The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-01-26
THE QUAKER'S
An English Engineers Adven-
lures i'm Missouri.
IEontinned.l

An English Engineers AdVen-
lures i'm Missouri.
Continued.
l did not neglect to provide myself
with 4 pass and after some delay ana
many questions as to the purport OF my
Journey, General Scofield appended his
signature to the document that was to
substantiate that George Hepton, Brit
ish subject, and by profession civil
engineer, was 4 harmless traveller VINO
might be permitted to traverse the de-
partment on his lawful affairs without
let or hindrance. And by the good Of
fees of the banker l have mentioned,
as we'll as Lieutenant Harris, was
made known to one or two Of the prln-
cipal traders, who were to s. art with
the Santa Fc caravan, and who readily
agreed that shonld join their party.
| purchased o. couple of horses and
mule, the latter of which was to carry
INV bacyage--no very formidable load,
since the valise with the gold was TO
10 strapped up behind my own saddle
And easily hired French Canadian
lively, handy little fellow, with crisp
curly hair and gold lear rings-to
cook my dinner and groom my nag
during the journey, with the under
standing that he should have employ
ment at the mine should he give salts
faction en- route.
1t was the afternoon of the day pre-
cedinp the start for the west, and l
had been busy all the morning i'll con-
Guiding my preparations for departure.
The camp-kettle, the cooking tins, the
canteen, the blankets, were bought
the stock of dried beef, parched maize,
biscuit, and brandy had been lain in;
and the rifle and revolver, i'll their vir-
gin freshness, laid beside the sad
die and poncho in the corner OF
the room. sat indolently watching
the lazy smoke curl away III tiny splrals
from the glowing tip of my cigar, when
the grinning negro help OF the house.
hold came to say that gentleman ana
lady begged the favor of few mo-
ments interview with me. The visitors
were shown in, and rs l rose to receive
them could hardly help betraying my
surprise at their unexpected appearance.
A tall, venerable-looking old man and q
younS girl both dressed in the sad-col-
ored and quaint attire worn by the most
punctilliOus members OF the Society OF
Friends, and evidently father and
daughter. The former might have been
the pictured counterpart of some strict
old enthusiast of his sect which had
stepped out of his frame i'll all the
starched formality of the Quakerism of
the seventeenth century. The straight,
single breasted coat, the drab CATERS,
the frill and cravat, were such as Penn
himself might have worn; and l noticed
that the long and reverend locks which
hing down from beneath the broad
brimmed hat, not removed on entering
the rosm, in obedience to antique rule,
were as white as snow. The old gentle
man-for could not doubt that such
was his rank, in spite of the scrupulous
plainness of his apparel-walked slowly
and painfully, leaning on cross-han-
died staff and OH his daughters arm.
The young lady, whose pretty little
face looked all the prettier, to
INV fancy, for the hideous bonnet
out of which the blue eyes beamed
demurely, was evidently timid and
retiring Of disposition, and seemed to
shrink from observation. She, too, was
simply, even austerely, dressed; but l
noticed that her rustling, dove-colored
silk was of costly brocade, and that her
sad d-colored shawl was of India make
more expensive, no doubt, than much
of the Parisian finery that is so freely
displayed in the streets of an American
city. From this, and from certain
quiet dignity of manner that the aged
Quaker possessed, argued that my Wis.
litors were people of education and
standing; and so, indeed, the case ap-
peared to be.
In quaint language, but not discour.
teously, the old man announced himself
as Gideon Pell, of Council Elm Street,
Philadelphia, retired merchant, and
the last male descendant of an old Qua
ker family that had accompanied Penn
himself to the COLONY, and that had,
during the early days sf the province,
taken no light part in the management
of its affairs.
"Thee mayest, perchance, have read,
friend, of two Governors Pell, of my
name and blood, who were Jealous men,
and helpful in their day, and much la
mented by many, especially of the poor
Indian natives, to whom they rendered
protection from the strong and cruel
hand of the oppressor. But those days
are gone" added Mr.. Pell, sadly; and as
he ces ssed to speak, he rested his head
upon his hand, and seemed to fall into
q reverie, as aged people whose thoughts
dwell much In the past are apt to do.
His daughter gently laid her hand
upon his sleeve. "My father, We are
lintruding OH" she began, blush
ingly, and then stopped.
Probably she was little used to con-
versiug With any but those of her own
peculiar community, and hardly liked to
employ the peculiar word friend with
reference to stranger like myself,
while my name was unknown to her.
"I am called George Hepton," said l,
with smile; "and il can be Of any use
to yourself or Mr.. Pell, shall be very
f'he old Quaker lifted his head, and
looked steadily at me. A fine old man,
sallow and wrinkled, but with grand
lfeatures, and eyes that were very bright
and clear for those Of person of his
time of life. Friend" he said, .'thee
hast q kind face. and heard by COM
mon report in the city that thou vast
4 English, and q respectable man, having
the confidence of Ward and Jenner, Of