New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-01-17


evident that successful pursuit by the fiaate which
was not, fortunately, nearly reaay for sea was ont
| of the question and after firing few harmless
shots she returned to port, towing FL Re after her.
A neater thing than this exploit Of Inke White
| has seldom been done, even BY the British nayy.
The Fifth Whep brought up, ali well, IN Ply
mouth Sound between six and seven months after
she had sailed from that anchorage. The treasure
| was safely landed, and the lucky Captain ovar-
Ehemed with fluctuations; Epiriam White was,
ofcourse, highly delighted and as the appetite for
gain ever grows by what 1t feeds upon, he gave
| orders to immediately refit the brig for second
| cruise.
The House of Mfrth thus. The House Of mourn.
! ing was not far on. The Constant Maid had re-
| turned from profae8s cruise, in almost sinking
| state. Always unlaeky Ezra2 This last blew
| completely prostrated the unfortunate seaman,
| and he had been some weeks confined to his bed
his daati-bed, it feared More terrible stilI
| poor betrayed Judith's falIfrom virtue could no
| longer be concealed; gossiPs' tongues wagged
| altogether vain appeals had been made to both
| Ephram White ard his son, in behalf Of the IN.
| happy girl. The demon Of gold dominated tie
soul CT Luke az uncontroIlab9 as his fatherss Ha
was profoundly Indifferent, deaf as stons to his
| victims cries for justice, mercYt He appeared to
| think Of nothing but extortng from the father
an irreyocable settlement upon himself Of q half
share in The Fifth Wheip. an equal division Of the
profits of the last voyage, and half the proceeds Of
the next venture. Ephraim White hesItated
| would, and would not; 8 lingering fear haunted
. tHdb II rendered 7isegfEt
sihly rs1ent in favor of his lost COUSIN Judith be
persuaded Or cajoled into making her his wife. IA
| foolish fear; as he himself was soon convinced.
| Noah White, Judihs brother, d hot tempered
| impulsiye young man, who, had returned 10 Ply
moute but the day previously from coastfng
voyage burst, as evening was falling into The old
| man's presence in state of frantic excitement
| He had wrenched from his sobbing sisters hands
| note she had not long received from her treach-
| erous cousin, Luke, which revealed to Noah rot
only his sisters shame, but her insoent sedneer's
tnal MAI
had come to urge his uncle Ephraim, By every
motive that should touch the heart Of man, Of d
religious man especially, to ntercede with his son
in behalf of Judith. The shame and disgrace
| would kill his mother, he was sure it would.
| Ephraim White interrupted him with a bitter
laugh, KIN your mother, will IT. Who else
"Yes, my father-you- nrother-whose life
already hangs upon natbread-Judith !--Tnet Mercy
meroy" shrieked the Young man, falling upon
his knees, whilst hot tears strearned down his
cheeks Mercy, as you hope for mercy. Save
us, your own relatives, from intolerabie shame
from utter, remediless ruin Y
! The jmplacable old man spurned Noah with his
foot. and brutality bade him hegone.
Noah sPrang up and rushed cut of the room
with fierce cath that either Luke should do
Judith justice, or he would have his hearts
blood.
The letter which Noah had forced from bis sister
had fallen upon the floor. Ephram White seized
| ane read it with grim, savage triumph. It was
cold, decisive answer to doubt humble, heart
broken, last appeal from Judith Informing her
that it was quite useless to poster him With letters
he would not, could not marry her; it was prepoa-
ferrous, after what had occurred. to suppose he
would He would support the child, should it be
born alive and Judith had better name the weekly
or monthly sum that would be required, which, II
not too extravagant, wonld not be objected to- etc.
i quarter of an hour afterwards Luke made his
appearance, with cloudy, diseontented brow.
Luke said his father, g have no longer any
objection to sign the papers you have had pre-
pared. I will do so immediately-upon one condi-5
tinr y 2
s'What condition?'
''That you sail tonight. The brigs papers are
all right, and everything else in perfect readi-
ness"
''Why, in heavens name, must sail to-night2i
'Becanse your life is threatened. / shall say no
more VIII you sail tonight? Yes, or no 4"
''Yes, if You will sign and seal the papefs.ii
: "Bring them and the necessary witnesses here.
/ | | will do SO without delay
| The important documents were duly executed !;
father and son took leave of each other: Luke
with bounding step, hastened to the quay, and
, was Immediately pulled of to the brig.
Some suspicion that Luke might give him the
slip must have suggested itself 70 Noahs mind and
having ascertained that his piess cousin had gone
!, hurriedly on board the brig, after leaving his
fathers house Judith's brother, armed with loaded
pistols, followed in less than an hour afterwards.
ale had important business with Captain White, y
he told the officer OF the watch. land must see him
e Immediately
n &c You will find him below in the cabin,n was the
e reply, 4.
e Noah spraug down the companion. steps into the
|. cabin, where calmly sat Luke, engaged in looking
e over number of papers.
% The brothers abrupt, passionate dbold was met
: with cold, smiling Indifference: and to Noah's per-
emptory demand, if he would marry Judith, he as
:, peremptorily replied that he Should do no such
e thing-certainly not.
e was the rageful retort. Take your choice Of
r these pistos-ha! a coward, tool BY the God
r above us, if you will not fight. viii blow your
g brains out, should be hanged for it,
: A light hand touched Nnah's Sh0uldar-a I6hf
. laugh rang in his ear. '.What mad brother mine
/ blow my husbands brains out2 Fie fe!"
1t was Judith his sister, whose presence the half
opened door had concealed.
SO Your husbandi"
t {" Bless you, yes! Why, We were married several
days before Luke's last voyage Rut then, you
know. we could not live upon air; nor, doubt
S for lifetime upon love-
2 "And you plotted that should, unknoWingy
diasipate his fathers lingering doubts? ~
- Yes clever wasn't it? At least it has turned
out right which is the best proof, Ihave been told
of cleverness. AS for trusting you father, with
our secret, we might you well know, have just as
we'll proclaimed it by beat Of drum in the market
place"
A boat brought Mrs. Ezra White on board the
, brig early the next morning Her countenance
! Worea grave, solemn expression.
| " Your father" she said, addressing Luke, "has
baen suddenly called away. He drank more copi
ously of strong cordals last night than he has even
of late; another fit was the consequence, from
which he never rallied. I was present when he
died. upon the stroke of this morning. He knew
me, and by mutual pressure of our hands we ex-
: changed forgiveness May the Lord have mercy
on his soulu' :
"Amen!"
"AmenI ~
Ephriam White having died intestate, the whole
of his wealth devolved to his son, who sold the
! brig and settled permanently down landed
proprietor.
EXPLORATION OF AusrRALIA.-Rec intelli
gence from Australia represents that the problem
of crossing the continent from south to north has
been virtually solved and no question now remains
that land transit may be opened up, available moi
only for the general purposes of commerce but also
for telegraphic communication. Mfr. Stuart, who
started on an exploring expedition last March, has
returned after having crossed the country to dis
tance of about 1000 miles from Adelaide, and to
within 800 miles of the Victoria river where he was
i turned back by hostile natives. As he reached
/ 100 miles further north than the point to which
: Gregory's expedition in 1856 descended from Vic