The New Orleans crescent., 1868-03-15

ssNo, MOI that is out of the question. /
viii not leave you. For good or for evil, we
remain together. I viii be your orderly
scout, spy, any and everything; but will
not leave you. As to the name, it is best to
represent me as your young cousin; and,
indeed, Laura and had already fixed upon
that before left" as he thus spoke, the coun-
tenance of the youth glowed with animation,
and his passionate utterance came from the
lips low aud stern, as of one who had taken
his resolution, and whatever the result might
be, wasdetermined not to be driven from it.
But whatever the motives. that prompted
him to this resolution they we're unknown to
all, but those most deeply interested. The
tie that bound these two beings together was
trelle's relatives knew it. Standing here by
his side dressed in male attire there was a
strange resemblance between them.
The one was blond, fair and eminently Sax
on in hissomplexion, with light chestnut hair
and blue eyes; and the other it was true was
dark, brunette, almost olive in the tint in
herited in the far off cline from which she
had strayed. But the contour of features
were the same-the same cast Of head-the
same proud flexible lips; and but for that
dark Eastern beauty contrasting SO pointedly
with the pure Saxon type beside it, even
casual observer would have pronounced them
nearly related.
The same dreamy, melancholy look, had
stolen to the faces of each, as now with their
eyes resting on the ground both seemed given
up to profound abstraction. Perhaps the
thoughts of both were straying far away to
fhat land beyondth sea, where the father of
Bartrelle had horribly perished in his early
manhood, and where the scent of the nut
groves and the olives mingle with the breezes
that blew around the house that had Graded
the strange youths infancS~
From this transient abstraction they were
both aroused by soldier who approached
Bartrelle, and said
"Captain, the scouts have returned and
wish to reportl"
"Let them come here then," and the man
retired to carry to his comrades the message
of their chief
J
"They are the sameI sent outthis morning
to examine the fords and ascertain if our
change of route had been discovered. If
every thing goes well-that is, if we are not
interrupted-we win reach headquarters
tonight
81 am anxious to get there too" continued
Bartrelle, "for from what 1 learn think the
General designs to make an advance and /
would not miss being with him then for any
thing conceivable. Have you heard withina
day or two whether a junction has been
formed with the troops under McCulloch?"
eyes, l so understood but know nothing
of its truth"
"Then there will be battle very soon
The General with such forces as this will give
him command of, will not remain inactive
very long. But here comes Jones and Graham
Well, what news doyou bring2 Are the roads
safe?"
"Yes, captain, think we've put 'em off the
track this time. We went nigh about ten
miles and havnt seen a sign. reckon the
thing can be did; leastways we can't discover
why it can't"
"That will do then; get your breakfast as
soon as you can. and We will resume the
march. I am very anxious to reach head
quarters tonight"
The men retired and soon active prepara-
tions were going ON to break up the camp
Bustle and noise usurped the place of ease
and quietude. Horses were sGddled and
bridled, and accoutrements prepared for the
march. Those who preferred sleep to refresh
ment were hastily aroused and ordered to get
their breakfast. 1t was difficult to tell where
another could be obtained. Perhaps for some
time their last meal was eaten. Danger and
death beset them on every side, and peril by
shot and flood was as familiar in their wild,
adventurous life, as the air they breathed.
But such thoughts as these rarely entered
their minds. In present enjoyment these
men of toll and danger, little recked what
was reserved for tomorrow And yet with
all this, soldiers life is charming. Attrac-
tions are around it, to which all the perils to
which it is incident cannot destroy. The
love of excitement and adventure is inherent
in the American heart. Our natures would
stagnate without it. It is this irrepressible
instinct which levels our wildernesses, peo-
pies our prairies, and gives to the world the
hardy pioneers whose deeds of adventurous
daring have thrown around the story of our
Western land combination Of romance and
chivalry as brilliant, though rough and unre-
fined, as can be found in the annals Of the
Crusade, or the wild legends of the Rhine.
In less time than it has taken us to write
these incidents the squadron was got ready
to move. The shrill note of the bugle sounded
"boot and saddle" and the long column
resumed the march. The same precautions
as on the night before were still observed
in the advance.
1t was long and toilsome journey they
had before them, but not one to which they
were unaccustomed. Along the road there
were no signs of the enemy, and this of itself
was somewhat dispiriting to the soldiers.
Indeed, the prospect of fight would have
IL - I -