The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-02-29

"Do you allude to the loss of the
East Indiaman %
"Yes! I cannot tell why it is that
my mind has been so continually recur:
ring to the subject all this afternoon. l
wish that Ernest was safe at home"
He will soon be. father.'
"May heaven grant it !"
What was the name of the man so
intimately connected with that disaster p
inquired Ninna, anxious to call her faith
er's attention from her brother.
"Sherrick He was a wild, reckless
fellow, of good education, who had run
through liberal patrimony left him by
his father, and then he became the asso-
ciate of disreputable characters. Indeed
it had been whispered many times that
he was implicated in smuggling trans
actions along this coast %
'"I almost forget the particulars of
that wreck-I was so young at the time
but I remember i: was something very
dreadful"
"Dreadful is ne" name for it. The
mind that conceived such Il hell-born
projact was only fit tc inhabit the in
se4naeagions Not even satan himself,
if & taxed his wicked ingenuity to
thea could have produced any
thing NOR habolical. Humanity shud-
ders at thsSSgpmity of the offense. It
was wild, sssNsy night, like the pres
emf; not star N@7sisible in the heavens,
when Sherrick ig8eed a false beacon on
the headland, half aae from this, and
decoyed first class st Indiaman a.
mongst the rocks E soul on board
perished, and the ship literally bro
ken into fragments. The st for miles
was strewn with her timB and por-
tions other rich merchandise' xp which
many dishonest wrecker enr him
sself"
Il had no idea that human
kas so vile
!" Vile! God grant that you MAY
NJ ger know the hundredth part of your
fathers experience in that respect.''
Bath ceased talking, as if by mutual
consent. and the invalid dosed off to
sleep NJ. Half an hour inter"ened, and he
S i'll sAt, The hands OF the clock
pointed the figure twIye On the dial,
when ld report fl hon an
noupced thu rival Of ~
invalid slowiVkenej l.
"God be tha kea Said u
cies.'' : IG ht mer- ],
In ten .ainutes o.
dog growled suspicion the watch II
person approaching. Rtside, at some
"It must be Ernes t
quickly rising from he- s.. said Ninna a
His step is not so he>
dog knows him." =, and the s
But you forget father thae<
is dark and stormy, and perRe night O
are bewildered.'' \both /
r.. A loud knock at the door silA
ttffs discussion upon the subiAd
whilst Efs dog barked incessanA !
y, making sever - attempts toA
reach the new comeTss
The door hazinau1 in
walked tall man Of most nnpiel
ing appearance, with black hair and u :
large flowing beard. He wore slouched
hat, which partly concealed a deep scar
on one side of his face. A heavy boat
cloak and high boots, worn outside the
pantaloons, completed his exterior cos
tune, while in his right hand he carried
a heavy sword-cane.
Having curtly apoligized to Ninna
for his intrusion, he approached the fire
to warm himself, for his clothes were
l,enched with rain. In doing this, nov sais
ever, he accidentally exposed leathern
girdle which he wore round the waist,
carrying two pistols, such as We're used
ut that period in furnishing holsters. Ii
"'Tis rather a rough nj ght out here,
but it might be worse in the colonies.
What do you say, old fellow ?" said the
stranger, familiarly addressing the sick +,
man, - . II
.'tMy father does not understand you,
iii" answered Ninna. Il
Perhaps not rv 9...
g Are you stranger in these parts 2" Z,
asked Ninna, not vel pleased with the
mans rude style of address. I
might say yes, although that would
lot be quite correct. ] have been alb s
'ent from the locality for some years." &
Then You have been travelling T. d
Travelling! Yes, at the expense Of
he British Government, and by the {
;ratuitous offices Of your father there" !,
aid the man, Significantly. t
You don't know me, Fielding, pre- 7
ume Z" said he, after moments pause.
Know you," deliberated the sick |
IAN. Il think I do. Your gsgaia
-?" ~ - II
sherrick !" added the sstrafger in n
tern voice, completing the sentence. h
Nina started at the dreadful name. t
How have you found your way L
ither y asked Fielding. calmly "you t
urely daas'not been pardoned !" It
!" Escaped from the Colony, that's all. b
Knocked my keepers brains ont with a
piece Of cold iron, and gave the au- a