The south-western., 1861-08-07

ertlon. The housekeeping admirable; to that point
the excellence of the breakfast had borne witness
recoect falling violently in love with Massachu-
setts beauty possessed of charming face sylphike
hgure and as much sentimentaty would have stocked
half dozen faxen-haired Germans 1t was my ninth
serious attachment, if remember rightly and desper-
aely smitten and remained until one unlucky day
when the mamma of my adorato invited me to dinner
en- famlle. The toughneSs of the mutton-chops took
the edge of my teeth for fortyeight hours and off my
love forever. As regards the Menous however have
hardly known them long enough to form very decided
opinion concerning them. In few DAYS shall be able
to judge better Meanwhile we will leave the ladies'
and accompany monsieur Menou over his plantation
It is in excellent Order admirably situated and capaly
irrigated by trenches cut through the cotton and maize
fields There above three hundred acres cultivation
the yearly crop two hundred and fifty bales very
pretty income Only three children and the plantation
comprising near four thousand acres Notso bad-might
be worth thinking Of But what would the world say
to 2 The arstocratic Howard to marry creole with
perhaps dash of Indian blood in her veins! Yet Manou
has hreescore negroes and negresses besides whole
colony of ebony Children and the girls are not so
i'll to look at Roses and lillies-espeeialy Louise
Well, we will think about it.
| "Apropos!" said the creole, as walking along
field path. You have three thousand dollars with
Gorings?"
! / nodded.
| and eight thousand with Mr. Richards?n
| 'How do you know that, my dear NJ Menou?"
must observe, by way of parenthesis that had lent
these eight thousand dollars to Richards some five wears
previously; and although than one occasion
during that tme the money would have been of consid
cradle to me- had been restrained from asking it
back by my natural Incidence and azness of character
added to the nonsensca notion of generosity and devo
ton in friendship that had picked out of wagonoads
of novels Richords must observe had never limited
at returning the money. l now felt rather vexed, l
cannot exactly say why at Menous being acquainted
with the fact of this debt which had ancied secret
between Richards and myself
"And how do you know that my dear n Menou?"
Menou smiled at my question. you forget" said
he. THAT am only just returned from New Orleans
One hears and eagns many hidgs when opens ones
ears to the gossip of the haut-ton of the capital"
cha hal" said little sarcastically and glancng at
the mans hat and unbeaehed trousers and iaoke
monsieur Menou-the plain and unsophisticated
sieur Menou, also haut.ton MANI"
my wife was Ny; my grandfather was president
of the Toulouse parliament replied the creole quietly
to my somewhat mpertinent remark.
| bowed Ny suspicious concerning Indian blood
were unfounded then.
"And have my proceedings and follies really served
teatable talk to the New Orleans gossps? said l.
Don't let them annoy YOU" replied Menou "Let
the world talk and you, your part prove to it that
you more sensible man than it takes YOU for viii
you put yourselfora while entirely under y gudance?"
Very willingly" said l.
"And promise to abide by my advice"
II promise to do So"
l think proper eigth out of the eleven thousand
dollars which you have lying idle"
"And Richards" said |.
Can do without them better than YOU can 1t is very
well to be generous, but not the extent of njuring
Yourself Here is receipt for the sum in question
will account to you for its expenditure"
And with these words he handed me the receipt He
had evidently laid little plot to force to my own
good 1t went decidedly against the grain with me to
reQuite Richards hospitality and friendship by claiming
back the money had lent him. and for which be had
doubt, had good At the time, it would have
been rather quxotic to let my plantation 90 to rack
and ruin for want of the funds by which he profit
ing; and moreover had given henou my word to be
guided by him; so put the receipt and my romantics
in nv pocket, and returned to the house give my ad
wiser order for the money.
Julie and Louise scarcely seemed to observe our en-
trance. Both had their hands full-the with cook
cry and domestic matters, the other with the ginghams
and muslns which she rending and tearing with
vigor that caused the noise be heard fifty yards off
At SUPPER however they were as merry as ever and
there end 10 their mirth and veness 1t seemed
if they had thrown off the burden of the days tolls
and awakened to new and more joyous existence The
three Mexicans with Their gravity and grandeur did
seem to be the least restraint upon the girls who last
however, towards eight O'clock appeared to grow i'm
patient at sitting SO long still. They exchanged whisper
and then rising from the table, trpped into an adion
ing room. Presently the harmonious tones of piano
forte audible.
eve must not linger here" said the creole LES
danes voudraent.n
And all repaired to the drawing-room an elegant
apartment where the Mexican lady was already seated
at the piano. while the girls wanting partners
begin the dance Julie took possession of her father
Silvera stood up with madame Menou, Louise fell to my
SHARE and cotllon danced with much glec aud
spirit if both dancers and lockers had been more
numerous. Between dancing, music, and lively con-
versaton, eleven o'clock came before were aware
of it,
"Voci notre manere creole" said Mcnou, as he left
me at my bedroom door "With us everything has its
time laughing, talking working, praying and dancing
each its appropriate season We cndeaVor to arrange
our lives that occupation or amusement should
interfere with another 1t is on by that means that
secluded domestic existence be rendered agree
able and happy. Asitis, nous ne ennuyons jamas
Good night.
Eight weeks had flown by like so many hours. had
become domesticatedn the family circle of the Menous
and getting frugal and economical that scarcely
new what dollar or a hank-note looked like. Time
passed so lightly and pleasantly, and there was some
thing patriareha and delightful in the mode of life
that it was difficult matter to forget the world with
its excitemens its pleasures aud its cares least
rarely bestowed thought upon anything but what
passing immedatel y araund me; whole piles of
papers lay unread upon my table, and became every
day more and more of backwoodsman. l rose early,
slipped into my linnen Jacket and trousers and
panied NJ MenOu about his fields and cotton presses
The afternoon passed in looking over accounts or in
reading or laughing at the discussions and opinions of
Col Stone and major Noah set forth in the papers,
while the evening of each day filed up by an in
promptu Of some kind, dance or a merry chat
We were sitting night at supper, when NJ Menou
proposed stag-hunt by torchlight. caught eagerly
at the idea and at gave orders to make the need
full preparations The two Mexcans begged to be allowed
to aceoppany us; but almost before theyhad profered
the request the lady intertered to oppose it.
"Don Lop--!S she exclaimed, and then checked
herself in the middle of the word she about to utter
"Te supEeo, she continued in Spanish after nomenta
ry pause, 81 impore you not to go tonight.
There was something inexpeessbly anxious and afec
tonate in her manner and tone. Her husband begged
her not to make herself uneasy, and promised he would
not go; at the time, it evident that he was
vexed not to accompany assured the lady there
no danger.
No danger" aepeated she, in her sonorous Castilian
''No danger! Is nobody of the intended hun?"
said she to Menou.
Nobody was the reply.
1t just then occurred TO me, that daring the whole
period Of my residence with the Menoas neither the
Mexican his wife had ever gone out of the house
and garden. The circumstances in combination with
the anxiety shown by the lady, struck me forciby
and gazed at Silveria, while vainy endeavored to
conjecture whence the mystery that evidently en-
vroned him. He of about thirty rears of
age, with handsome features, high forehead, and