The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-07-23
Misfetlamenns.
THE ODD FELLOW.
(CoNCLUDED.)
CHAPTER III.
OR, THE SECRET ASSOCIATION.

." CHAPTER III.
The year 1s3- will long be remem-
bered in New Orleans for the violence
of the yellow fever. Hundreds died
daily, and the sounds of wailing and
the groans of the dying took the place
of the light laugh and joyous voices that
were wont to be heard in the streets of
this gay city. The epidemic had been
raging for three weeks with unmitiga-
ted fury, moving down alike native
and stranger, the high and the low, the
good and the evil. The living at length
were wearied with nursing, or from habit
became insensible to the calls of distress.
Many died unattended, and their bodies
were taken from the house by man
with cart, and hauled to the grave
yard and thrown into ditch prepared
for their reception. No relative, no
friend no follower to the tomb Death,
terror and desolation reigned. The hos
pitals could receive no more, and the
Sisters Of Charity and benevolent Ro-
man priests, though constantly engaged
in administering to the suffering at the
risk of life, could meet but a small
portion of the demands suffering hu-
manity made upon their charity. The
theatres and masquerades, as usual at
this season, were closed, and instead
the cathedral was thronged and its
floor was crowded from morning till
midnight with kneeling suppliants for
heavens mercy. The rich, and all who
had the ability, had fled or were flying
daily, and of those who remained, all
were too much lost in their own fears
or griefs to regard those of others.
In such condition of things it is not
surprising that many, even in respecta-
BILE positions in society, should perish
unattended, uncared for Many luxu-
rious mansion whose last occupant ex-
pired attended only by faithful SER
want, or perhaps passing stranger, was
locked and sealed by the city magis-
trate till some living heir should APP
pear. Unable to leave the city for want
of means whole families miserably per-
ished.
1t was about three in the afternoon OF
day that had been most fatal to the
victims Of the epidemic, when a gen
tleman, about twenty-eight or thirty
years of age, stepped from the verandah
of II handsome Creole house in the Low
er Faubourg. He stood still a moment,
then raised his clasped hands toHeaven,
and said fervently and bitterly
"Oh, God how long shall thy terri.
BILE scourge afflict man? Death and
not Life reign Spare, oh spare!"
At this moment an African servant
appeared crossing the deserted streets
On seeing the expression OF the gentle
mans face, he asked
SIS massa dead?"
"Yes, go and see that he is shrouded
and / will send coffin"
| At this moment wagon turned the
corner of the adjoining street, half filled
with collins. The driver asked ifa cof
fin was wanted and the black paid fol
one and took it into the house.
| "Farewell, noble Vinton," said he,as
he glanced through the open windows
of the verandah upon the dead body o.
a young man lying upon a sofa. "Wher
the sun rose you were buoyant with
health and hope. Ere it sets you will
be in your grave! 1, too, must take
warning! My head aches, and walk
ing and want OF sleep have made me
feverish. have done my duty in at
tending Vinton, and will now seek my
home, for Mary will be anxious about
me, as well she may be; for who goes
out at morn may never see the noon."
The speaker was Lewis Foster Five
years have elapsed since the events re
corded in the preceding chapters. Du
ring the interval he had married love
ly girl, James Layton's sister, and re
moved his business to New Orleans
where he had lived three years. The
present summer he had intended to q
North to obtain goods when he was de
tained by his wife's illness. II was Au
gust before she was well enough to trav
ell, when, as the season was so far ad
vanced, he resolved to remain through
it. Shortly afterwards the yellow feve
broke out and enlisted all his feeling
and sympathies for his family an,
those of his friends who remained.
| Night and day he devoted himself T.
the cause of humanity, and up 10 tn
time we meet him again, himself ant
his own family had mercifully escaped
Vinton's (who was young Bostonian
and had only been few weeks In tn
city, was the fifth death bed he had ben
over that day. James Layton was ais
in New Orleans, and an Inmate of hi
family this gentleman was now wild
over. He had been unsuccessful j
business, and allured by the rumOrs {
1 for mes easily achieved inNew Orleans