Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-07-12

price set upon his head, living life OF an |
Indian on a plantation close by.
Colonel Gadsden had endeavored to per- !
suade him to call on the pew family lately |
arrived in his vicinity. The reply was, !
! g No don't care TO go nmOrg womcn-I /
hate thHGa' Same days afterwards he was
accide;4 ally introduced to Hates father, |
who was practicjng as a physician Murat,
delighted to find in his new acquaintance u
man devoted to literature and science, a
lover Of the poets, and above ali Of Shaks-
peare, sought the society of the good Doe
| tor, and finally called at the log house and
was introduced to the young widow, with
whom he fell desperately in love. Kate
must then have been very lovely her eyes
still retain great beauty and softness OF a
shad0wy gray, almost merging into blue
when she became animated or excited ; her
eyebrows dark and penciled while the soft
brown hair still curis round the fair face,
the contour OF which is extremely pleasing;
added to which she possesses q gracefulness
Of address and demeanOr which III her
younger days must have been perfectly be-
witching. HLe Prince soon showed his adj
miration bg tile most devoted attention to
the young widow, who still wore mourning
for her first husband, and disIiked the idea
Of any other filing his place IN her heart.
She stuGiously repelled Murat's advances,
sistance and loved the companionship OF
her eldest daughter, and besides he was an
exile and foreigner.
Her father, on the contrary, charmed
with the keen perception, versatile mind,
and thirst for knowledge evinced by Murat
courteG his society, while Kate refused TO
listen to his professions, and finally Murat
left the house in despair, much to the yeXa-
ton of her father, who strenuously en-
=. ,oI,Sr
tions, and succeeded SO well that kate
. promised to allow The Prince to renew his
visits Nothing, however, was said to Mu-
rat on the subject, but several days after
ward, riding through the plantation, Murat
found across his Fath a dead rattle-snake.
~ good omen" he exclaimed ; ''still bean
lifnl bot deprived OF venom" He TUNED,
rode = the house Of his lady love. SIZE
met binl, as he entered, with ? smiling face
and extended hand, and ere long the com
pact y;as sealed. Three months afterward
the young widow, ''the American beauty,
was married by Justice Of the Peace tc
= The Prince AchIIIe Nlurat, son OF the late
King Of Naples but not before he had writ
ten TO his exlled family, obtaining their fu.
I consent to his marriage, which WIS record
ed il the Yuiierle5 thus, on q change q
, DYNASTY, obtaining his HiIe's recognition
: among the crowned heads OF Europe.
After her marriage Madame Murat lie
Y moved to her husbands plantation, ans
gradually took charge Of his affairs. Ii
3. was )f It most generous disposition, and
: having never III his youth known tn
value Of money, he lavishly expended wha
:, vet remained of his former wealth. Finally
= Madame DIurat took the management 0
-, her plantation in her own hands, selling
: the crops or not, according TO her OWL
Judgment.
, The Indian or Florida war broke out
; and the white population generally move'
i away from It's euvlrOns. Ihe Murats hat
for years lived in kindly friendship with a.
Y Indian chief, who was il the habit OF yisi
ting them continually. lie would arriv
s at their hous>, at night, and if the Murat
had already retired, would esconce hlmscl
$ comfortably in their dining room, afte
n kindling large wood fire, never in an
+ way disturbing or annoying his whit
friends, who highly appreciated the hor
s esty of the Indian chiettain, though Mad
$ anne DTurat often expressed fears that h
would set fire to the house. Murat no
:, thought il uCctS8Ssv to inquire OF the India
! if the friendship and good will of forme
l. peaceful lavs WAS TO be continued thrOug
the dark and bloody times then threaten
d ing. "Ye&,' said the Indian, you an
/ your sGuaW safe"
: They remained on the plantation; deed
of horror were committed daily by the IL
|, dians aud one day the l0rid glare OF
), burning homestead, seen through the woo(
|, attracted Madame Murat's attention. Hal
ti!!r calling her husband, he sounded hi
Il hunting- horn, which quickly collected som
i neighb0rs, and they hurried to the fire, onl
II to find the Indians gone, leavinga murder
+ ed mother, literally torn 10 pieces, with ht
infant by her side, lying close to the hurL
- ing homestead.
/ AS this act had not been done by the II
!, dians friendly TO the GIurats, Madame Mt
rat now consented to leave Florida till peac
- was restored, but unable to endure tn
rs anxiety consequent on the separation frc1
is her husband, again she returned to he
home, and q few days after, beng alone l
-, her house, she perceived an Indian chic
al with five coulpanions, dressed in war CO.
tune, covered with paint and feather8, al
n prouching the house She instantly Btel
s. ped out to meet them. - Whiskey," sal
RS the chief. "I have none to give you" sl
). replied, ''you know that in these times W
have none" The chief paused, then pr
out his hand, she grAsped it with her owl
"Friends, he said, "squaw safe"
1c From that time the Murats remained III
=, mOested on their estate during the 81
-. years war, though often afraid OF maxim
-, use OF lights III tlelf mousse al IiGlit, GREAT
ing that they might attract to TIE hous
bands of maraudlng Indians, who treq1en
el " prowIed around their home. Madam
le NIurat mentioned that during a severe II
SIS ness OF her husband, she sat by his bed
N darkness, often putting her hand on hll
IS and bending over him to know If he stl
ad breathed, not daring to kindle a fire, watcl
ur Jag thus in cruel anxiety through the Ion
a. hours Of night
t., After twenty five years Of married hi
Murat died, his last words being blessing
5h On the good wife who watched SO cea8eles
ia II beside him.
IN For many succeeding years Madame III,
:; rat continued tc live quietly Oh her tlorle
;, property, surrounded by a band Of faithi
re servants-her negroes. But tlle Southe
er er war ragged through the land and her do,
- were spent IL caring for the sick and cot
- forting the dying, and the hospitals tell
r. her noble mauifcence. She sold her Je'
=. els to feed the starving and afterward OF
,lS OF her plantations, and dlvlded the pr
'5 ceeds among the houseless and naked
- bnr II n uhaDDy s ate,