The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1871-07-08
A MIssEssEpPI RomANCE.
kemtIaiscence OF Aaron Esurr
The HALFWAY EAfEl''-
memories of other
payS',
[From DE vieksbnrg Herald l


tributes to the Natchez Democrat the fol
loving romance of the early days of Miss
Issippl, romance in which the eloquent
accomplished and fascinating Aaron Bur
played conspicuous part:
The arrest of Aaron Burr, at the moutl
OF Coles Greek, by order Of Cowles Mead
acting Governor of Mississippi Territory
and ms arraignmeut in the old town Of
Washington on the charge of treason, the
sell possession, ability aud tact he ex
hiblfea-and the favorable impression he
Dadeon the community-are all we'll re
mem oered historical incidents. He wa:
discharged on giving bond for his ap
| pearapce, and his principal bondsmar
was Colonel Benijah Osmun, native ol
Aev 6ersey, and the comrade of Burr il
/ the Evolutionary war. He was an old
bachelor, of handsome fortune, a high
toned federalist in politics, retaining his
military habits, and was held in great
esteem Colonel Osmun was one of the
most practical and successful planters in
the territory-was the first who com
menced to improve our breed of horses
and was renowned for his hospitality, his
table and his wines His beautiful estate
extended to the Half Way Hill. His
lands on his death were purchased by the
late Gerard Brandon, and were given to
his sons-i law, Colonel James Smith
and VIM. Stanton, two of our most valu-
able citizens, now deceased. Here
Colonel Burr resided some weeks after
his discharge, receiving the visits of in
fuential syspathizers, but sspassing his
afternoons in the woods. The Half Way
Hill then clothed with majestic trees,
was his favorite resort. But its refresh
ing shade and charming prospect were
not the only attraction. There lived, at
that time, near the summit of the hill, in
Il little vine covered cottage, a widow
lady from Virginia, whose small farm
and two or three slaves were the only re-
mains of large fortune. Her husband
had converted his property into money,
and on his way to this territory had been
robbed aud murdered by the notorious
j Joseph Thompson Hare, more blood
thirsty william even than the celebrated
Mason. She had but one child, Made
line, who must still be remembered by
few of our older citizens as miracle of
beauty. In form and feature, in grace
and modesty. she was all that the old
masters have pictured OF the Madonna,
OF that artist ever dreamed of human
loveliness. Those that saw her loved
her, yet she was never conscious of the
sentiment until she listened to Aaron
Burr The family were Catholics, and
there Colonel Burr went to meet, by APP
pointment, one of his numerous agents
and correspondents, the Able Veil, a
Jesuit priest of remarkable ability. He
was born in New Orleans in 1886, studied
at Paris and became member of the
C0aSt- - ION Of the VrutOry. At the
dfSsOlutIon OF that body by the French
Government, he returned to Louisiana,
and exercised the priestly function in TIE
parish of Attackapas. lie subsequently
returned to France. 1t is probable that
Colonel Burr, in his projected invasion
to Mexico, contemplated securing the in
fuence of the religious orders, and for
this purpose had opened a correspon
dence with the Able, and met him by
appointment at this secluded homestead.
y =
At length, after canvassing his situa-
tion with Colonel Osmun and six other
confidential friends, Colonel Burr deter
mined to forfeit his bond and make his
way to Pensacola. One stormy night
in February, 1907, he set forth, mounted
on the favorite horse of his host, and
by Jerry, faithful groom, who
had orders to 90 as far as Pearl river.
L u, 70
dition, Colonel Burr halted till daylight
at the widows cottage, pleading the
beautiful Madeline to be the companion
Of his flight He promised marriage,
fortune, high position, and even limited
at Imperial honors, not realizing, even
then, fugitive and branded traitor, the
crushing downfall that impended over
him. The maiden had gwen him her
heart; she had listened to his witchery
night after night, and loved him with all
the fervor of a Southern nature. She
would have followed him to the end of
the earth, and to the scaffold, and her
leed mother would freely have given |
her to this most captivating man-for |
.hey looked on him as a demi god-but, |
IS with most of our Southern women,
virtue and propriety were stronger than
re-possession and passion, and the en-
reaties of the accomplished libertine |
we're firmly rejected. Baf1ed and dis
appointed he was compelled to proceed |
,ut promised to return, and carried with /
lin the covenant and pledge of the
beautiful Madeline. She was wooed by
nanya lover. The young and gallant
masters of the large plantations on Second
Ireek aud St. GATHERINGS strove in vain
or her hand.
Fortunes and the homage of devoted
earts were laid a her feet but the maid
f the Half way Hill remained true to
er absent lover; the more so because of
he rumors that reached her of his mis-
Ortunes and his guilt She lived on the
ecolleetiou of his manly beauty, and
he shades he had most affected were
er constant haunts. At length, when
e fled from the United States, pursued
y Mr.. Jefferson aud the remorseless
gents that swarm around power and au-
nority-when he had been driven from
ingland-and an outcast in Paris, shiv-
ring with cold and starving for bread,
e seems to have felt, for the first time,
ne utter hopelessness of his fortunes
And>then he wrote to Madeline, and, in
sw formal words, released her from her
romise. Stating that he would never
eturn to the United States, he advised
er to enter a convent, should she sur
i've her mother. A year or two after
MS she went to Havana with Mrs. w,
h 1rxIl
q the property where Mrs. St. John Ell
Oft now resides. Her extreme beauty,
er grace and elegance, produced the
reatest enthusiasm. The hotel where
hey put up was besieged. If she ap-
cared on the balcony dozen cavaliers
ere waiting to salute her. When her
olante was seen on the Pasco or the
'iaza de Armas it was escorted by the