Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-05-30
CHAPTER l..
CONTESTED.


will re. peSmit rs az present 70 follow
Nassear ~ his pursuit Of kameau, bat
the reader will understand the state
OF society prevailing in the gulf coast
az the time OF Which we write IL we
sketch hero a scene or two in the by
play We are now IN view ola bv-play
fairly characteristics of the time and
the place. and ~ the same time i'm
portart Gs foundation for some later
developments OF our drama.
Among the acquaintance made by
NasseUr ia the Pearl River region
was the preacher Burns. These two
men. after o casual meeting, held to-
gethcr rs u by the force of some hid
den, sympathetic attraction. The
fact was That Nasscur's instinct dis
covered IA Eurns Trustworthy
spirit as we'll as valuable
store oi Information touching the
couairy. lts topography and its in
habitants. Moreover. the little French
man Cuicklymaie out thas the preacher
was not an preccAer--that che old
man had SOME import-n, ohiccs in
view other than the comforting and
sav.ng Of tLe socls OF men.
Burns read nore az asscu-'s true
character than the latter suspected,
bat Zee did NOT rcach his secret Each
man. indeed, ker. his iancrmost pur-
pose well shrouded.
They often rode together, Nassour,
on nis stanch. muscular pony. and
Barns cstgile OF "a large. bouy auimal.
presented 20 him by group of his
rough but generous frontier admirers,
VINO hal agreed that his preaching
was ''wo' Oh a boss. saddle an bride.
and iu these somewhat eccentric Jour
neys they met many strangers whose
movements ana purposes were more
or less mysterious, and many others
whose open faces aud frank speech
proclaimed them honest men.
Nasscur quickly noticed that Burus
made his way 10y the point OF his piety
and with the wedge OF religious senti-
ment. The hiatt was nos lost on thereaiy
Freedman. He, too. was, apparently.
very religious. very devoted 20 prayer
and pious reflection. He even let 10
be understood that preaching was q
part cf his ife work IL Burns saw
through this shrewd use 90 en- impious
sham. be did not appear 90 notice d..
in the rude but comfortable cabins
OF the settlers the itinerauts were
given welcome 90 shelter and food in
return for their songs and prayers.
Ofteu enough tue family would join
IN the hymn-singing; always the mem
bers would kreel daring prayers. i;
was a persistent. universal element OF
the American pioneer life, this rever-
ence FOR the simpiess forms OF wor-
ship. Even among tho most lawlcss
and desperate classes the influence of
religious sentiment went long way.
and the minister Of the gospel was
treated as g sort OF privileged chRrac
ter, 20 go and come ~ wilt and 20 bo
protected aad cared for by everybody
Oac fine morning i'm April, as Nas
seur aud Burns rode along a bride
path. a little way from the east baak
% Pearl River, going in a direction
that would intersect thc Blackwell
Trail mile or two farther on. the'
fell IN with 4 short, we'll -built. black
eyel Young man, who informed then
that be was a Methodist preacher OF
his way % New Orleans
This comedy youth was indeed
typical fcdgling minister iu appear
ance and was rather sAowily dresser
IN clerical garb.
he was apleasing cOnversa.ionalis.
solt-voiced, versatile in expression
OF ready humor AID apparently we
acquainted with the country. His sc
could not have been much beyon
twenty-one years, though somcthin
lurking in the lines of his mobile fea
lures suggested deep and perhaps I'm
pressive experiences.
The horse that he was riding wa
poor. apparently old and certainl
quite lame; bat has saddle was u cost
one, silver mounted and beautiful
finished; MS bride was likewise yer
fine. \ pair of heavy, silver-mounte
holster pistols hung ~ his saddl,
bow.
'Thoy we're given 10 mo along wit
the saddle" he explained. ''an
though have not the slightest II.
for them, could not well reiui
them.
Il suppose" ne added interrog
lively, after moments reelection
''theve would be 80 harm IN soliiI
the weapons and using the mon'
when I arrive in New Orloans?"
Mr.. Burns and Nasseur both So
that they could sec no inpropricty.
The three then discussed the pee
liar hardships, vexations and ludicrO
adventures in the ministerial lie
the frontier.
They rode slowly along, on accom-
ofthe lameness OF the young stranger