The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-07-27
A Happy Surprise.

| SN'ti HlcI With duFentureGS, SQuattCrS,
l3nd spectators, cOunterfeiterS, horse
thieves and regulators.
Many man left the east to visit the
State and invest in the rich lands then
coming into market ; but alas never to
return. AS soon as it was known that
ne had any amount of money about him
ne was almost sure to fall into the hands
OF one or the other of these robber
bands, and that was the last seen or
heard of him.
About this time Brother Smith, of
Peekslill, n. Y, had, by close economy
and attention to business, saved a few
Thousand dollars, for which he sought a
safe and profitable investment. Hear
ing OF the rich lands Of Illinois, he de
termlned to visit the west, and if it
suited hm there, as he expressed it, to
salt down " three or four thousand
acres SO putting his business in order
for a journey that would take him
weeks II not months, he set his face
westward and in due time arrived at
the then little town of Chicago, where
he bought a horse, pair of blankets, a
| good saddle and what he considered ne
cessary to ma Ike Il journey through the
country on horseback. In Il leather
belt around his body he carried about
three thousand dollars in National bank
currency (fOr we had a National bank
| Ihen anu It's money was good at all
land Otfices), with a coarse suit of clothes,
a fur cap drawn over his head, his blan-
kets III Il roll behind his saddle, his
beard uncut for the last three weeks, he
looked more like ranger than a land
hunter;. Thus equipped he started for
andaiia, then the capital and principal
land office in the State. For the first
few days all was as pleasant as could be
expected in new country beautiful
land, fine locations, but squatters rather
wary OF IL stranger. The fourth night
found him near where now stands the
city OF Danville. 1t was about the time
| OF the regulator war which ragged
through that part of the State, and of
| which he had heard long before he got
there.
Now Brother Smith, like all great
men, had his weaknesses, and his NOR
tai dread was that he mi ght be robbed,
IT not murdered, and to the oft repeated
question ii he came out to buy, he had
returned an eVasive answer.
toward evening he drew up before a
lighthouse, that looked as if it might
afford a shelter for man and beast. and
inquired it he could have supper and
stop an night, and was informed that he
could IT ne would put up with what they
had tired and hungry as he then was,
he was glad to get his head into the
cabin with prospect of even side ba-
con and corn dodgers.
NMle at supper, Il stranger reined
up and requested supper and lodging.
He was a rough specimen of humanity,
unshayed and unshOFn, a keen black eve
| that appeared to look through YOU,
read your very thoughts and determine
the amount of money you had about
you, and whether it would pav to set
| yOn up.
Brother Smith did not like his looks,
nor the searching look with which he
appeared to weigh him physically and
financially. 1t was that kind of a look
that cOmpels you to acknowledge that
II an encounter you must succumb.
During supper little was said each
and a VAN attempt or two on the part
OF the stranger to draw Brother Smith
out, he asked to retire and was informed
by the landlord that he and the other
gentleman would occupy the same room,
although there were two beds. This
did not appear to suit either. for there
was not that hearty response, that's all
right l like company" or cts all the
same to me- so i'll silence the lanlOrd
showed them to their rooms upstairs ;
the roof rather low, the beds tucked un-
der the caves andnOtmOre than three
| foot alley between them the light was
put on the floor, the lanlOrd bid them
good night, and the two men were left
alone. 1t was evident to each that the
eyes OF the other were upon him. The
stranger took the only chair IAN old
r1ckety thing that stood in the cOrner)
QT1H 1fNsI +V,r
| Smith sat down on the edge of the bed,
waiting for the stranger to retire, but
soon saw the stranger had the advan-
tage, as he must get out of the way
before the stranger could well get to
the bed. This was getting awkward,
| SO Smith determined to make a neces-
Slty OF the situation, Undress, go to bed,
but keep one eye open for the stranger !;
| so with a Well, [ think I'll retire, .
commenced to pull off his coat; as he
did so q small masonic emblem on the
vest collar became exposed. The stran-
ger rose to his feet and advanced.
Brother Smith supposing that his time
had come, determined to sell his life as
dearly as he could. What was his sur
prise when the stranger pointing to the
| emblem, asked, What is that ?" With
out taking his eyes for one moment
from the face of the stranger, Brother
Smith felt on the collar of the vest I'M
til his hand came in contact witha small
square. and compass placed there by
his wife as he was leaving honey. "a
pin," was the reply. " Yes, know, but
what kind of pin ~ .: A masonic Din. ;"
Because j ja am Mason y Are ire" yoa SSfP p
asked Brother Smith. In moment
each sat on the edge of his bed, with
knees close together, their heads in
clined forward, while in a suppressed
tone questions were asked and answers
returned-nOw they hold eachOther by
the hand, they fall into eachother's arms,
and the whispered words, God bless
you, my brother" was the out pouring
OF the pent-up feeling of bTotherly
love and affection that had been yelling
up i'll their hearts for the last few mo-
ments.
Yes, God bless you,n says Brother
Smith, land what relief !; do. you
know that took you for one of them
regulative cut throat bandits and did
not know but what | was in one of
their dens and you the appointed instru-
ment to rob and murder me for have
no fear of telling you now that | have
three Thousand dollars in that belt to
purchase government lands, as soon as
can get to Vandalia.r go. -
=" Wel," said the stranger, ait is a
strange coincidence, for do You know
that had about the same opinion of
you, and also can tell You now I have
six thousand dollars about ME to locate
lands for small colony" -.
As the night was cold and the bed
clothes were rather scant, the brothers
concluded to join covering and both oc-
cupy the same bed, and thus terminated
the happy surprise-[Ft. Wayne Rep.