he was deputed by the officers of his
brigade to present to General Taylor
VIC was on leave of absence at New
0rleans-a gold medal as token of re-
spect. Choosing the nearest way from
he camp, across country, he set out on
Bis errand with a guide and two servants,
al on horseback, armed to the teeth
ID Jose Maria, my poor friend unwisely
Inhibited the medal to a crowd of re-
pectable looking persons, calling them
selEes colonels, majors and captains, who
seemed to take great pleasure in study
ing its engravings. He did not even re-
mark in what hurry some Of those
colonels were to start before him. But
the medal has, in ten years never more
been heard Of, and my old comrade and
two of his companions were found shot
dead in a rayine.
Ii was near this place that l also fell
among colonels. There was one of them
who took a great liking to my horse,
when he saw me giving it to the hostler.
He tapped it repeatedly on the neck, de-
claring with an oath to be nice hanimal
and no mistake-which assertion he re-
peated afterward over and over again to
his feIlow-men in the coffee-room, who,
when they had been out to satisfy their
curiosity, agreed with him upon the mat
ter. Now, wouldn't that be nag for
you, major?' he said to tall, powerful
man with a rough beard and disgusting
features, who sat a little apart from the
rest, and wore a large gray coat. The
major said nothing, but stalked out Of
the room, soon afterward, followed by
The colonel. The others had again taken
up their old topic of conversation and
were talking politics, rather vehemently
as thought, when a waiter-a German
came up to me, and told me in oul
own language that l had better take
care, as those two rufians outside hat
set eyes on my horse, and would be sure
to steal it if 1 gave them the slightes
ehance. Annoyed at this intelligence,
asked my countryman what he though
itwould be best for me to do.
Why said he you have fallen il
With a bad set, and, if you want to keeI
your horse, should advise you to escap
as soon as possible
After little reflection, l resolved t
start at once, and made for the stable
There I found the colonel again, mo:
urgently talking to the hostler, who onl
boxed at me in rather impudent mar
ner, when l told him to bring out m
horse, and paid no further attention.
therefore began to bride for myself.
/ say, captain said the colone
coming up to me after while and tai
ping me on the shoulder.
Siri'
sCome on, man don't make fool
yourself! 1 want to buy that ERE 'ors
captain?
DO you?
Thank Heaven! / was in the sa
Ole by that time.
do /? Am the man to be p
put of my way by one of these e
chawed up Germans?
He laid both his hands upon the brid
Of my horse. My blood generally bo
at an insulting word against my countr
men, especially when ] am far from boz
in foreign lands. In thrice, the sti
Of the riding-whip came down upon t
colonels's head, while the horse, urg
10 powerful leap, threw him ten yal
upon the ground. As knew very W
that according to the customs of
country, this was a revolver affair n
and as had no wish to become entang
in such business, did not wait until I
colonel had picked himself up, but II
forward without delay.
was stopped by ihe waiter, whom
heard calling after me, and who was
OF breath when he came up to me
last. The honest fellow gave me
rection, which / was afterward glad
have followed. He said that the color