 Book 1, Chapter 1 of the Spy Company, A Story of the Mexican War. Saratoga in 1844. The summer night was falling softly upon Saratoga, when that great watering place was scarce more than a village embowered in trees. When most of its present magnificent avenues were pretty turnpike roads and some only bridal paths. Saratoga, when those who sought its summer retreat, came to it leisurely. Many of them by stagecoach to find recreation in its pleasant country and health in the living waters of its sparkling springs. The Saratoga of 1844. Before half a dozen converging railroads had made it part of a rushing, bustling, frantic modern world. A quiet, serene picnic place, only disturbed by politics. Even on this placid evening towards the end of August, though the lights of the big dining room of the old United States Hotel illuminated the great fancy dress ball of the season. Democrats and wigs clashed as hotly upon the big verandahs and tree-shaded pleasant as they did at political joint discussions and torchlight demonstrations, or even in the halls of Congress itself. The scene was one of great beauty, the grounds of the hotel being made brilliant with colored lanterns and the ballroom vivacious by shepherdesses, Italian peasant girls, the Vandy ears, and queens of the night, who chatted coily with courtiers, knights, and troubadours. While bad imitations of Indians inspired by brandy smashes and mint julips uttered their war hoops in the bar room, or smoked their pipes of peace on the broad verandahs with equally incompetent representatives of the trappers of the West, and voyagers of Canada. Though the ladies were robed as queens, fairies, sylphs, and maids of honor, and were supposed to exemplify every climb and every century since history began, still they could not forget they were American women. And their usual topics of conversation, rides to the lake, visits to the Indian encampments, and even the all-pervading gossip as to how many glasses were drunk by each individual at the Congress spring in the morning, were sometimes mixed with as excited annexation discussions as those indulged in by their cavaliers. For the hearty band of pioneers, settlers, and sometimes even fugitives from justice in the United States, that had gradually, during preceding years, drifted across the Louisiana border, had in 1836 achieved Texan independence, defeating the Mexican forces under Santa Ana in the pitched battle of San Jacinto, and avenging the cruel massacre of Goliad and the bloody shambles of the Alamo. For eight years, though recognized by France, England, and Spain, the young republic had been in a quasi-state of war with its mother, country, Mexico. A large portion of its plains being raided over by alternate bands of ranchero bandits and Comanche Indians. Under these circumstances, Texas was in 1844 applying for annexation to the United States and admission into the American Union, a thing the democracy under Mr. Polk were clamorous for, but which was bitterly assailed by wigs and other anti-slavery advocates, as leading to certain war with Mexico, and the additional political complication of immense territorial extension within the slave belt. Two ladies seated on one of the broad balconies of the hotel, and looking in at the brilliant ballroom, emphasized this, Honor Bride. Did you really drink six glasses of Congress water this morning, my dear Mrs. Perkins? Whisper Selina Chauncey, the dashing young wife of an Alabama representative, robed as the pompadour. I was only able to absorb three, and my maid had to enlace me right afterwards. This confidence is interrupted by a shiver from Queen Elizabeth, who on ordinary occasions is Mrs. Perkins, the spouse of the wig senator from Indiana. She is a prim matron of about fifty and half shutters. Did you ever, if that awful girl, isn't bringing politics on her back into the ballroom? No, madam, you do mis-got free injustice, replies Selina Chauncey stoutly. She is carrying patriotism, not politics, upon her fair shoulders. What finer idea for a Texan girl than to depict her countryman's appeal for the aid of their cousins in the United States against the bully Mexico. Why, I did not know Miss Gottry was a Texan, says Mrs. Perkins. She came here from New York with Mr. Martin and his family, Clara Martin and Chia-like sisters. Oh, mercy. Ain't you aware she is the greatest heiress in Texas? That is, if her father's old Jim Gottry's million acres of bottom land in that country, which is being harried by Mexican bandits and Comanche Indians, are ever healthy to live in. Estrella LaRue Gottry is Texan to the backbone and has got plenty of frontier boldness, which isn't nice in young girls, criticizes the wig lady. See, the crowd are even clapping their hands at her. It's disgraceful. Why shouldn't they applaud her? retorts Mrs. Chauncey. Miss Gottry represents the state of Texas, half-draped in the American flag, which will wholly drape it when we Democrats this autumn have elected Mr. Polk president. Mr. Clay knew wigs to the contrary, notwithstanding. Never the American people are not crazy. Mr. Clay will be triumphantly returned, cries the other, stamping her foot. And a political riot might take place right on the balcony of the hotel between these two distinguished ladies. Did not a young Arkansas gentleman, who has just strolled out of the bar room, ejaculate enthusiastically, cockadoodle for Miss Texas, and a young American dandy who has just returned from European travel, ask laughingly, what is Texas? At this, the two political ladies forget their dispute in a burst of laughter, especially as old Jupiter Perkins, the wig war horse from Indiana, saunters up about this time. Taps his wife playfully upon the shoulder and says, What Sally? You and Selena quarreling again? Then adjusting his spectacles, he adds. Over that young lady, I presume, she carries with her the charm of beauty and the exquisite womanhood of America and looks mighty well in the star-spangled banner. But she's too young to be dragged into politics. I think I'll go up and get introduced to the Republic of Texas. Yes, but don't let her beguile you to vote for the Mexican war, whispers his wife. She's so beautiful. She may make a fool of you, Jupiter. This might easily be true. For Saratoga has rarely seen a prettier picture than was made that evening by Miss Estrela LaRue Godfrey, under the brilliant lights of the United States ballroom. The girl is in the first budding of young womanhood. Her figure not as yet completely developed is perhaps too slight for perfect beauty, but gives promise of glorious maturity. Her patrician features would be strangely firm for once so young did not the modesty of her eyes make her face seem very soft and feminine. Embarrassed by the gaze of so many, for she is attracting almost universal attention, the shrinking diffidence of her pose and movements gives almost a pathos to her graceful figure. Her fancy costume is that of the young Republic of Texas, a wreath of myrtles upon her brown hair, a single star of blue upon the white satin corsage of her robe, but over this a banner of the United States of the finest silken gauze crossing her white shoulders drapes her nascent bosom like a sash and girdled about her lithe waist falls over a floating white skirt of shining satin. It is as if the maid were the little Republic of Texas appealing for the protection of the powerful Republic whose inhabitants are of the same blood and same family against her tyrant Mexico. Blazoned upon the front of the draping skirt is Remember the Alamo. Words that even today make the Yankee heart beat faster and the heroism of the American race are shown by that little band whose names still cause school boys' hearts to thrill when they hear of Travis, Bowie, and Davy Crockett. Blood is thicker than water and many who have opposing political opinions look enthusiastically at the daughter of one of those immigrants that wandered away from the United States with rifle and Bowie knife carved out a little nation from haughty Mexico watering their new country plentiously with their blood upon the rich bottom lands of the Brazos, Trinity and San Antonio the sun-dried maces of the Lana Esticado and the arid wastes of the Rio Grande faltering under this admiration which is probably much greater than she had expected the maiden droops diffidently and perhaps would retreat from the brilliant illumination of the ballroom to the more dimly lighted verandas did not at this moment Clara Martin, a dashing, direct speaking New York girl dressed as a Vivandir come tripping up to her and swinging the canteen she carries over her shoulder cry laughingly take a swig from my canteen and brace up, estrella here's a chance to make a hit for your Lone Star country let me present to you the honorable Jupiter Perkins the wig war horse convert him, my dear, to Texan annexation whereupon the bashful look flies out of Miss Godfrey's face her beautiful brown eyes beam like the emblem of her native land she glances at the senator from Indiana and proceeds to do the best she can with the old wig war horse saying with charming naivete wouldn't you like me for a country woman, Mr. Perkins? to Coons like Possum laughs the senator adding to this proverb of the Mississippi Valley judging by the looks of the boys about you I imagine you can become a citizeness of the United States, Miss Godfrey as soon as a parson can be procured and without the annexation of the state of Texas though the girl blushes painfully she cries determinately a flank attack is not fair, Mr. Senator and inspired by the thoughts of her distant country Miss Elevee in diplomacy dares to assault the politics of the veteran statesman of course without a fact old Jude Perkins has not been 30 years and died in the wool wig in the clay Webster's stripe to be converted by two pretty lips though the animation of the interview adds the vivacity of many changing emotions through the exquisite features of the young proselyter finally the veteran politician growing perhaps tired of almost being lectured by this adolescent Hypatia answers her in the pleasant condescension of age for youth my dear child permit me to tell you that like most Democrats you're all aboard on the subject of slave extension upon which you are making a very pretty stump speech child I am 18 cries the girl indignantly no nothing of the subject I was born in Texas sir yes born in Texas but sent from there but almost a baby I believe your friend of friends that pert little Vivandir Clara Martin before she introduced me to you let that cat out of the bag Miss Yancey's boarding school on West 8th Street I reckon also isn't exactly the place to study one of the greatest political questions of the age if Mr. Polk and Mr. Calhoun couldn't convert me I hardly think you can though the senator palliates his remark by adding you talk much prettier than old James Knox P. of North Carolina you're right I was sent from Texas to save me from the dangers of his wildlife after my dear little sister had been stolen by Indians or bandits answers Miss Godfrey her bright face glowing strangely sad that's what was told me by my mother who came with me and died here when I was a very little girl leaving me alone save for the kindness of Clara Martin and her father for my father has not been able to visit me he has been fighting in the war of Texas independence and since then has been defending his property against the raids of partisans bandits and Comanches you're right Mr. Perkins I know very little of the subject except from my dear father's letters to a child who petitions you to induce your great country to take such action as will permit him to recall his daughter to his roof tree protected by a flag sufficiently powerful to make his home safe both from Mexican forays and Indian ravages this speech made pathetic by a bewitching face whose eyes are tearily beseeching strangely affects the old wig war horse he mutters huskily you have said more to me in the last few words my dear young lady than any other Democratic stump speaker in the country I will consider your appeal but even as Estrella gives him a bright grateful glance the veteran of New World Affairs starts gazes searchingly at her and become strangely moved and interested his eyes are fixed upon a plain circle of gold that is pinned upon the corsage of her dress noting his glance she says oh you're gazing at the golden circle strange several gentlemen have been interested in it this evening what makes you regard so curiously a bubble which my mother brought with her from Texas and told me my father used to wear it is the only thing I have to remember him by my dear child says the veteran statesman quite moved to explain what that means would be beyond my power because I only guess at it myself therefore I shall not cloud your bright young brow with conjectures what you want to do this evening is to give the boys a chance and turn your attention to love at which you'll be even cuter than politics at this suggestion the young lady blushes vividly then a troubled look comes upon her innocent features she hangs her head hello by the confusion on your face you've been at it already grins the Solon this insinuation Mrs. Estrella with quick feminine tact and precocious astuteness parries by opening her bright eyes and saying naively law senator Perkins I haven't left boarding school I'm only 18 a girl of your eyes can do a good deal of damage at that age chuckles the western war horse by getting away from the Texan Hypatia he mutters to himself grimly her dad went to Texas wearing one of those tarnation gold encircles by the eternal is the curse started by the ambition of that schemer Aaron Burr never to be lifted from us sitting upon the balcony of the hotel the western statesman goes into a meditation refusing glumly all invitations to liquor from kindred statesman in so abstracted and morosa manner that quickly of Illinois whispers to bunk him of Ohio I wonder if the great Perkins is afraid of losing his seat in the Senate at the coming general election I can't tell remarks congressman bunk him it's going to be a tarnation hard fight and poke may become president on this Texas enthusiasm remember the Alamos getting to be a war cry that stampede's wigs during this campaign as it did greasers down at San Jacinto just look at that girl there in the ballroom with that tarnation catchy political rigging and those languishing bright eyes of hers she'd be as good as a thousand votes to the Democratic ticket if the polls were open tomorrow at Saratoga do you see her look at the young fellows prancing about her like bears round honey some of them will get beastings from her bright eyes if they don't hold their horses gaffaws quickly who represents the first congressional district of Illinois considered rather a wag in the house quickly is pretty near right in his divination Mr. Senator Perkins has shot very close to the bullseye when he tweeted Mrs. Trella LaRue Godfrey asked to her love affairs her 18 year old eyes have done already considerable damage to half a score of admirers but more especially to young Charlie Palom of New York just graduated from West Point and gazetted into the second Dragoons and Mr. Jasper Karoo Monkton who was reputed at the springs to be a Louisiana planter accompanied by his mother who dotes upon him a beautiful lady of middle age the first of these is in Saratoga enjoying his two months leave before entering active duty the second Mr. Monkton has apparently no object except pleasure at the springs Mr. Palom being engaged in escorting his mother to her room and bidding her a tender good night has left the field for the moment open to his rival and Jasper Monkton is taking advantage of it dressed in the claw hammer coat of deep rolled collar embossed velvet vest, tight fitting trousers spread out over patent leather pumps and with an elaborate black stock which indicate the extreme of a Bose evening costume of that period this gentleman who is about 30 years of age is now at Miss Godfrey's side he has an active well proportioned figure and a bearing marked by a quick confidence and self assertion his face would be prepossessing and his dark eyes engaging were it not for their extraordinary alertness his glances at times being so rapid that their expression can scarcely be distinguished these at present however are fixed upon Miss Godfrey the gentleman's manner is unusually suave yet extremely confident and his eager attentions to Estrella rather pleasing to the vanity of one who is still a schoolgirl Mr. Monkton's devotion to the object of his pursuit for the past few weeks has been so marked that the most casual admirers about Miss Godfrey this evening concluding that she favors him over the common herd have gradually left them to their own society relieved of witnesses a curious possession has entered the gentleman's bearing even very young girls have instinct in these matters and Monkton's passion is now sufficiently marked to cause Estrella to grow nervous and more distant in her manner but Jasper Monkton is not to be easily repulsed or shaken off by one he deems scarce more than a child though he has in their two months acquaintance received no real encouragement from Miss Estrella Godfrey save the bright glances of happy maidenhood he is stimulated perhaps more by her indifference than he would be by her complacence and in the last few days the gentleman has grown very jealous of her young Charlie Pelham with his dashing military west point air boyish enthusiasm and open heart has gazed so ardently with his brilliant eyes that Monkton fears that he does not speak now the ardent officer will have his say to beauty before him therefore with considerable tact and a certain easy take it for granted manner he shortly succeeds in leading the young heiress of Texas lands to a secluded nook on the Big Piazza which a lot of shrubbery and flag decorations have cut off from the better lighted part of the hotel making just the sort of temple a man can worship his goddess in if she will let him tired with her political propaganda Miss Godfrey sinks rather languidly into a seat then delights her admirer by murmuring I am glad converting old senator Perkins is over from now on I'm going to forget politics and have a pleasant evening thank you says the gentleman very ardently encouraged by the compliment though the girl means nothing by it he seats himself by her side and begins a tale that almost frightens a true daughter of Eve when chief for the first time in her young life hears it aside from a maid's bashfulness the primal knowledge that she has a man's life in her keeping a man's career in her hand to take a throw away and cause any thinking debutante in the mysteries of Venus's temple and Miss Australia Godfrey is much frightened the impetuous fervor of her suitor at first stuns her as well as alarms her she is so dazed she has nearly been kissed and called his own before he recovers sentiency sufficient to shrink from his clasp and say stop you have misunderstood my silence misunderstood you as if stunned himself no no I cannot have misunderstood you in the last few blessed weeks you have permitted me to ride with you so often you have always with Clara cantering along on the other side of me Stammers the neophyte in flotation you have looked upon me but only as a friend minds the maid adds disingenuously Mr. Martin would never permit my being would without the consent of my father but to her astonishment this mention of her father adds to Moncton's confidence Jasper says an easy assertion your father I am certain were he here would add his commands to my entreaties impossible cries Miss Godfrey astounded my father is in Texas at the other end of the world besides he would never coerce me on such a subject though I never could say yes without his blessing noting that assurance does not aid his suit Mr. Moncton pleads earnestly you cannot mean to refuse a love like mine but I do mean to refuse it then the girl whispers penitently forgive me I don't wish to be harsh on my rejection but I'm only a schoolgirl I have never been proposed to before take pity on me don't be angry with me angry with you hope flies again into the man's eyes angry with you that's impossible Estrella again the mustache is coming closer to the tempting lips the gentleman's arm is almost about the slight waist when womanhood triumphs over immaturity and the girl desperately pulls herself from him and says sternly don't mistake kindness for anything else sir if I must make it plain to you I... I do not love you you... you love another Moncton's eyes have grown sinister even baneful oh no sighs the interrogated one I... I hope not I... ah then you do love another I... I don't know anything about it answers Miss Godfrey petulently she is scarce more than a child and this dominant man's persistency annoys her but I tell you I can never love you but you will marry me answers the war commandingly the plain golden circle pinned upon the damsel's bosom seeming to lend confidence to his tones by that little sign upon your breast you do not understand but I do I tell you I shall make the winning of you the object of my life my child you are as surely mine as if the priest had said man and wife to you and me his blazing eyes enforce his fervid words under the possessive passion of his glances the girl grows crimson to her shoulders and cries indignantly when you look at me like that I... I hate you stung by her words and made carelessly vindictive by her scorn he retorts sneeringly yet arrogantly you are a little crude yet I am in no hurry a year or two and you will be the riper cherry for the plucking little one goodbye every time you think of your father remember you are as surely mine as if you had said yes instead of no look at the golden circle pinned upon your corsage and know it is my wedding ring no, no, anything but that almost screams the predicted bride made frantic by his sneering and astounding words but he, not answering her, saunters away in affected nonchalance carelessly pausing he passes through the potted palms to light a cigar alone Miss Gottfrey takes three short breaths and gasps mentally thank god this Dastard's anger unmasked him and he has the assurance to say my father would support his suit she jeers half an hour ago I thought him a passingly pleasant gentleman but was indifferent to him now I know Mr. Moncton I despise him, I loathe him I could never love him agitated by both rage and shame she sinks into a seat again communes tremblingly with her fair self and finally enunciates to herself this curious proposition strange the assault given me by this wretched audacious assault not only on my heart but on my very modesty has made me doubt whether I could love any man her meditations are broken in upon by a young liquid but savage feminine voice which says in an uncompromising familiarity Strela you wretch come with me to papa at once you've got me in an awful scrape we're both to be sent back to boarding school tomorrow Miss Clara is standing beside her looking as distressed as if she were a real vivandiere of the Grand Army of Napoleon reflecting on Waterloo how have I got you into a scraped Clara dear asked Miss Godfrey sweetly how? by permitting the attentions of that horrible Mr. Moncton Haw has found out about him says he's nothing more than a Mississippi River gambler and then going into seclusion and sitting with him here till half the women in the hotel are tearing you in pieces with their tongues you are right I do deserve to be sent back to boarding school for letting that wretch tell me whether I like or know that he will marry me shudders the accused one impulsively yes but you are not right in getting me sent back also when I was having such a lovely time good heavens how shall I tell poor Jack Boulder he and I were going to have a tater-tay picnic out on the lake tomorrow mutters Clara anyway you're punished also young fiery eyed palim of the dragoons won't have a chance to make love to you anymore I hope he won't says Estrella sadly I hope no man will for now I know I shall never love any man at this pessimistic declaration Miss Clara Martin who is a dashing brunette of the most vivacious type slightly more matured than her friend laughs idiot when you love you will be spoonier than I can be then cries but come on Pa has given his orders Selma has half-packed your trunks already and Elise is now at work on mine heading philosophically anyway summer is nearly over and if I had stayed here much longer that crazy Jack Boulder would have made a fool of either himself or me with this Miss Martin goes away humming quite cheerfully wait for the wagon Miss Gottfrey would follow her chum to her guardian did not a handsome young fellow in accurate evening dress but with that indescribable setup and military bearing that West Point always gives to its graduates stop her for a few horrid words I was detained by my mother who's not very well this evening Miss Estrella he says quite tenderly and almost apologetically but now now I am going to pack my trunks answers the young lady slightly agitated at his fervent eyes to refuse two men in one evening would be too much for her inexperienced nerves and Charlie Pelham as a gentleman she not only respects what likes very much pack your trunks alters the young man as if he does not understand yes I am going to be sent back to school tomorrow a big lagoon like you fighting Indians on the plains will soon forget a fledgling and from now on I have got to think of French music and grammar or Miss Yancy will haul me over the coals Cadet hops and West Point flirtations have given Charlie Pelham a fairly shrewd insight into the emotions and characteristics of girlhood he divides what a terrible effort it must be for sweet 18 to dub herself a child he appreciates the sacrifice the pretty lips are making to prevent his speaking words that will call for a woman's answer he looks at her piercingly for a moment then sighs I fear I understand you goodbye next says Horsley but just one souvenir of a sweet two months before she can stay him he has torn a portion of the American flag from her costume some day I will bring this back to you some day when you are a woman he mutters and kisses the token just for one moment she turns and whispers but forgive the child then flits from him gazing after her till her graceful figure grows dim in the vista of the great veranda whose lights are still shining brightly on fair women and brave men Pelham puts his hand to his heart and mutters to himself child as she is had she but loved me she would have cried with every breath to me woman woman woman then the gay scene seems very gloomy to the young west pointer and the sweet music of the siren waltzes played by the Boston Orchestra appears very poor melody and full of discords as for the man whose audacious prophecy and uncontrolled passion has brought about not only his own undoing but his rivals he had long ago wandered away and joined some friends in the bar room drinking did not make him forget and smoking moodily during the long summer night Jasper Moncton hailed consultation with himself once he mentally exclaims I was a little foolish to let my temper run away with me just as sure as no horse can trot into 220 that little saucy puss shall call me husband and fawn upon me for a caress what Jasper Moncton wants, he has the charming girl's frequent rejection of this sporting man of the south and west both sections rather barbaric in the early forties makes him desire her all the more not that Jasper Moncton loves Australia Godfrey but he is determined to have the butterfly that he is chasing Miss Godfrey's Texas lands will be worth a lot of money when the flag of the United States floats over them glancing at the little insignia he wears upon his breast he thinks as night of the golden circle I know this will come very soon for his information as an officer of that mysterious yet painful society whose branches spread out from New Orleans over the south and west tells him that the United States is upon the eve of one of its grand territorial grabs such as take place every second generation when the great Yankee nation takes another portion of the world into its embrace and Uncle Sam tosses a few more stars into the blue firmament of its flag and makes a few more sovereign states to add to this great American commonwealth turning this over in his mind Jasper Moncton remarks to himself half laughingly Strellis as skittish as a filly when she first feels the rope reckon the haughty little beauty would have been more scared if she guessed why I came up north then a blazing triumph lights up his dark eyes as he mutters these remarkable words Calculate this high society around here makes her too bumptious to look at a plain riverboat sportingman Texas is my gambling table End of Book 1, Chapter 1, Recording by John Brandon Book 1, Chapter 2 of The Spy Company, A Story of the Mexican War by Archibald Clavering Gunter This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, Recording by John Brandon Book 1, Chapter 2, War with Mexico Early in 1846, 18 months after Ms. Gottfri's Saratoga adventure Alexander Martin, who has her under his wing, addresses his charge one brisk February day in the library of his handsome New York house in University Place This gentleman is head of Martin Best & Co. Very prominent commission merchants of South Street and factors for Southern planters The firm doing a large business in the shrugger of Louisiana, the cotton of the Gulf States the tar and turpentine of North Carolina as well as business with the West Indies, Veracruz and Mexico and the little budding seaport of Galveston, Texas where they have a small branch office There was a rather sad glint in his grim determined commercial eyes as he says I might as well break the news and get over with it, Strella I have a letter from your father in which he asks me to send you to Texas Thank God! At last I shall see my father The girl's voice rings out true, silvery hopeful Ever since I left school six months ago, I have been waiting, hoping, praying for his permission to join him Hmm, but you do not know exactly what Texas is, my dear, remarks the old merchant Even now, though the United States has taken it under its wing, it is a debatable land and very rough and tough people are debating about it The number of its settlers, as your mother must have told you, were fugitives from justice both of the United States and Mexico Therefore, it has a good many lawless people still among its inhabitants You do not know Texas, my child Don't I, cries the young lady, the ringing tones of her voice and the flashing of her eyes In charming contrast with the delicate liniments of her patrician face and the lightness of her graceful figure I know it is the country of the dead heroes of the Alamo and Goliad and the live ones of San Jacinto I know it is the country my dear father fought and bled for under old Sam Houston The country I was born in, my country, though I cannot remember it Very well, responds the veteran of commerce shortly When will you be ready to go? Now, tomorrow, any time, the sooner the better Expect in love and enthusiastic tenderness dim the girl's bright eyes She murmurs, my father, at last I shall see him and I shall know him Under these circumstances, replies the merchant putting his hand over his eyes As if anxious to conceal the sadness of parting with this girl he has had under his charge Since the death of her mother some eight years before this You had better tell my daughter at once so that you and Clara can get you farewell tears over as soon as possible Make the arrangements and do the shopping I presume a young lady of New York fashion Will find necessary before leaving for a half barber's land I presume you will have a long visit at Mr. Stewart's marble store And this check will be convenient for you Did my father send all that money for me? Queries Ms. Godfrey gazing at the piece of paper Hasn't he always been generous to the child whose face he cannot remember To the girl whose eyes might look upon him and not know him This she a moment after contradicts by ejaculating But no, I am sure some instinct would tell me if I looked on his dear face I'm hardly so certain of that Descends old Martin who was seated at his desk You have no miniature of your father, not even one of those newfangled daguerreotypes Daguerreotypes were not invented when I was carried away from Texas And portrait painters would have hardly been able to take care of their scalps in the land my mother has described to me Lowy knives, rifles, and pistols were more in vogue than artist's paint brushes of pencils in the valleys of the Brazos, San Antonio, and Trinity You have never seen my father either, Mr. Martin Continues the girl As soon as I see him I'll write you a good long description of the man who has become, by his correspondence, your friend Hmm, yes Of course I have never seen Jim Godfrey, replies the merchant Though I have been his factor since 1836 You know at that time old John Kissam Horner, who was in the Texas trade, was your father's agent But owing to commercial troubles brought about by the Texan Revolution, Horner failed and left New York Then your father turned his account over to me by a letter that I could hardly decipher Though he writes better now, his correspondence is generally pretty churse and to the point Oh yes, I know When poor Papa's hand was so frightfully injured in the fight at Rock Springs He could for six months hardly hold a pen in it at all And the few lines he could send my dear mother seemed so different Why even she could hardly recognize his handwriting But Papa's words were just as loving, even when wounded, nigh unto death I'm going to make a very dutiful daughter to my father for all the sacrifices he has made for me Giving me plenty of money, when money must have been hard to obtain Well, it's hard enough for him to get now, for the troubles of Texas are not entirely over my dear And it is that, which makes me hesitate about sending you Mother's the man of affairs That you shall not do, I must go, I will go, my father is growing old He needs a daughter's hand, cries Estrella excitedly And you do not hesitate to give up New York gaiety in fashion? Not a bit, answers the girl Self-devotion, in her eyes As I sat at the opera last night down at Castle Garden I thought of the frivolity of the thing and longed to be able to do what I consider my duty But the young man about here, the gay gallant who ride beside you each day up Harlem Lane Likewise the Bucks of Bond Street, and the bows of Broadway and Washington Square How about them? Clara has confessed to me that they are very engaging And with your face and figure Martin turns his old eyes admiringly over the exquisite picture The young lady makes as she stands in graceful pose One white hand upon a chair as if uncertain, whether to stay or go And notes that Miss Gottfrey has developed very beautifully in the last few months In addition to a patrician form whose routed outlines are those of budding womanhood The young lady's face has in its blooming maturity become full of an exquisite soul That shines through her bright eyes right gloriously She is dressed in the extreme of fashion of that day A little Parisian bonnet on her brown hair A white shawl of India crepe The latest feminine fat Upon her graceful shoulders And a beflounced skirt Whose fluffiness indicates the advent of the chronolin That a few years later is to startle, dismay, and perhaps even allure civilized mankind About this time Miss Gottfrey looks at the check again And being thoroughly womanly apparently longs for shopping She says if you don't wish me any longer I'll go and tell Clara And we'll drive down to Mr. Stewart's together I shall have so much to buy Don't take too much transportation will be difficult in the road's quagmires at this season in your future home No, but I'll take enough to make me very presentable to Papa and and Texan Rangers Chuckles the old gentleman Then as the girl turns to the door he says suddenly One moment You will have to go in the bell of Georgia which sails for New Orleans early next week Mr. and Mrs. Rodney of Galveston, Texas are passengers upon it They are all friends of mine I have already spoken to them They have kindly consented to take charge of you From Galveston Mr. Rodney who is a merchant there will arrange your transportation to either Matagorda or Corpus Christi Where you will probably be met by your father Corpus Christi, that's where Taylor's army is now stationed I know one of the officers in it, Mr. Pelham of the Dragoons You recollect him at Saratoga? Says Estrella excitedly Yes, but that's one of the dangers that may come upon you The minute Taylor's army moves for the Rio Grande It means war with Mexico And that I fear will happen very soon Then the quicker I go the sooner I'll get to my father and avoid the dangers of Taylor's army I'll speak to Zelma She will get to packing my trunks at once She'd better get to packing her own too Miss Godfrey is already at the entrance of the room when Mr. Martin's remark catching her ear She pauses and says shortly I had nearly forgotten Zelma Then thinks a moment and continues Just a word about her She steps quickly to him and apparently dreading to be overheard Commences to whisper into the ear of the gentleman who was seated at his desk To her the man of commerce listens for a moment The look of astonishment spreading over his face Then he utters a prolonged whistle And ejaculates by tip a canoe You're an extravagant young lady Meditates for a second or two And dissentingly mutters That will be very inconvenient Oh, please, please, Mr. Martin, please give her the opportunity Very well, answers old Alexander It is difficult to refuse you anything, especially that you're going away Do you think the girl will leave you? That I am very doubtful about, whispers the young lady Zelma is devoted to me, ever since my mother died Though she has acted as my maid, she has tried to be more than my mere servant The parting will be as sad for me as for her But you must give her the opportunity Jupiter, and rub your father of hush cries Estrella, putting her fingers on his lips Promise? Very well, Miss Wendell Phillips Says the merchant, send her to me And Estrella having left him Alexander Martin utters a short whistle And half laughs I wonder what my southern correspondence would say to what I'm going to do now In fact, it is hardly honest to old Jim Gottfrey himself Over this he goes into a glum meditation Which is broken in upon by a soft and sonorously musical voice Saying, my mistress tells me you wish to see me, sir? With a start he looks up and remarks Yes, Miss Gottfrey is going to Texas, Zelma I have already heard that I am about to pack our trunks and get ready as soon as possible You are going with her? Certainly I could never leave her, even if I had the option You have that option now You know what your station and condition will be when you reach southern soil The same as when I left it, the soft voice answers sadly I thoroughly understand But still I cannot leave my loved mistress Her mother took me, a slave wife from Louisiana And by her kindness made me happy, taught me to read and write Gave me the opportunity to educate myself When she died, I promised to remain with her child As she has been speaking, Mr. Martin has been looking at the young woman For she is only some twenty-six or seven years of age Her curly transparency of complexion indicates French Creole blood In her delicate face, but the soft langer of her dove-like eyes And the flash of brilliant color in her cheeks Betray perhaps the slightest tinge of Africa's blood Though this is scarcely perceptible in Zelma the octaroon Her appearance being that of considerable refinement and her speech educated The material of her frock, a rich but plain black silk Indicates the indulgence and kindness of her mistress But its design and cut suggest her station Without ornament or trimming, it fits glove-like Her delicate yet southerly voluptuous figure to the slight waist And from there falls into a skirt that is cut to sobret length Disclosing to general observation very handsome ankles Clothed in tight white, balbrigan stockings And pretty feet shot in plain black slippers A white maid's cap is perched upon her glossy banded hair And a maid's white apron, brought high upon the corsage of her dress Slightly conceals the rounded contours of her figure As it floats in immaculate whiteness down upon the black skirt Her dreamy eyes at times light with those gleams That show the slumbering passion with which a drop of torrid blood Nearly always fires colder Caucasian streams Though her arms bared to the elbows for the convenience Of service in her mistress's chamber are beautifully molded And of a dazzling, almost ivory whiteness Nevertheless you have the opportunity A ticket for the English steamer and proper funds will be placed Quietly in your hands, mutters Martin It is rather curious that I who have sometimes been accused Of having slave ships among my various ventures Should do this abolition act But you must be aware with your appearance that in some European countries For instance, you might have a better station Than the servile one which must always be yours in this country And in the south if you return to it means your absolute slavery I have thought of all these things sir Replies the young woman I have had many opportunities to run away but I love Miss Estrella I cannot let her go alone to that far country I know she will be kind to me as she always has been A curious, searching look flies into the octaroon's eyes What put this idea of defrauding her of my services into your head? She queries anxiously She, her generous heart, Estrella wishes for your happiness Answers the merchant Still she cannot wish to leave me The girls' eyes grow troubled Hearing a loved step in the hallway she runs out and cries Miss Estrella, please come here to me And Miss Godford dressed for the carriage coming in Selma says to her timidly and wounded voice You wish to part with me? What have I done to displease you? Nothing dear Selma Dear mistress, only I want to give you a chance in life In the south you will be a slave Yes, but under your protection dear mistress No harm can come to me I must keep the promise I have made your mother It was her wish Don't send me from you when you will need me in that barbarous country My mother's wish echoes Estrella quite tenderly To Martin, she adds Please write a paper of manumission for Selma I'll sign it Impossible, replies the merchant This girl is your father's slave, not yours Under these circumstances, remarks Miss Godford Do you still wish to come with me, Selma? Yes, dear mistress Answers the bond made, devotion in her eyes Then come Probably to conceal her emotion, for she has been deeply moved The young lady passes from the room Her maid would follow her, but Martin calls her back He says a word with you And gives her some explanation of the preparations It will be necessary to make for her mistress for her voyage Adding to this, I shall write to Mr. Godfrey An explanation of your devotion to his daughter And the reason you have accompanied her Doubtless it will procure you every consideration At her father's hands Thank you, sir, answers Selma gratefully And curtsying, respectfully stands Waiting for his permission to leave the room But Martin takes out a cigar abstractedly Lights it and puffs meditatively for a few moments Then he says tersely Do you think, Selma, Mr. Godfrey ever knew his wife Bought you in Louisiana after the death of the maid She had brought with her from Texas? Yes, sir I know he did, answers the young woman eagerly I remember Mrs. Godfrey saying that he wrote in a letter Tell Selma, when I come to New York If she is devoted to you and baby and wants to marry I'll give her her freedom And after that After that my master never wrote anything about me But that was after he changed so After he had been wounded in the fight at Rock Springs Changed so? Oh, yes, you mean his writing No, sir, not exactly Do you think his letters were different in spirit or sentiment After that to Mrs. Godfrey? I know they seemed to trouble her After receiving one she often sighed Though of course she didn't make me her confidant I imagine she thought her husband didn't love her As he had before Sometimes I think the sadness caused by these letters Rather hastened her death You do not believe Mr. Godfrey's wound could have affected his head? Asks the young woman anxiously Not from his letters answered the merchant sharply There's as good logical business in them as any I ever read You can go, Selma, remember to take good care of your young mistress on the voyage As the graceful young woman leaps the room Marking glances after her and thinks Curious, Jim Godfrey doesn't remember he owns such a likely piece of property Anyway, I'm glad the girl's going It would have been a great inconvenience sending Estrella without her maid Besides, an infernal robbery of Jim Godfrey Of a very marketable article worth at least a couple of thousand dollars On the auction block of the Rotunda in the St. Charles Hotel, New Orleans Commercial men had some curious ideas of property in those days And the New York merchant was simply voicing them He looks at some letters on the desk in front of him bearing the Galveston postmark and thinks grimly From his correspondence, I don't imagine Jim Godfrey would take kindly to loss of property Still, he never mentions the girl's Selma in his letters And he keeps a pretty good tag on all of his other chattels Can it be that he has forgotten his wife's purchase in New Orleans? Here the cigar drops from the merchant's hands He springs up hurriedly, runs out into the street and buys a paper For a newsboy is calling out, Extra Harold! Great news! War in prospect! The president has ordered the Army of Texas to advance And take possession of the real Grand Frontier Will the greasers stand this? No mutters martin to himself I'll be hanged if the greasers stand this This means a war with Mexico certain as there's a potato famine in Ireland End of Book 1, Chapter 2, Recording by John Brandon Book 1, Chapter 3 of The Spy Company, A Story of the Mexican War by Archibald Clevering Gunter This LibriVox recording is in the public domain, Recording by John Brandon Book 1, Chapter 3, The Captain of the Texan Rangers, A Dim Misty Morning Early in March The three trees which mark the Galveston Harbor of 1846 are growing indistinct from the deck of the vessel This is the steamer City of Mobile, a roomy but light draft craft Suitable to the shallow bays and lagoons of the Texan coast Is paddling over the soft swells of the Gulf of Mexico She is laden to her bearings with supplies for General Taylor's Army Her forward deck is littered by cases of ammunition, boxes of shells, Grape shot and canister Cavalry saddles and casks of commissary bacon and United States salt beef Are mixed with a lot of savage government mules, stabled in the bow A few ambulances and Conestoga wagons being arranged about the beasts to keep them from stampeding The steerage is crowded with the usual underling riff-raff of an army Suttlers, boys, teamsters, canteen men, and camp followers Half in the cabins, however, congregate commissary officers accompanying the army supplies of forage and provisions Two or three horse dealers who have contracts for government mounts And a scattering of diamond pin, white-shirted, eggnog and menjulip drinking gamblers Who will officiate with Uncle Sam's soldiers on payday Naturally, such a vessel bears very few females Though several lights o' love from New Orleans and a couple of well-brooched, mobile nymphs are proceeding to Corpus Christi Where about the camp of the American army has grown up a shanty town Which harbors those who prey upon the soldiers as well as those who prey upon the government Near the stern of this steamer is seated Miss Godfrey, her bright eyes Sometimes fixed on receding Galveston and now and again turned inboard With a rather perturbed expression on her pretty features She notices the incongruous crowd upon the decks The rough men and rouged women Whose careless language sometimes makes the blood suffuse her face And compels her to turn her eyes again upon the sandy waters dotted with barrel boys That locate the narrow channel over the Galveston bar Though she is unaccompanied, Americans surround her This gives the unchaperoned girl Where she has left kind-hearted Mrs. Rodney behind her in the retreating city Not only respect, but privacy Not one of the free and easy men upon the deck says a word to her Or even glances unguardedly at her, though she is the prettiest thing upon the steamer Even the flashily dressed, smooth-mannered gamblers from the Mississippi River Who are going down to Corpus Christi to see what they can do At Pharaoh and poker with the dashing officers of Taylor's army Or better still to fleece government contractors with their purses full of United States Army contracts Though they cannot help admiring the very stylish and beautiful young lady But no more approach her with a light word or attempted conversation Than they would the wife of the President or the Queen of England Miss Godfrey's immunity, however, does not include Zelma or Maid The slight drop of color in her blood scarcely observable except by eyes accustomed to discover it Has made Australia's handsome octaroon the subject not only of careless comments But to these have been added some rather pointed personal addresses from Yazoo Sam As smooth-tongued and deadly a gambler has ever handled poker chips These attentions coming under her mistresses' observation Miss Godfrey calling the young woman to her says Zelma, for this portion of the voyage I can dispense with your personal attendance on deck You had better remain in your stageroom The red blood comes hotly into her attendance face And tears into her soft, dark eyes And she pouts quite mutinously Don't misunderstand me Goes on her mistress impulsively It's not a reproof, Zelma It is only to save you from insult But you must obey me With this the octaroon dejectedly thinking of Mr. Yazoo Sam's handsome face and attractive manner Goes to her cabin feeling with the ardour of her one drop of African blood That even for her own good it is very hard to be deprived of the subtle wooing of the night of the pharaoh table Left by herself Miss Godfrey seated on the vessel's deck grows gloomy She is so entirely alone The social ethics of the country she is now in Forbidding her making a companion of the girl she has with her Her journey from New York to New Orleans under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Rodney had been a very pleasant one Even from there to Galveston on the city of Mobile She had had the companionship of several ladies journeying to join their husbands Who were merchants in Galveston or Houston But now the vessel turned down the coast is steaming towards the debatable land Where the wildness of the prairie is made more dangerous by the outrageous of guerrilla warfare Where Texan Rangers battle with Mexican Banditi and the Comanche Indian Now that it is springtime is getting ready to descend from the Pecos mountains and the Lano Esticado Upon the fertile plains of Bexar and the valley of the San Antonio Hanging to the horrors of partisan contest the raid of the predatory savage The vessel has already made the offering the pilot has been dispatched to the shore When the quick tooting of the steamer's whistle and the sudden pause of her walking beam Makes Miss Godfrey look towards the bow Another vessel apparently disabled as she is traveling under one wheel very slowly Is passing them and signals are being exchanged Apparently in response to these the city of Mobile remains motionless upon the lazy swell of the Gulf Her paddles do not revolve again until a tugboat is seen steaming out from Galveston to tow the disabled ship into the harbor Then Miss Godfrey's vessel steam southward along the low Gulf coast of Texas headed for Corpus Christi Some 200 miles away where Uncle Sam's soldiers are gathered together Theoretically to occupy and protect Texan soil But really to be ready to take the initiative and march for the real grand at the first signal from Washington As Estrella sits gazing at the shore she would be as gloomy as its low swamps With their moss-grown cypress trees were not in the girl's mind the happy thought Every revolution of the paddle wheels brings me nearer to my father Tomorrow morning Corpus Christi, tomorrow morning perhaps he will meet me Tomorrow morning I am in his loved arms Her face grows bright as the tropic sun that is now rising And her eyes as brilliant as the sea now that the mists of the morning are driven from its blue waters Into her reverie steps Captain McGowan the most genial skipper who sailed the Gulf of Mexico Those who travel the California trip in the fifties remember McGowan In white duck from Keele to Kelsen as he expresses it he looks as immaculate as a thousand bail Louisiana planter In answer to the young ladies inquiries they have become quite good friends in the two days from New Orleans to Galveston The skipper tells her that the vessel that has passed them is the paduca of the same line bound up That she has broken her shaft and is two days behind her schedule time Oh goodness! cries Estrella anxiously There may be a letter on board her from my father You know I'm going to Corpus Christi to meet Papa from there he will take me up to his hacienda live oaks Yes, through a country with land pirates at every turn mutters McGowan Then he continues earnestly My dear young lady I have been thinking about you ever since you came on board again at Galveston You had better let me keep you on my ship at Corpus Christi and when I sail take you back with me The land you're going to isn't fit for human beings let alone a delicate girl like you That will be impossible I have come here to see my father to be by his side in his old age My loved father is waiting for me cries the girl devotedly Well love will make women go anywhere there are a few young officers wives even now at Corpus Christi Who want the last kiss of their boy husbands before they bid them goodbye for the campaign Perhaps the last they will ever give him replies the skipper moodily But in this matter since you are determined to land Miss Gottfried permit me as commander of this craft to take a liberty Certainly captain I know everything you do will be for my good Estrella looks at him with grateful eyes Then replies the seaman he've anchor here I'll join you in a minute A few moments later he returns accompanied by a gentleman and says Miss Gottfried permit me to introduce you to Captain Hampton There's no man better fitted to put you safely in your dad's arms Captain Hampton ejaculates the girl her eyes growing big not the rising she is about to continue excitedly When noticing the almost boyish young fellow who is standing some Brevro in hand before her She suddenly checks herself with a slightly embarrassed laugh and responds to the polite yet modest bow of the gentleman before her I'll leave you to make his acquaintance says McGowan cheerily seasickness is about the only thing that ever down Hampton He's no great shakes on shipboard and made the voyage from New Orleans with us to Galveston between blankets But on land he's a screamer this saltwater business for a day or two made me feel about as worthless as if I had been scalped Remarks the young man diffidently however I'm in the saddle again noticing that you are alone on the boat He continues in easy tone I have taken the liberty of asking Captain McGowan to introduce me He tells me you insist on venturing to visit your father up in Bexar County Can I take the greater liberty of asking your plans to get there? Certainly replies the young lady gratefully At Corpus Christi I am directed to go to the branch office of Martin Best & Co. There I hope to meet my father who will take me with him up to his rancho of Live Oaks It's above the Aransas Ah yes On Atta Scosa Creek near the Nueces where cattle thieves, Mexicans, smugglers and sometimes Comanches ride The young man reflectively chews a straw she notices he has in his mouth and adds I have not seen your father for the last few years You you'll excuse me miss but Jim Godfrey can hardly be right in his mind To think of taking a delicate girl like you to such a place now that a general war with Mexico is about to break out upon the whole border True replies Miss Godfrey concern in her voice Mr. Martin his New York agent told me ever since the fight at Rock Springs My father's letters indicate he has changed very much But still Mr. Martin always said they were as full of horse sense as if he were General Sam Houston himself You you've seen my father tell me was he not always rational Yes after he recovered from that fight at Rock Springs returns Hampton more than rational long headed astute and energetic Still of course a desperate scrimmage like that one together with what he went through afterwards may have told upon him eventually You you know the details of that awful fight where my father was the only one who escaped says this Trella very eagerly Papa never wrote mother much about it That was a good while ago returns Hampton and there were so many little brushes just before our big fights at Alamo and Goliath and San Jacinto But one more or less didn't count from much your father escaped alive at that time there were a good many skirmishes in which everybody was rubbed out As if to turn Miss Godfrey's mind from this subject he glances at the very fashionable garments of the young lady and observes rather abruptly From your appearance you've been away from Texas for some time I reckon Yes ever since I was three years of age I have never seen my father to remember him her voice is very eager as she asks Tell me do I look like him Not a bit answers the captain decidedly I don't look like my father How's the girl disappointedly But still you do look like someone I've seen returns the Texan meditatively His piercing eyes regard Miss Godfrey so searchingly that to break away from the subject she goes into a rambling record of her life How her father had gone to Texas in 1824 having received as an impresario an immense grant of land from the Mexican government on condition that he furnish it with a hundred settlers This contract he had not been able to complete until 1834 Though he had long before that time located his hacienda on the fertile lands between the Atascosa Creek and San Antonio River That while making this settlement her little sister Sybil two years younger than she had been stolen and carried away either by Mexican bandits or Comanche Indians Yes such things had been too common about here returns the Texan though it may have been the Libyans and Wacoes those savages hadn't been taught to be good Indians by our Kentucky rifles Sometimes continues Estrella I imagine though he never mentioned it in his letters it is some wild hope of finding my sister that has kept my father all these years from visiting New York and taking me in his arms Noting how the girls face lights up as she says this Hampton suggests you seem so eager to see him Permit me to expedite the meeting by getting you early on shore tomorrow morning and taking you to the office of Martin Best and Co Thank you replies the girl unaffectedly I shall be more than pleased if a friend of Captain McGowan will be kind enough to see me that far upon the way As they had been talking Estrella has been looking over the gentleman whose escort she has accepted and it's pleased with him Though she thinks he is rather young to be of any great weight or importance in this rough and tumble Western world He has a boy's face clean cut and Roman lighted by gray blue eyes that would seem cold did they not sparkle enthusiastically as they gaze on her A symmetrical figure the rather gaunt and wiry from the athletics of the prairie exceedingly small feet and hands Dressed in a black long skirted frock coat the typical southern low-collared vest and an immaculately white shirt with trousers well spread out over his high Wellington boots A Mexican sombrero shading his clean shaven face the young man's air would be that of a rather bashful farmland addressing a society beauty Did not a curious courtesy of matter add a quiet and almost impressive dignity to his bearing Thank you he replies simply you've made me very happy and trusting yourself so far to me I think even on this boat I may be of some assistance to you Indeed how asked the young lady astonished I noticed that you seemed inconvenienced sitting on the deck this morning without the attendance of your maid to fan you and make you comfortable If you will permit me I will speak to a certain gentleman and I think after that you can tell your girl that she can come on deck Oh please don't make any trouble There will be no trouble I will simply say to Mr. Yazoo Sam that any attention to her maid annoys Miss Godfrey that will I think settle it But please don't place yourself in danger Whispers the girl in a frightened tone these Mississippi gamblers I believe are are rather slick with the pistol he smiles coldly Yes but other people about here are all so quick on the trigger Yes I suppose they have to be to live she shutters Then to change the subject remarks in rather embarrassed tone When first Captain McGowan mentioned your name Miss Hampton do you know I thought till I noticed how boyish you were But he was perhaps introducing the celebrated Captain Sharp Selby Hampton of Hayses Texan Rangers The noted frontiersman and Indian fighter who even as a boy fought at San Jacinto Are you a relative of his Yes I'm I'm a connection Stammers the young man very nervously But if you'll excuse me I'll I'll execute the little mission I've given myself so that your girl can come on deck He hurriedly leaves her and Estrella watching him anxiously sees him step to three or four gentlemen of the dice box and card table Who are lounging amid ships and they all lift their hats to him He says a few quiet words and Mr. Yazoo Sam answers his matter implying dissent or refusal Then the girl starts astounded the cold eyes of this bashful boy gleam with a peculiar steely glint that frightens her A look flies into his face that oars her she seems to be in the presence of death Half a dozen cold words apparently issue slowly from his thin chiseled lips and the gambler shrinks from him Then shrugging his shoulders deprecatingly bows and responds in louder tone No offense meant and no harm done we hope Captain to prove it let's liquor With this they all go forward apparently to the bar room of the steamer that is doing a great business A few minutes after Ms. Gottry steps to the state room and tells Elma that she can come on deck without fear of annoyance This proves to be so Mr. Yazoo Sam does not address her maid and the rest of the morning passes quite pleasantly Ms. Gottry making herself acquainted with the Indian question in one of Cooper's novels At two o'clock Captain McGowan makes his appearance at her side and suggests with your permission young lady I'll take you into dinner entering the cabin she finds the skipper has given her retirement at his own table Only a sedate army contractor and two commissariat officers in uniform being of the party With the addition of the gentleman whose acquaintance she has made in the morning He shortly after comes in and seats himself on McGowan's other hand Towards the end of the meal the contractor and commissary men being about to leave the table to light their cigars on deck The skipper turning to Hampton says hope you and this young lady have had a pleasant chat together Excitedly answers the gentleman enthusiastically Ms. Gottry was kind enough to tell me about the great city of New York Life at Saratoga Springs and give me some description of the high-fly civilization upon the trail of which I got at New Orleans You've been up at the Crescent City Captain? Remarks one of the commissary officers as he rises from his chair Yes getting equipment for the boys replies Hampton, a tinge of embarrassment in his voice You know we expect to move very shortly Yes when I was at Corpus Christi Ben McCullough told me that you were going to take over Sam Walker's company Remarks the army man Also that Colonel Hayes had written to you in New Orleans telling you to leave all extra equipment at Corpus Christi And the regiment would get it when they reach there By George that looks as if General Taylor was about to move at once, interjects McGowan Sam Walker's becoming its Lieutenant Colonel will probably give you the vacant majority in the Texas regiment Won't it Captain Hampton? Asks the army contractor Can't exactly be sure of that replies the young fellow Some people think I'm too young Here his glance happens to catch the young lady seated at McGowan's side Her face made red yet bewitching by embarrassment Directed at some raisins upon her plate He mutters blushingly Thank you gentlemen, I'll accept your invitation and join you in a cigar And hurriedly leave the cabin ahead of the commissariat men What's the matter with sharp Hampton queries McGowan of his pretty charge He always was a bashful fellow but today he seems to excel himself He accepted those army chap's cigars when they didn't offer them I'm afraid says Miss Godfrey still studying the raisins on her plate The Captain Hampton is perhaps displeased with me I made a very embarrassing and foolish contra-tom I told him I had nearly mistaken him for the celebrated Captain Sharp Hampton But that of course he was too young Then she breaks out her eyes growing big Is that boy really the great frontiersman The friend of the celebrated Colonel Jack Hayes of the Texas Rangers and Ben McCullough And the hero of half a hundred hand-to-hand encounters with Mexicans and Indians Yes, that's Captain Sharp Selby Hampton replies the skipper To this he adds in Low Chuckle By Joe, if you've probably wounded Sharp Hampton more savagely than half a dozen regiments of greasers could The only thing he's touchy upon is his youthful appearance But isn't he a boy? Well, he's twenty-six about the age Napoleon fought his great Italian campaigns I believe And between you and me Captain Sharp Selby Hampton though he's as modest as he is brave Is able enough and experienced enough to take care of anything in the fighting line From grizzly bars to kimchi Indians Though in other respects he is a very timid young fellow as you've doubtless seen Blushed to the eyes didn't he as he addressed you Come, the seaman says cheerfully, I'll make your peace with him Nobody could be very angry with you Leading the young lady on deck he finds the young Texan meditatively smoking a cigar I see I've got to make this introduction over again remarks McGowan Miss Gottfrey, this is really Captain Sharp Selby Hampton, the comrade of Jack Hayes and Ben McCullough The hero of half a hundred skirmishes, the boy who with deaf Smith destroyed the bridge at San Jacinto Now quit McGowan, says the young man, uneasily tossing his cigar away His face growing red notwithstanding its tan The greaser killer, the engine scalper, gaffaws the jovial sea dog Please hold your horses, says Hampton I never put my knife about an Indian's topknot though I've been tempted to What man in Texas hasn't But you'll frighten Miss Gottfrey, frighten her of me When I had hoped to be perhaps of some little service to her Oh, you have already been, fries the girl gratefully The attendance of my maid has been very useful to me She glances at the Texan ranger and sees something in his countenance that makes her turn her eyes diffidently over the blue waves gliding by the steamer's side Bye, Jingo, you're the bashful one now, Miss Estrella, laughs McGowan But I must relieve my first officer and give him a chance for dinner The commander of the boat walks forward, leaving Miss Gottfrey still gazing out upon the waters of the gulf You look all, all fired warm, stammers the Texan nervously Let me get your girl to come and fan you Oh, I don't need to be fan all the time, laughs the young lady Please place a steamer chair for me Then will you tell me something of the land of my birth that I'm visiting, but which I know so little about Well, Mustang's kick, replies Hampton eagerly And though lacking in experience, he shows the instinct of a cavalier by making Miss Gottfrey very comfortable Beated beside her, perhaps inspired by her exquisite face or by his subject But the land of Texas seems dear to him The young man tells his lovely vis-a-vis, the beauties of the Lone Star State Describing the wave-like plains, green with the richest grasses, and covered with myriads of buffalo From this he runs into a picture of the most lovely thing in all that southern country The flower prairie That sea of dazzling colors dotted here and there with moths of timber that look like green islands in a gorgeous ocean He explains that these are often so vast in extent that only the tried frontiersmen dare attempt to cross them without compass For the inexperience get lost upon them And traveling in circles mid the flowery billows become as helpless as if alone in an open boat upon the boundless ocean Sinking down to die of thirst, the odors of a million petals regaling their expiring nostrils And their dying ears soothed with the songs of innumerable hummingbirds and orange-winged orioles Enthusing over the wonderful game that covers this fair land, he tells his listener of hunting adventures with buffalo, cougars, and also the savage jaguar of southern Texas During this, Miss Gottfrey notices that he is only eloquent upon the pleasant things of the country he is visiting That he says not of the frightful combats by men over this beautiful land Of the rattlesnakes that lie coiled beneath its wildflowers Or of the merciless Indians that raid its green prairies with lance and scalping knife But in the midst of his oration the captain suddenly starts and says, disconcertedly Thunder, that's the gong for supper Yes, the time has passed very rapidly and very pleasantly, hasn't it, remarks the girl To this she adds as she rises, thank you for trying to make me like Texas You've even made death and its flower prairies, oh, Eddick Well, yes, he replies uneasily, I love my state and I want you to like it also, it's your state too But his disciple, in frontier instruction, going off to her cabin He stands gazing after her graceful figure To himself, he mutters sheepishly, that's the first occasion I ever jabbered poetic nothings Soon after pacing the deck and attempting philosophy by the aid of a cigar He is joined by the genial skipper of the city of Mobile I hope you'll be able to assist the young lady when she lands, remarks McGowan Down in that ruddy, muddy, cutthroat, whole, corpus Christi tomorrow morning Believe me, I shall do what I can for her, responds the Texan You found her somewhat like her father, I presume, suggests the skipper No more than a canary bird is like a blue jay, I'm very happy to say is Hampton's reply For between ourselves Jim Godfrey has a reputation of being a very ornery cuss all over southern Texas Working his niggers to death and skinning everybody who's dealings with him But his daughter, who, as the Arkansas traveler said, she is chicken fixens The ranger's eyes are very enthusiastic Oh, so you do think well of my protégé Well, I thought enough of her two or three hours ago to risk my life by telling Yazoo Sam Who they say shoots mighty straight, that if he didn't quit sparking Miss Godfrey's yaller girl I'd put daylight through him tomorrow morning as soon as we landed, answers the young man You see it annoyed Miss Godfrey just a little And I couldn't stand that, no sorry, not by Texas End of book one chapter three, recording by John Brandon