Gratitude, for
the kindness of Middleton, induced him to open his doors to the
officers of the garrison, and to admit of a guarded but polite
intercourse. Reserve gradually gave way before the propriety and
candour of their spirited young leader, and it was not long ere the
affluent planter rejoiced as much as his daughter, whenever the well
known signal, at the gate, announced one of these agreeable visits
from the commander of the post.
It is unnecessary to dwell on the impression which the charms of Inez
produced on the soldier, or to delay the tale in order to write a
wire-drawn account of the progressive influence that elegance of
deportment, manly beauty, and undivided assiduity and intelligence
were likely to produce on the sensitive mind of a romantic, warm-
hearted, and secluded girl of sixteen. It is sufficient for our
purpose to say that they loved, that the youth was not backward to
declare his feelings, that he prevailed with some facility over the
scruples of the maiden, and with no little difficulty over the
objections of her father, and that before the province of Louisiana
had been six months in the possession of the States, the officer of
the latter was the affianced husband of the richest heiress on the
banks of the Mississippi.
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