New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-06-14

creeping on when they gained the Top OF and emi
nende, where the guide suddenly drew mp.
You see" be said. the ris1lef that lows at you
feet beyond, that bluelooking hill to the right
that great pond with It's niarshy borders and tina
fringe Of naples With red nowersi"
.Why' ' yea see Red Maple that mound, tina
marsh thai pond, and the trees, constitute the pro
pertyr
delighted with the vision Of vast meadows and en-
aYes said the guide, with a sardonic smile
and leave you here, unless you prefer to go bacl
with mel
why should 60 backa You must be joking
Why should you think that, having seen my property
should also go back
! Because Township may feel himself under tn
painful necessity q killing you, and do not wish t
| Kill mel What have done to hin?v
Township Is squatter,s quietly replied th
youth, aud squatter never considers the laws b.
looks to his rifle and his right Possession is bette
in the backwoods than right and Township possesses
Red Maple. So now you may think it better to re
/ trace your steps,
!" | shall not go back an inch,r rejoined the reso
lutte exile. was once rich Red Maple is all thai
remains TO me in the present day of my former
wealth. would rather perish in the defense of my
rights than by want. So this very night shall have
established myself on my property or ! shall be a
Left alone. the exile held counsel with himself He
was resolved to conquer or die but be deemed it just
we'll before he confronted the DANGER to study the
ground q little. column OF smoke rising up behind
the maple screen indicated where Townships hut was
located. Looking more narrowly, he made out two
robust boys-probably the sons OF the usarper-who
were wrestling together like two young buffaos try
|! ing their budding horns. A little farther more
] graceful vision presented itself to his gaze. His
dream Of the morning seemed to have become a
reality young girl, dressed in white was straying
| over the meadow, looking like the flower Of mag
nolla detached from the green mass Of foliage. Her
slim shape and light hair were in perfect keeping
With profile OF angelic purity.
But evening was stealing on apace there was no
time to hesitate, and the exile descended the slope
With rapid step, recommending his good cause to
Sod. He directed himself at once toward the column
OF smoke To reach this he had 10 pass through the
grove BY narrow and gloomy path. He advanced
cautiously-more like poacher than proprietor on
bis own domain. Coming to little glade, he saw
Township standing in his way, leaning on the long
II was waiting for you,r be exclaimed, in a gruff
voice. 2 What do you want hereGH
" II you were waiting for me, you know who am
and what want. | am told that you have settled
yourself this land, which belongs TO me. Here are
my papers, and summon you, in the name OF the
law to leave me the free enjoyment thereof
Red Maple shall have only one proprietor so leng
as am alive replied Township eyeling bis rife at
the same time at the intruder. Z could have shot
you like a deer when you first entered the wood, but
do not wish to shed your blood If | can help it. Go
back, then, while there is still time. BY rights are
my eyes. The nearest sheriff dwells twenty-five
leagues from this. The sound of MY rifle will not
reach ears, and your body will have been eaten up by
birds OF prey, and your titles will have been dis
persed by the wind like dried leaves before any one
will think Of inquiring after you.p
Urged by an irresistible impulse, the exile advanced
towards the squatter, papers in hand his rife on hs
! One two said the latter as he aimed bis rifle
--Athrce ~
Al the same moment that the rife went of, the
exile felt his arms Suddenly grasped from behind. II
was one Of Townships sons. who was tearing the
fitledeeds from bis hand. ball passed between the
two heads, and both fell at the same moment. Town
ship uttered shrek OF horror, and FASTENED for
wards but he soon ascertained that the two com
batants were alike unhurt. The exile turned TO Town
ship and approached him for his treachery and bis
cowardice.
I" My treachery n he repeated, with wild laugh.
" What should prevent me killing you g-the sheriff
Or those papers, for which care as little as for leaf
OF t0baccol But" be continued after moments |
hesitation, will not take advantage Of you but as
there can only be proprietor Of Red Maple it |
shall be each with rifle in bis hand that we win de-
eide upon the possession OF the valley" And so say
ing he set to work relOadng his rifle BY this time
the two boys whom the exile had Observed from the |
hillside wrestling, had Joined the party and they be-
gan TO look at the stranger with eyes OF pity One
q them ventnred even TO suggest that II dark
that the affair had better be put off till the next day.
Welln said the squatter !" let it be SOTO morrow
at sunrise Till then the stranger may come into the
hut; he is master here.D
The exile about to accept the alternative, when
he eldest son whispered" No stop here y And |
turning 70 his father, be said-" The stranger will |
pass the night here. will go and fetch some food
and viii pass the night alongside Of him.
long interval OF time, which appeared still longer
. the exile In the state Of supense he then in,
Elapsed before the young mans return. He was very
much excited when he did come back, and after ex- |
blaming to the stranger why be had not wished him |
o go into the house-for bis father, he said after |
NJ
lis head to revenge himself at once for the insult
,ifered to him--he added that neighhoring farmer
rad arrived at the hut, with the news that country
iad been discovered where gold was as common as |
tones, ana everybody was going of to 1t as fast
hey could.
The idea that that night might be his last efiectu
lily prevented the exile getting any sleep. Once in
be night be heard soft voice uttering few words
lad turning round, he saw slim white form dsap-
Bearing among the bushes
who was that ~ he inquired Of his guardian.
my sister, who was curious TO see you. She says |
you are very young to de-
Il was evident that all the family reckoned on the
'xes death at the hands Of the squatter as matter
II course and, what made it worse, the decisive
line was fast approaching for the obscnrity OF night
vas now giving way to the first dawn OF day. II |
vas not long before Township made his appearance
ollowed by his two sons and another parsonage, |
whom the exile guessed to be the farmer OF whom he
lad heard the previous evening The latter opened
he conversation.
II know all that Is going on,r he said holding out
bis hand at the same time land matters may still
be arranged upon certain conditions
Il can see no possibility Of arrangement between
myself aud the usarper Of Red Maple" boldly OBJ
erved the exile. sWhat require is that my prop.
'rty shall be restored to me-"
"In tine first place, you must retract certain words
hat my neighbor Township cannot forgive. You
know what mean.n
"Well and then ~
"Thenl Why, after that we may come to some
rs to the concession OF Red Maple
certain arrangements having been FIRST concluded |
which will leave you In possession OF property of /
10 great value Of the present moment
The change that had been brought about filed the
mind Of the exile with surprise. What consldera-
ions" he said to himself, " had been sufficiently
powerful to induce Township to forego his claims as
irst occupier, and above ALL to bury the resentment
u an outraged American ~ This was not, however
he time for making inquiries. The most important
hing was 70 come TO an understanding to the con.
iitions OF the proposed arrangement. Luckily, the
Tut Of Red Maple and the cleared land were valued
i price that did not exceed the exiles means. He
greed TO the terms ut once. As to the words
traitorl n cowardr' which he had made use of |
he previous evening" he was particularly delighted
o recall them The discussion thus brought to a
happy termination, he wendell his way to the farm
where be was received as If no misunderstanding had
'ver happened. The squatter, feroclous the even
ng before, was now as blithesome as a lark. The
circumstances which had brought about this won
irous change were not long in unfolding themselves
A book lay open on the table. Ii was the Manual
Tor the Emigrant TO California" Horses and wagons
were soon brought ont by the youngsters, and pack