The south-western., 1861-08-07
Ny Last Courtship; or Life in Louisiana.


paused opposite the house ofhe justice of peace and
went shore to communicate with him concerning my
faithless steward Although so early the functionary
was already going to bed, and came out to me in his
night-shirt.
greatest naivete; saw every bale that they stole from
you or tried to steal from You
''And for heavens sake. manlp exclaimed, ''why
did you not put stop to it?"
at was nothing to me- was the div answer
'If you had only given information tom my attorneyr
! "No business of mine" returned the man. Then
fixing his eyes hard upon me- he commenced sort of
lecture, for which was by no means prepared
''Ahr' said he pushing his nght-e9p little over his
left ear 'you young gentlemen comaout of the north
with your dozen blackies or So layout some two or
three thousand dollars in house and land and then
think you play the absentee much as You like,
and that you do deal of honor when you allow US
to collect and remit your income foryou to spend out
of the country. I'm almost sorry Mr. Howard that you
didn't come six months later"
In order to leave the seoundrel tine to- secure his
booty, eh?"
tany rate be has worked and has q wife and child
and has been useful to the land and eountryn
"The devil" exclaimed, mighty Indignant e'Well
for judge, you have a singular idea ofthe law!'
at maynt be Bony's code nor yet Livingston's but
reckon it's justice repedthe man earnestly tapping
his forehead with his forefn5er.
Istared at him. but he rehrned my gaze with interest
There deal of baCkw,ods justice in his rough
soning, although its morally ndefensble 1t was
the law of property expounled ala Lynch What very
certain is that in new coultry especially abseneesm
ought to be secuted as crime against the community
In my case my rambling hasbeen very near costing me
three thousand hard dollars. As it was however they
were saved-thanks to MenoU-and the money still in
the hands of Messrs Gorng standard of morality
on such subjects was probably much more rigid than
that Of the worthy squire Turrips, and who would
doubt not have bought my cotton off the Evil One him
self If thpV cOuld have mound chpqDpr
by so doing. gave the squire the necessary papers
and powers for the adjustment my affairs with Beaks
We shook hands, and returned on board.
In the grey OF the morning tie steamboat stopped
gain. | accompanied Menou ol Shore and we found
carriage waiting, which in spite OF its singularly antique
construction set off with at brisk pace. l had Just
fallen asleep in my~corner when was awakened by
musical voice not ten PAGES off excaiming, Lies voa!
looked up, rubbed my eyest was Louise the creoles
youngest daughter, who lad come out under the
dah to welcome Where should we find one of our
northern beauties who would turn out of her warm bed
at six in the morning, to Welcome herpapa and stranger
guest and to keep hot coffee ready for them to counter
act the bad effects of tie morning air the river
Monsieur MenOu, however, did not seem to find any
thing extraordinary in his daughters early rising, but
began inqurng if the people had had their breakfasts
and at work. On this and various other subjects
Louise able to give him all the information he de
sired. She must have made astonlshngy good use of
the twenty hours that had elapsed since her return
home to be vesed in the particulars concerning her
sable liege subjects and to be able to relate uenty
how Cato had a splinter into his foot, Pompey had
touch of fever and fifty other details which although
doubtless very interesting to Meuou, made me grape
little. amused myself by looking round the dining
room in which then were, the furniture and appear
ance of which rather improved my opinion of creole
cvlisation and comfort The mating that covered the
floor and of an elegant design-the sideboard
solid and handsome although prodigously oldtashoned
tables chairs, and sofas were of French manufacture
On the walls suspended two Or three engravngs
not the fight at New Orleans Perry and Bainbridges
victories the British on Champain Erie but
curostes dating from the regns of Louis the fifteenth
and sixteenth. There Frenchihed air about the
whole room nothing of the republic the empire of the
restoration but sort of odor Of the genuine old royal
ist days.
BY the time had completed my inspection, Louise
had answered all her fathers inquiries and went out
to take look at the exterior of the house 1t was
snugy situated at the foot of the co1nca hillock the
only elevation of any kind to be found for miles around
South, east and west it wasenclosed in broad frame
OF acacia and cotton trees but to the north lay open
the breath of Boreas being especially acceptable in our
climate. rivuet very bright and clear at least for
Louisiana poured its waters from the elevation before
mentioned, and supplied tannery, which doubtless
contributed much the healthness of the neghborhood
The house consisted of three parts built at different
times by grandfather father and son. The last aud
largest portion had been built by the present propretor
and it would have been easy it struck me- to have
pulled down the earliest erections and have built
compact house The reason the creole gave for having
done So did honor, thought to his heart II wish my
children constantly to remember, said he chow hardly
their ancestors oled and how poorly they lived in order
to ensure better DAYS to those who should after
them'
''And they will remember it." said a voice close be-
hind us. l turned round.
Madame Menou, ja rbonneur dc vous presenter
notre Vosin, monsieur Howard"
"Qu restera longtems chez nous" cried the two girls
skipping forward and before l had time to make my
bow the lady, taking by both hands and dragging
me into the house, and through half dozen Zig-zag
passages and corridors TO show my room. This was
a saxagonal apartment, situated Immediately over
small artificial lake through which flowed the rvulet
before mentioned II was the coolest and most agreeable
chamber in the house. on which account it had been
allotted to me. After / had declared my unqualified
approval of it. my fair conduGtreses took down stairs
again to papa and mama the latter Of whom found to
be lady-like woman with countenance expressive of
good nature, and manners that at made one feel
quite at home. She received me if she had known
me for years, without compliments or ceremonious
speeches, and without troubling herself to screw
her features into the sort Of holiday expression which
many persons think it necessary to assume on first
quaintanee. was soon engaged in conversation with
her, in the middle Of which a lady and two gentlemen
come out under the verandah and Joined Their olive
and foreign appearance at once attracted
my attention; and set them down Spaniards Span
ish extraction In this was not mistaken. The men
introduced me as senior Silvera and don Pablo.
The lady who was the wife of the former was remark
ably lovely creature, tall and elegant in person, with
dark eyes, an aquiline and deieately formed nose
beautiful mouth, enclosing pearl-like teeth. Hitherto
had held American fair ones be the prettiest
women in the world; but l now almost felt inclined to
alter my opinion / stuck by the fair strangers
appearance that could not take my eyes off her for
some moments until sharp glance from her husband
and fanced the somewhat uneasy looks of the other
ladies', made aware that my gaze might be deemed
somewhat too free and republican in its duration
my attention. therefore to the breakfast,
which, to my small satisfaction was now smoking on
he table, and to which at once sat down The stran
gers appeared grave and thoughtful and ate little al
hough the steaks delicious the young quails in
and the Chambertin worthy of an imperial
able.
''Who are those foreigners" said to henou, when
he meal was over, and we were leaving the room
'Mexcans" was the reply; ''but who theyFare | can
1ot tell you"
'What! do you not kno W them?n
II know them perfectly WE'LL )" he answered cor they
would not be in my house. But even my family"
whispered he, "does not know them
Poor wretches! thought l. some more sacrifices on
reedoms altar; driven from house and home by the
Internal commotions of their country. Things we're
,oing badly enough in Mexico just then On the one
land, Guerrero Bustamente, Santa Anna on the other