The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-07-10
BENNINGTON. VT, FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1891.
THE MYSTIC KREwE.

About seventy years ago young MAJ
of strong physique and prepossessing ap
pearance arrived at New Orleans. III
came from New York, of which city III
was native, and had brought with hin
q considerable sum of money, supple
mented by letter of introduction tt
Judge Favart de Caumartin, who wa
then at the food-tide of his fame.
1t would not be fair to call our young
man (''our herOn would be the good ole
phrase) an adventurer without taking
pains to qualify the impression that
might be produced. Hepworth Coleman
had his own way of looking atlife. Fifty
years later he would have been a TRACE
dian, probably famous one; but the
conditions were not favorable to awaken
histrionic ambition at the time when his
character, his tastes, his ambition, should
have been forming. What he saw that
was most fascinating to him had no dis
tinct form; it lay along the southwestern
horizon, dreamy, mist-cOvered some
thing not unlikes the confines of rO-
nance.
He was rich, and what was, perhaps, a
greater misfortune, he had no living
kiDsfolk for whom lie cared orwho cared
for him. Practically speaking, he was
alone in the world; moreover, he had an
imagination Scott's novels, Byron's
poetry, tine French romances, and know
not what else of the sort, had been his
chief reading. For physical recreation
he had turned to fencing and pistol-prac-
tice. When i add that he was but twenty
two and unmarried, the rest may be
guessed. But Coleman was not young
man of the world in the worst sense; he
had not turned to evil sources of dissipa-
ton. Healthy, vigorous, full of spirits,
he nevertheless had sentimental longings,
as indefinite as they were persistent
Youth is the spring-time when Lon
gen folk to gon on pilgrimages, as old
Chaucer words it, and it would be hard
to find the young man who has not felt
the vaguely outlined yet irresistible de-
sire to wander-to go over the horizon
into strange, new world. Hepworth
Coleman, when he was taken with this
longing, felt no restrainst cast around
him. He was absolutely free; had all the
means necessary. Why should he not
go where he pleased? If itseems strange
that he should have been attracted to
New Orleans rather than to the Old
World, we must remember what New
Orleans was in 1920. No other city, not
tNGl L dIlb, COlllu db llldb lllnC COlnpdI6
with it as a centre of genuine romance.
Nor was this romance unmiXed with law
lessness of the most picturesque kind.
Money poured into it from hundred
sources more or less illegitimate, besides
the streams of wealth produced by cot
ton, sugar and rice industries. Gambling
was indeed a fine art, duelling appeared
more a pastime than anything else, and
what went on in the gilded halls and
melody-filled salles may be imagined, l
suppose, though | do not care to cast a
glance that way.
Hepworth Coleman had heard much of
the gay city, of its warm, odorOus atmO-
sphere, its hospitality, its social charm,
the smack of reckless romance in all its
ways. Somehow the desire to go there
got hold of his imagination and he went.
The letter to Judge Favart de Caumar-
tin was given to Coleman by his banker,
who in handing it to him said;
81 don't know the judge personally,
never saw him; but he has done lot of
business through us. He is very rich,
evidently very influential, and certainly
will be of use to you. ] feel that | can
take the liberty of sending You to him,
because-well, he is under many obliga-
llOllh W lllt Dsllh anu ID llktlN W Mdll
many more large favors. fancy that
you'll find him a trihe eccentric, but en-
Enthusiastically hospitable. A creole of
the creoles, Judge him to be, and rep
resentative of the nabobs."
Young Coleman considered himself
lucky to carry with him document that
would give him introduction to person
so renowned as Judge Favart de Caumar-
f,t nf xrrhO,,, ha haI hapr, rsrao,,t1x, ,soa1
ing good deal, owing to duel fought
between the judge and one Colonel Sam
Smith, of the United States Army, in
which the latter had been killed. The
duel had brought out history, from
which it appeared that Judge Favart de
Caumartin had fought before, not once
only, but many times. and always to the
death of his antagonist. Along with
these facts were disclosed numerous pic
turesque details of the Judges past life,
with more than hints that in his young
days he had been pirate or something
of the sort. The account also made the
most of his wealth, his almost reckless
liberality, his eccentricity, and most of
all, the air of mystery which still hung
over his business operations.
All this was rich food for an imagina-
ton already thoroughly saturated with
the spirit of romantic adventure, and
during the voyage from New York to
New Orleans Hepworth Coleman found
deep satisfaction in anticipating what he
felt was in store for him. In every fibre
of his frame he felt the assurance that
he was on the way to new and strange
experiences.
His banker had sent letter to precede
his arrival by a few days, asking friend
to secure suitable apartments for "Mr.
Hepworth Coleman. gentleman" the
consequence being that dark young
man, small, but well built and handsome,
met him at the landing to conduct him
to his suite of elegant rooms on Royal
street.
SIS you Meestu Coleman, sah?n in
quired this young stranger in musical
tone of voice. II look fo' zat ma at
Prayson."
"Yes, sir, that is my name," said Cole
man briskly. at the same time showing
by his look that he would like to know
whom he was meeting.
"Varee glad you come, Meestu Cole
mad; varee glad, sab, indeed. Got your
rooms all prepare fo' you, sab. Yes,sah,
zey is beautiful an sharming rooms"
THANK you; l am much indebted.
Are you the gentleman to whom Mr..
Cartwright, the banker, wrote in my be-
half?"
Nah, sab; not any banker write to
me. been tole to meet you at zis place