Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-03-17

A TRAGIC REMINIsCENCE.
ny RLLIs AMMoNRTTR.
CHAPTER !,


treaty Of peace threw open Georgia, Alabama
and Mississippi to emigrants, the tide that set
in from the other States was, considering the
difficulties to be overcome, and the dangers TO
be encountered from still half hostile foe,
most astonishingly great.
These cmigraIts, like oil who pioneer the
way to new States, were motley crew. Oc-
casionally there might be found man Of good
family, with numerous slaves, who. lured by
the fertility of the virgin soil, transported his
household goods to these great wilds. but more
frequently, Of the farming community, it was
the humble possessors of one or two negroes,
or the brawny athletes, who watcred the fields
they titled with the sweat from their own
brows who took the road for "Gcorgy, Ala.
bamy, or the Mississippi"
These, however, were unfortunately not the
prcpOnderating element among the incoming
settlers That numerous class who come un.
der the comprehensive head of adventures"
composed the majority. Refugees from the
sentence of the law, men banned from social
intercourse, spectators, gamblers, cut -throatS
and villains Of every variety, were the most
numerous inhabitants of the villages which
sprung up wherever Land Offices or Indian
Agencies were established by the Govern
ment.
Of all the localities to which they throngcd
nowhere did they muster in larger force than
in the northern counties vi the now flourish.
ing State of Mississippi.
AS matter of course, among such an as
scmbage Of lshmaelltcS, bloody duelS, street
| fights and murders were of daily occurrence,
and in the tangled web Of their intercourse
tragedies were frequently enacted more whole.
sale in their destruction Ot-human- life than
any ever put on histronic boards.
| was then young NJ. d., who, following
the Adventurous bent nf my -nainrl, lad wan.
dcred thus far from civilization, and finally
located in village in the fertile valley of the
YallabuSha, then "boundlcSs contiguity oI
shade,' but now iarsprcading series Of mag
ntcrnt plantations, familiar with tie rush ot
the iron horse, and made a ncighbor even to
this great metropolis by the mystic current oI
the telegraph wire.
Here occurrences came under my obScrva-
ton, some 50 appalling, and some So thrilling
that they have never been erased from the
tablets OF memory.
| After having been there sufficient length
\ of time to become familiar with the general
reputation and position, both social and pOlit-
ical, Of every one in the place, found that
the person OF most popularity was man by
the name Of Louis Prrcival Strange as il
may seem ut the first glance, the man who
swayed and controlled, almost with aut0cratiC
power, this turbulent settlement, was slight
pale and physically weak though the fact il
not without numerous prcccdcntS in cases
where TACT intelligence, INSCRIPTIONS con-
science, aud courage that never quailcd be.
fore man or devil, has been found combined
in one person.
Why such al individual had ever made his
way to such place, it was puzzling to sur.
mise. Dress, manners, conversation and style
of life, NIL betUkrnci him to have once moved
among the clcgancirs and rchncmcntS of tho
most polished society. y person of so plausi-
ble aud inSlnuatlng manners had never seen,
though III the beginning of our acquaintance
| had for him u feeling of diStrust, which
amounted to almost dislike. This NAV posi-
bly, have arisen from the fact that, tloating OH
the wings Of rumOr, came n vague story Of u
deserted wife, who, br0kcn-hrarted, sleeps in
u seli.sought grave in distant State; but
whether it had truth for its foundation none
knew, and none would have dared hint OF
question him to whom it was attached. If q
retrospective glance ever wrapt his soul il
gloom, it hung no cloud upon his brow; i
rcmorSe ever gnawed, its ravagcS were not cX
tcnal, for more smooth and smiling face, ant
apparently more cquablc temper, is seldom
met with
AS q matter Of course, in place so small
the residents were all known t0 each other
and an arrival was noted MS n subject Of gen
eral interest, furnishing, as it did, either a new
victim for the harpicS to prey on, or else al
antagonist in their own field.
After my sGjourn at C. had been O
some eighteen months duration, there ap
peared in our midst man who called himscl
Ross, and as lie made Il temporary StOtpagt
at the miserable tavern, il soon became known
that he was accompanied by his wife, Eacl
person who by accident obtained glimpse a
her, was Immediately filled with admiration
at the extraordinary character Of her beauty
and. in accordance with the conventional hab
its Of the place, several, when occasion per
mitted, spoke to her, with the view of cpcnin.
an acquaintance, but were met with sucl
freezing reserve, or scornful disCain, as mad
them shrink from second effort
This somewhat singular conduct excite,
general curiosity, of which | confess to hav
felt my share; but when saw her, the onl,
wonder was that the thought of such an in
truSion should ever have suggested itself t
any one.
Such regal beauty as she possessed is seldom
met with, even in the entire space of life
time In the oriental splendor of her lowell
ness, she looked like Zcnoba, but, alaS il
chains. Not Saddcned or downcast, though
by misfortune, but hard, naughty and defiant
rs though She stared fate in the face and dare,
its worst.
Every movement of her stately form, ever,
pose of her graceful limbs, even the flow a
her dark, plain garments had an undulatin
ease, and yet classic severity, that repelc,
while it charmed, and to person Of ordnar,
penetration no second glance was needed n
the fierce pressure Of the crimson curves q
her lips, and the eager flash Of the dark, lus
trous, pasSion-lit eye, to know that all the pas
that lay behind her was filled with hidcou
and hated remembrances. What Law in he
future it came to the to know, and blasted n
must have been the green boughs of her glc
rious youth by some lightning stroke of fate
it could not have been more appalling thu
what succeeded in her tragic life.
Standing one day with Percival on the step
Of the tavern, idling away pleasant hour, a
| accidentally glanced in at the door, sa,
Mrs. Ross, bonnctted and shawled as il for
walk, coming down the wide hall.
Having become familiar with Percival'S S,
barite tastes, felt curious TO know how h
would be affected by the unexpected sight {
such remarkable beauty, and fixed my obsel
vation on him rather than on the lady.
He was leaning carelessly against the roug
pillar at the top Of the steps, and did not Sc
her until she had passed at least half Ii
width Of the gallery: then look of wonde