Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-04-08
TAKING THE VEIL.
A Sad Story with a Pathetic
Ending.

just there the turbid river assumes
sven more than its wonted angry APP
pearancc and in great eddes, miniature
whirlpools and sccthing currents seem
10 be undergoing some terrible convul-
sion of pain at being confined between
the barriers of the lcvecs. Immediate
ly above and below this sweeping bend
i moved along with something like
majesty In its smooth, broad surface,
and creates an impression of its Titanic
power perhaps far greater than where
Il bubbles and boils, twists and turns in
discontinue at being forced to change
bits straight onward rush to the sea 10
fconform to the idlosyncrasies Of the ir-
Irregular banks. Here and there the
branches of partially submerged will
lows were swaying TO and fro moved by
the impetuous current, and RATS OF
tdriftwood. gathered by the eddy from
tho great masses floating down, kept
tp their revolution some twenty yards
Ncom the bank. Every little while por-
Al 1s of this confused aggregation of
t.Ses. branches, twigs, fence rails and
other fioatsam, always seen in high
water on the Mississippi river, would be
caught by the main current and go
I sweeping down as If glad to part com
pany with the Heterogeneous mass il had
y just left. Deadman's Eddy was known
in those days by all the steamboat
men, and few Of them cared TO put the
noses Of ticir boats into IL on dark
night. for il had reputation that was
anything but inviting. Numbers of
boats had there had their wheels disa-
bled by the accumulated drift, and one
or two had been snagged within the
boundaries OF this ominously-named
portion of the river
Opposite Deadman's Eddy, embow-
cred in grove of stately live oaks.
stood the large plantation house Of the
Cavellier family, roomy, comfortable
building belonging to that Creole style
Of architecture that probably affords
more shade and ventilation to the
quarc foot than any other known TO
outhern climates.
II stood about two hundred yards
ok from the levee. and the interven-
Z space was laid out in parterres Of
es and palms, camelias and sweet
n'cs. II the eye was delis shtec ~ rAra
ar~~-<binatiOns of color. and the nostiis
q by the heavily-laden atmos-
perfume. the ear was not less
arkle and glitter of bird notes
.ie thick as rain-drops from tree
and thlckct. The mocking bird was
re with his orchestral throat, and
,m linnet 10 bulliinch, thrush to night
yale, in il all were represented. Bor-
ring the broad avenue leading up TO
house two rows of orange trees
ut the visitor with their millions
'l-whitc eyes, for spring had Just
ned them, and their buds, still
with the winters sleep, had
n short time open.
crested about the place such an
feet peace and restfulness, the
,>s..ae With Its broad galleries and great
steps in front leading down to the grass
grown avcnuc might well have been
taken as the retreat of some wOrld-tiTed
person who had come thither 10 live
alone with the trees and the birds. A
nearer approach. however. would dissi-
pate any such illusions. for invariably of
mornings and afternoons promenading
In the broad vcranda n lady, dressed In
white, could be seen. In fact these two
figures were rs regular in their daily
walks up and down this gallery, As
were the birds in their daily concerts in
the trees just outside. Deadman's
Eddy, that could be seen from the gall
lery through the opening in the leafy
avenue, certainly kept its funereal infu-
ence within its circling limits, for no.
where along the river was there
happier household than that gathered
nightly beneath the great sloping roof
OF the Cavellier plantation house. Even
the negroes, catching the infection
from their masters and mistresses,
were regarded all along the
Z coast as the jOlliest. most con-
z, tented lot that ever handled
canc-knives or tended sugar kettles.
Travellers along the dusty road that ran
beside the river just inside the leyee al
ways knew when they had arrived at
the Cayellier place by the snatches Of
/ old Creole melodies sung aficld with
that sweet tinlbre Of voice, belonging
peculiarly 10 the African and his de-
scendants in Louisiana. Although en-
tirely different. the view from the rear
gallery OF this old residence was hardly
less inviting than from the front.
Stretching away toward the cypress
swaplps behind, the fields Of sugar cane
lay like squares Of emerald velvet. the
young stalks with their fresh green
leaves giving 10 the level landscape a
soilening effect that was most refresh
ing 10 the sight The plantation roads
and ''turn-rows" divide the fields into
smaller sections, adding something like
patchwork design 10 the thousands OF
acres under cultivation. In the somber
gray Of the dropping Spanish moss the
distant Expresses gave but an irregu-
larly defined outline 10 the edges of the
low marsh with It's canebrakes aud pal
metto clnmps. Midway between the
swamp and the house stands the impos-
ing Fugar-hOuse with majestic brick
ehimneys and surrounding negro quar-
tors. .s.a - =
II wac on this estate that the Cagel-
Her famay for four generations had
lned hrppy though comparatively une-
tentful lives. The planting season. the
fna Tor caring for the growing cane.
aying BY" and then tha- brisk period
grinding, had followed one another
Ffghty years. with varying results as
acfs. bur none as 10 peaceful con-
mt Of the occupants OF tho great
oeron house. A crevasse on some
ell, ding place, every few years,
49,, sak the monOtony and some
Ill damage the cane In the rear
patches; but beyond this the months
slipped into years a. noiselessly as the
orange buds developed into the luscious,
golden fruit.
Noifbrr tho quiet charm Of the land
scapc. iho dolicious atmosphere Of per-
hme nor tho favishing pearl shower Of