The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-31
CHAPTER XIV.
Necessity-thou best of peace makers,
As well as surest prompter Of invention
Helm ms In com nogition Tanonvn,ona

NeceSSlty-tnOu OeSt OF peace makers,
As well as surest prompter Of invention
Help us to composition. Anonymous.
AS fast as horse and steam could carry her.
Zera hurried on her journey-her ever faith
full attendant at her side The dark twilight
was mingling with the shades of night as the
train which conveyed her glided into the
depot on Seventh street. Many andsad were
the reflections which teemed through her
mind. She was unutterably weary, and the
fears, which the peril of Colonel Taylor, rem
dered harassing in the extreme, combined to
make her nervous, restless and altogether i'll
at ease. But personal discomfort was never
permitted by this noble girl to interfere with
the designs she had in execution.
"Call ahack, Holden, she said as, stepping
from the train, her wearied body would
scarcely permit her to stand; "call a carriage
and have me driven as near home as advis-
able, and then seating herself ON the steps of
the building she waited the temperance of
her servitor
He came in a moment, and assisting her
into the comfortable vehicle, he took his seat
with the driver, and the conveyance whirled
rapidly off in the direction of Zeras home.
On over the stony streets, down Seventh
across into Market, and then into Tenth it
whirled, until it intersected the avenue. Sud-
denly the carriage drew up. Holden did not
care to take it any closer to his mistress's
mansion. Paying and discharging the hack
man, Holden assisted Zera forward to her
home. Reaching it at last, the astonished
household came teeming around her.
"Take me to my room" she said to her
hand-maidens, "and let me have some rest.
Holden, go to Colonel Taylor's and say to
Miss Laura am here, and would be glad to
see her, but she must come to me, for can
90 no further o-night-exhausted nature must
have repose. Return as soon as you carry this
message and do not leave the house until my
further orders. But, poor fellow you need
rest as well as myself will send Munahl"
"Not so, my lady," eagerly responded Hol-
den, "this fatigue which SO exhausts you
affects me not-let me do your errand?" and
the faithful man bounded off with the speed
of the antelope.
"And now, my children" to the wandering
servants grouped around, "to bed with me,
for am tired TO death"
AS the words issued from her lips, large,
finely formed old man, dressed in the oriental
garb, stopped, and gathering her in his arms
as lightly as child would feather, moved
with a stately tread through the long halls
and corridors till he reached her chamber and
surrendered her to her maidens. Zera laughed
heartily as he sat her down and bent to the
floor in his profound obeisance.
Many thanks, Hadah, for your kindness"
was the smiling tribute she awarded him.
"My lady honors mel" was the grave
response; and the sombre old Persian
moved with the same stately dignity from
the apartment.
The young girls who attended their young
mistress whenever she abided in the mansion
now approached and speedily disrobed her,
substituting for the boyish habit rich, cool
wrapper, which brought to the tired feverish
body an inexpressible sense of comfort and
repose. Lifting her tenderly they put her in
the bath, and then laid her on a couch pre-
pared with the utmost care to receive the
beautiful burden they put upon it. 1t was
luxurious chamber in which Zera now reposed,
fitted up with lavish expense in the oriental
taste in which she had been born and bred.
The floor was paved with mosaic slabs of