The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-20


Iayior's celebrated run on the banks
n the vicinity Of Mansfield. The cavalry
had really very little 10 90 except sfo
feed and await orders As a result Of
this idleness many Of the officers and
men formed pleasant acQuaintances With
the hospitable planters N whose neigh-
borhood we were located.
one OF the planters whom ! found 70
be most congenial was Capt Mar'as. q
French creole. whose father had cpme
from Langnedoc- He was himself native
born. Ho was a man Of f0riy-eight or
nfty years OF age. and had two sons by
his first marriage. who were in iAe army
Of Virginia, and a boy two years OF age
by his second wife. who was a young and
beautiful lady. it.e hOusekeeper was
mulatto girl who was in every physical
development almost perfect being even
her small hands looking like consummate
waxworlc She had been taught, peited
and indulged as much. perhaps, or more
than any slave should have been, efpe-
ciaily BY Capt. Marias. who uniformly
spoke 10 her more IN the tone Of a father
addressing his daughter han Ga that of
master commanding q slave She was al
ways gentle and obadient The family
seemed 70 prize her very sreatv. md The
little boy especially preferred ner 20 his
own beautiful mother
The family was 50 attractive that
visited Il often. bat one evening an my
arrival az the house. found that It's
peace and quiet had been disturbed ~
ono Of those painful occurrences which
20 often marred the happiness o. South
ern families and which really constituted
the curse OF "the peculiar institution"
The day before. the beautiful and ac-
complished wife Of capt Marias had.
for some unexplained reason. got into
frenzy Of rage with Celia. the muiattrsss.
and had ordered the oyerseeg 10 give her
severe whipping The girl had run off
into the Black swamp during the night
and Capt Marlas. who impaired this ln-
formation % me. was ln a state Of ter
rible distress BY reason of her absence.
He did not seem TO understand the cause
Of the trouble. bat he could not justify
his slave without condemning his wife
whom be seemed 10 regard with a most
tender and dutlfui devotion. The only
emotion which seemed 10 master him vas
heart-breaking and hopeless grief I
volunteered 20 hunt for the runaway and
whilo asking for such Information a. +
thought to be- necessary bout ihe neigh
boring plantations and ~ the almost
boundioss and impratiicable vidert ess
known az the Black swamp r saw Celia
slowly and quietly coming up the broad
walk which led from the poriico TO the
big gate.
She carried in her hand branch or
the magnolia tree. from which depended
splendid blossom 81 that most glorious
OF al flowers. She bowed slightly a. she
came near the poriico. and rrssing
around tho corner 81 the house entered
Il by a side door. AIrs. Martas WIS most
passionately devoted 20 he magnolia
and from her exclamaii1ns ~ delight
which were soon heard ia tho hail. we
knew that Celia had brought tho beau
tifui Flower a. q peace Offering 70 her
mistress. and that Il had been accepted
a. such. Very soon the two women came
nearer. and from our seats on he cram
"a We could hear their conversation. A
terrible weight seemed 10 have been lift
Cd from the heart Of Capt Marias ~ the
girls return and hy the apparent renew
Al Of friendly relations between bis beau
tifui wife and his even more beautiful
slavc-a relief which showed itself in his
face and form. but NOT ~ lis speech
eyes," said Celia 70 Mrs. Martas. st is
an old. wide-spreading tree on the very
edge Of the water. and Is glorious with
just such splendid blossoms a. these
There must be more than 800 clusters.
some that could not reach being much
larger and finer than this one.
"And you say" answered Mrs. Marias
''ihat the air is stun and that the per-
rume broods al around the tree7 Oh
how SWEET"
ssv... % -.t4 f-.t4a $40 A.. - ~t.,.,- tt.4
you can taste as eeil a. smell the won-
derfui perfume Few people could bear
20 stand Immediately beneath the shade.
It Is 90 sweet as 70 be almost overpoweF-
ing"
"oh. how ] wish could see itl How
FAR a n. ccliag~
eOniy four miles You can 20. Il ls
deep "a the swamp. but the pony can
foliow the ridge All ne way. You can
80. and get home before dusk ssonla
Ike you to see IL before a rain makes
the road too bad. or the winds come and
scatter the delicious perfume that now
hangs as heavy as dew an around the
glorious tree for yards and yards away.
"a with Eoi" she cried. Tel Toby @
bring out sollm. and you can take a horse
Let ua so az once. Il q grttinE late"
II would rather walk" sad Celia $50
~ 20 be sure I win not miss the route Ia
Eoinr back. although watched 50 care
fully that know I can ind n on foot 4"
verv coon a boy led Up Mrs Martas'
pony. and she went cut 20 the Steps and
mounted. followed hy Celia or foot The
nir held the surrup for hcr mistress. and
sa she asa 70 looked back at Capt Marias
with eyes in which shone strange love.
pity and tendcrncss. but the voice Of her
mistress called her awav. and. even IN
turning her black and lustrmis eyes TO-
ward Capt. Marias. their expression tafai-
y CHANGED. and showed FOR a noetinz In
slant the murderoas glitter THAT g'camed
from the eyes of panther when ready
Tor : fatal sprIng
I was startled and trcabicd. and half
moved forward 10 tell the lady not 70 60.
but a moments reflection showed me how
foolish such an unnecessary and silly in
tereference would seem. strange mis-
trust hlited across my mind. but there
was nothing on srhich 90 base IT, I could