Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-04-08

0Douts, ana her lace had Hooded the
table Of the editor Of L'dbciYc. in New
Orleans with hundreds of poems, some
Of them written, is must be admitted,
IN questionable Frcnc.., but all warm,
passionate and devoted. She was tall,
with the figure Of somo Of those deli.
cately chisolcd Grecian statues and pos
sesscd Of n manner that wns 30 per-
foctly natural and free from csnstraint
II left with every body the impression
that they had been intimate friends of
hers for years. She did not know what
guile or duplicity was, and with the
ndircte Of a child would rcprove or
compliment the action regardless Of any
thought of the actor. Every negro pic
aninny on the plantation worshipcd her
with a blind idolatry as something
entirely supernatural and not OF
this earth. Her voice was low
black eyes was fixed on q listener the
effect was almost magnetic. To see
her on horseback in the morning gall
Looping along the river road, followed
by her gayly-dressed negro boy, was a
sight well worth the trouble Of early
rising, at least so thought Edouard de
Montprc, the struggling young attorney
Of the parish. No matter how late he
may have been pouring over his books
endeavoring TO fix in his memory pre-
cedenis and leading cases, he never
missed his promenade on the levec Just
at that hour when the young equestri-
cnne came cantering along. A lifted
hat and deferential bow was always
paid for by bcwitching smile and wave
Of the hand, and the lawyer for the rest
Of that day saw that face peering into
his own over the back Of his Hennen's 5
digest, and out of the panels OF his not
too well filled bookcase. On his fathers
death city merchants had sold out the
Grand Bosquet plantation under many
mortgages. and the only surviving son
was left with an athletic form. good dis
position and excellent education as the
only lcgacies from the Montpre estate.
Every body along the coast, as the banks
of the Mississippi river was called by
the residents in those days. esteemed
the young man and applauded his eff
forts to re-establish the paternal name.
He visited the Cavelliers once or twice
month, but his self-pride imagined
that his receptions there were not as
cordial on the part of the venerable host
as they might have been, and this he
attributed TO his own modest purse
II would be pleasant writing to tell
how the friendship between the lawyer
and Marguerite ripened into an intimacy
that soon developed into pure and
deep love. The Cavellier family. al
though opposing De Montpre's frequent
visits, were all OF them under the sweet
influence of Marguerite, and could re-
fuse her nothing.
"EdoUald, She said. ''was so differ
ent from other callers, and she never
saw him without learning something
he was so gifted and knew 50 much
And so Il was within year after her
return from the convent they were en-
gagged, Mons. Cavellier agreeing to give
the young man the Belle Colombo place,
on the other side of the river, for a start
after marriage.
In the midst of that leautiful season
of contemplated love and L4trothal, the
old plantation house was startled by the
report brought from New Orleans that
the State of Louisiana had seceeded.
and troops were being raised for a war.
The news spread rapidly. People that
hitherto had taken little or no part in
political affairs began to discuss the sit
uation. Colonel Lafferranderie, an old
army officer, had established his head
quarters At the Cutoff post-ofiice, not far
distant from the Cavellier place, and
young men were enrolling in scores.
The conversation around the dinner
tables now was devoted to the new
artillery company Of Captain So-and-so,
OF tie splendid chasseurs a-peid Of
ycgng Molaison of the adjoining parish.
Edouard Montpre caught the infection.
Forty Young men rendered him their
captaincy, and in three weeks he and
his men were on a steamboat bound for
the Crescent City.
The parting of Edouard and Margue-
rite was most tender and affecting. The
men of the company, long afterward.
around the camp-fires in the mountains
Of Virginia, frequently talked OF il. and
not little of the love and solicitude for
their captain was due to their knowl-
edge that he had left behind the most
loving and noble girl in the State.
The men and their baggage were al
ready on the boat that was pulling and
wheeling at the bank in the front Of
the Cavellier house trying to keep her
nose to the bank in resistance 10 the eff
forts Of Deadman's Eddy to draw her
of into It's cross currents. With her
arms around his neck Marguerite stood
on the front gallery looking up into
Edouard's face, her eyes filled with
tears. She was struggling to conceal
the emotion that moved her whole be-
ing. Her pride and dignity kept her
from displaying her deep feeling for
some time. At last. however, her reso-
luton gave way and resting her head
on her lovers shoulder, her whole
frame trembled. shaken by a storm OF
feeling. The newly-made Captain was
pressed lips evidencing the strong effort
made to remain calm in this trying mo-
ment
The boat blew long and discordant
whistle, as II impatient at the delay
caused by DeMontpre's leave-taking.
He realized that the supreme moment
had come. He bent tenderS over her
and whispered: "Macherie, / win be
with you soon again. 1t may all be
over in a month. Look for my return
on every boat. Think of me often, my
darling 1t is for yon and our people /
GO" He kissed her, muttered a tremu-
lous "Adieu," and started down the
steps. Marguerite stood motionless for
moment and then sank to the floor.
Assisted by her father and an old
negro nurse she reached the levee Just
a, the boat was backing out. As long
as Deadman's Eddy was in sight the
iintter Of white handkerchief could be
discerned against the background Of
green willows growing on the bank.
Boats passed and repassed Sometimes
they would stop near the Cayellier