TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
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it would have been impossible for her to have abided from him for :any considerable period. Had she been requested so to do, there is no doubt as to what her answer would have been. She would have said as Ruth said to Naomi-" Entreat me not to leave thee; for where thou goest I will go, and where thou logest I will loge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God; where thou diest I wil! <lie. and there will I be buried; naught but death shall part us.'' l\Irs. Long arrived at Galveston just in time to witness the depar- ture of Lafitte. The little village which had sprung up under the prosperous operations of this singular adventurer was smoking in ruins. ·whatever was transportable, was already on board of his ships; and everything was in a state of preparation for his setting sail. At this interesting moment, the little sloop of General Long made its appearance, and as soon as it landed, an invitation was des- patched to the General and his family to partake of a parting dinner with this bold rover of the seas. The General himself was too much occupied to accept the proffered hospitality; but his lady did; and she was as much delighted as surprised at the dignity, urbanity and intellectualities of the famos host. She had .been lead, by the publica- tions of the day, as well as by the stormy nature of his profession and enterprises, to suppose that he was in form and size an uncouth giant, ferocious in temper, nnd in manners as rough and boisterous as the winds and waves he dealt with. Instead of this, however, she ·was pleasingly disappointed on finding that he was, in every particular the very reverse of what her imagination had pictured him. He ·was of middle stature-perhaps a little above it-graceful in his form and _movements; with marked and manly features; dark hair, brown complexion and a pair of eyes as vivid as the lightning and as black as ebony.-In conversation he was mild, placable and polite; but al- togctlwr unjocular and free from levity. There was something noble and attractive in his aspect in spite of its occasional severity; and between the fierceness of his 1rlancc, and the softness of his speech, the· disparity was striking. Whatever might have· been the inner man, he was evidently the gentleman in all external particulars, and blcn<led in his demeanor the elegancies of civilization with the sterner attributes of the hero. 'l'he only complaint which his fair guest could urge ai;rnnst him, was one which it was natural for her sex to make- bis wnnt of communicativeness. Her curiosity was not gratified to the P.xtent she expected and desired. Nevertl1eless, the meeting was an interesting one; and all things passed off well. The dinner was sumptnorn,,; & many very entertaining as well as thrilling adventures were related by several of the party; but all attempts of Mrs -Long to obtain any important information from the host, respecting him- self were adroitly and politely parried; and she was compelled to return with as little knowledge as she came, concerning his futme operations. His designs and destination, he kept to himself. That evening he hoisted all sail, and left those shores forever. \Ve believe his after history is unknown. Various accounts have been published respecting his final catastrophe. The most popular one, is, that he was encountered by a superior force; and after a sanguinary conflict,
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