The New Orleans crescent., 1868-05-03

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fected the softened glory of that summer
coming, in many a wind and mellow shadow,
gorgeous as the gleam of the Enchanter's
wand above the blooming gardens of Aladdin.
On, on, past the high headlands of st
Charles-past Franklin and Herman, until
again the river breaks upon the vision a solid
shield of silver. Height upon height of
mountain rose above them on the left, and as
the train moved along, their dark and
gloomy shadows caught and reflected in start
ling phantom-like spectres, the angry glare of
the headlights.
Again the scene changed, and the splen-
did landscape on which the traveller now
turned his eye, was the angle or loop of
meadow land where the Gasconade, rushing
in full swollen dignity from its parent hills,
comes dancing through beautiful valleys. and
then darts onward like fierce conqueror,
despising the gray rocks and gloomy fells that
hover on its banks or seek to impede its
way.
The route, though tiresome and weary, was
rendered interesting by these splendid and
rapid changes of scenery, which no country
exhibits in a more astonishing manner than
that which lies along the banks of the Mis-
souri,; where the rocky pass, the verdant val
ley, the broad river and the rushing torrent,
the attributes of other places as well as this,
are interspersed with views as magnificent
and thrilling as ever gladdened the gaze Of
the Switzer or toned the gloomy grandeur of
the Alps.
The road, as we have said, lay along the
banks of the river, at times level and close on
its very margin, and again rising to great
height on the side of the mountain and wind
ing along the verge of precipices which sunk
down to the water, as sharp and sheep as the
wall of castle descending in the ditch which
defends it; and at other times il traversed
spots of milder character-delightful green
slopes and lowly, retired valleys, watered by
small streams which wound by the country
village with its little church, around the
farmers dwelling, the orchard, and the gar
den filed with roses, and, murmuring gently
as it ran, found a quiet passage to the
river.
Seated in the rear car, Zera and Holden
were gazing on such scene as I have
described. To the sensitive and poetic heart
of the young girl such views were full of
strange indescribable interest.
"How like some of the scenery in our
own land!" she said, addressing her CON-
panion.
"Yes," he replied, "but lacking the
charm of climate and atmosphere which
makes ours so lovely"
''True, but do not know that the differ
ence is to the disadvantage of this country
The air if less mild is more bracing; and
these hills if not possessed of the verdure and
flowers that clothe our own, are clad in ves-
ture more grand and heroic Do you know
Holden, that L sometimes think the people of
a country assume character and disposition
from the nature of the land they inhabit2
Here these granite hills filled with torrents
are but the counterpart of the fierce, impetu-
GUS race that was born among them. Strong
and warlike, they are yet generous and hos
pitable; while in land like ours the soft
brilliancy of everything on which the sun may
rest lends to the heart the dreamy, ease-loving
life that becomes our characters.
eyes, have often thought the same"
"But, Holden, since we are indulging in
fsnciful comparisons, tell me, if you can,
what yonder headlong stream, rushing over
rocks and marking its course by the foam it
dsshes up in the air remind you Of the most?"
"That of a brave but unfortunate life
brief, but glorious! !" was the smiling reply.
"And the man, Holden, the man, whom the
mad little torrent portrays?"
"No, Icannot say that know any such
particularly; but there are many whom the
description might apply to"
"Out upon you, Holden-you are blindl
That little brook is Richard Bartrelle all over"
"Yes, the conceit is well taken, now
you mention it; but" and he dropped
his voice to whisper so low that
only she alone could detect his utterance,
"just behind US is a gentleman in uniform
whom it would not be well to have see your
face. He has been intently regarding us for
an hour. Me he knows, and may possibly
remember you."
"Who is it?" was the cautious reply
breathed in the same low utterance.
Warren Hayes he is lieutenant now in
the Union army and is en- route for the field"
"Is there no way of avoiding him utterly?"
81 fear not-his suspicious are evidently
aroused"
"Then go back and speak to him-try and
occupy his mind for little while. At Otter
vile we will leave the cars and strike across
the country; but do not let him know the
point at which We leave the train. When I
get up and leave the car, do you remain
seated by him until the train is in motion
again, and then quietly leave him and jump
from the platform. You understand me-
now gol Tell him any specious tale you
choose, but do not suffer our destination to
escape you"
Holden quietly rose from his seat, and
down the aisle of the car, until
coming opposite where Lieutenant Hayes was