The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-03-21

the world.
His dark and flowing hair fell hac
:. in studied elegance from bread an
massive forehead; his black and piere
~ ing eye was overshadowed by bro'
whose prominence bespoke the deter
o 1lination of his purpose, when onee
entered his mind and his tall coyfnand
1t ing carriage, embellished inteM MARTA
dignity by his rich soldigfv appar
made him a man not onK to comma !,
tn the a. sdmiration of man, but the love 0
In listening to his adv vertrro +Lror ri
" food and field" of hH "dasLi,r obara
es" and fabulous iscapes, ' and of Of tb, Z
weary marches will bungar $500 nd -.
tion, the soldiers neSff vould warn
with generous emjtion to this noble com
panon in arms, al nd would involuntarily
yearn to have tn 10 hon ,r of following
him in his bright immortal path
way Of glory WITT such leader as
Edward Peckworth to direct them, they
imagined that they might perform such
prodigies of valcr, That no enemy could
| withstand them, and that they could
carve out with the:r swords. each for
himself, name that would remain i'm
perishable in history. They felt a.
shamed to mention the poor services
they had done, because their most bril-
liant exploits and deeds of daring paled
in the rich effulgence OF his " Herculean
labors." They paid him the homage of
ardent votagaes to milit ary genius, and
claimed nothing from ksp, save to fol-
low his sHndlrd to victofSpr death.
Such wq,t|.e influence this man could
diffuse Il ound the humble soldiers and
what a ipity, oh what shame, that he
| should turn ont to be graceless mounte-
bank that all this "glittering tinsel y"
of war and service was buf the reflex of
his own smooth vipery tongue, and more
than degraded heart. But we are anti
cipating.
The little village in which Peckworth
was passing his alleged "sick leave of
absence" enjoyed all the beauties and
advantages With which kind and lavish
nature COZ surround it; and the hand
of art yieldS her tasteful appointments
of ease and ters;' combisua to rerder
it place peel Ely atSa st e+o< : the
lover of nature az wcll as e tEose who
sought tie seclusf, 4 refined retire
ment. EmbosomedSi a little valley,
which was sheltered kn all sides by
picturesque undulating His, it received
from thence beautiful m r of the most {
limpid water, whose quiet kths reflect =
ed back on its surface additional t
charm to the objects restih h pom its s
bosom. Its banks were go1 eously i
trlnged with majestic trees, whosanter- t
laclng branches, and trellisirg Ses, i
gave it network of the most fanA r
creatldz DRiEds Of almost every voicA t
hue and dessafiaa. sought this fairy y
sceae as their RaSG r. and while r
building their featherys am,ng
he generous boasziy yddIees ~ n
sral acclaim of song to the godde4l =
his little empire. The small but ele. 1
CANT packets which piled this romantic II
tream' We're in happy unison with the a
ovliness of this earthly paradise and
he passengers for the village near its IL
hores, standing upon the deck, unani a
nousiy burst out in extravagant excla- c,
nations of praise upon the enchantment al
t the scene. ...t . !,
In such garden of nature was plant h
d the delightful little town, which forms v
he locality of our present story. It was Va
I'D out with that taste and arrange pl
lent, which knows how to wed nature c,
'th art, without sacrificing anything ro
the alliance. The unassuming cot, ii
ges cleaned in snowy whiteness by n:
le side of the more stately mansions, su
% merged in happy concord the regu- W
rlty and system of the two grades of C,
Fe' ALI of the surroundings and ap- A
'lntments of the place denoted industry, Or
lsy animation, active enterprise, and bi
e solid sterling worth Of its inhabi- II
nts. The spires Of three or four to
urches pointed themselves heayenward; tw
ID the Ginning Of their deep.toned bells aw
every Sabbath morning, with gen an
al assembling Iof the people for divine Gu,
rvice' attested fully the Religious SEN WI
nents spervading the occasion. >~.-.-~ an
But to return to Edgar Peckworth. sci
He had been sojourning in the village mo
t a short time, when bis, ingratiating pc.
DRESS hne conversational powers, ap- off
rently gentlemanly qualities. and the det
liet that he was a gallant officer in hin
service, conspired to gire him an He
en- and permanent introduction int Gu
'iety. Every one seemed to vis with
other in extending that Hospitality the
respect which would show their pro
sst the esteem and perfect confidencs,ll.aainal
lch they reposed in, e4sll gh. / e4fo
tainments cent soirees were ma,
en- honor, and at their festive mil
herings,' he was presented to all the tha
daughters in attendance, and in ser,
iably became thecynosure and .Lion" /" le
ne evening, When the "light fan frou
tic toe" was threading the may tar,
ldings of the dance-and Peckworth asst
sht the hand Of some fair partner for "sk
,quadrille, or more enlivening waltz, to 9
could Immediately perceive the lam intr
: glow of joy mantle the cheek of dere
uty' and the Aashingexpressive eye, in
= spoke the pride Of triumph which furtl
mated the favored one. two.
or a long while, Peckwo-th seemed q
atperable to the bright glances which .hre
9 9 shoWered upon him. and it appear gage
hat he never would yield to the "sott was
eachment." But finally he did, to be 9
own damning infamy, and almost his {
the ruin of his innocent and nm | to IL
ecting victim. t5 SONG
Haong the thrcng of ladies whom final