Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-01-18
farming, was merely made matter Of

s.Your greg is split forever, Miker'
skill the old yarnint, young lump
s.What'll his skin bring in st. Lcuis?h
Amid loud laugh, Carpenter raised
his piece-even the testers remarked that
he waA unsteady --'scrack!h can fell,
a loud shout-but, instead Of smile cf
pleasure, dark frown settled upon tie
face Of Finck! He made no motion. ex-
cept to clutch his rifle as though he would
have crushed it, and there he stood, gazing
at the youth strangely! Various shades u
passion crossed his features--surprise,,
rage, suspicion-but at length they COM
posed themselves in sad expression; the
ball had grazed the top Of his head cutting
the scalp, and the thought Of treachery
had set his heart on FIRE. :
There was loud call upon Mike to
know what he was waiting for, in which
Carpenter joined, pointing to the can upon
his head and b dding him FIRE, II he knew
Carpenter, my son, said the boatman,
81 taught you to shoot differently from that
last shot! You've missed once, but you
won't sgainr' s
lie fired, and his ball, crushing through
the forehead Of the youth, laid him corpse
amid his, as suddenly hushed, companions!
Time wore on--many at the fort spoke
darkly of the deed. Mike Fink had never
been known 10 miss his m--he had grown
afraid Of Carpenter had murdered him!
While this feeling was gathering against
him, the unhappy boatman lay in his cave,
stunning both sympathy and sustenance.
lie spoke 70 none--when he did come forth,
twas as spectre, and only 10 haunt the
grave Of his "boy," or il he did break ST.
lence, twas to burst into paroxysm Of
rage against the enemies who had turned
his boys heart from himI'
At the fort was man by the name Of
Talbot, the Gunsnith Of the. station; he
was very loud and bitter in his denuncia-
tons Of the murderer as he called Fink,
which finally reaching the ears Of the lat
ter, filed him with the most violent pas.
sion, and he swore that he would take the
life ofhis defamer. This threat was almost
forgotten, when one day, Talbot, who was
at work in his shop, saw Fink enter the
fort, his first visit since the death of Car
penter. Fink approached, he was care
worn, sick and wasted; there was no an
ger in his bearing, but he carried his rifle,
(had he ever gone without it?) and the
gunsmith was not q coolly brave man; more
over his life had been threatened.
sFink," cried he, snatching up pair 81
pistols from his bench, ssdon't approach me
-ifyou do you're dead mani"
"Talbott,n said the. boatman, in sad
voice, "you needn't be afraid;-you've
done me wrong Pm come to talk 10 You
about-Carpenier-my boy!'' ~
He continued to advance, and the gun
smith again called to him.
Stink! know you;-if you come three
steps nearer, Ill fire by-r'
Mike carried his rifle across his arm
and made no hostile demonstration, except
in gradually getting nearer--if hostile his
arm was.
"Talbott, you've accused me Of murder.
ing-my boy--Carpenter-that / raised
from a child that | loved like son---that
| can't live without! I'm not mad with
you now, but you must let me show you
that | couldn't do it-that I'd rather died
than done it--that you've wronged me-
BY this time he was within few steps
Of the door, and Talbott's agitation became
extreme. Both pistols were pointed al
Fink's breast in expectation of spring
from the latter.
"By the Almighty above us, Fink, I'll
fire. don't want to speak to you now.
don't put your foot on that step don't''-
Fink did put his foot on the step, and
the same moment fell heavily within it, re-
ceiving the contents Of both barrels in his
breast! His last and only words were,--
81 didn't mean to kill my boy!"
Poor Mike! we are satisfied with our
seniors conviction that you did not mean
to kiln him. Suspicion Of treachery doubt
less entered his mind, but cowardice and
murder never dwelt there. a ao
A few weeks after this event, Talbot
himself persisted in an attempt to cross the
Missouri river in skiff. 9e
QUEEN's DREss.--Our ladies would
probably be pleased to learn how the
Queen was dressed on her late visit to the
City Of London, to open the new Royal
Exchange. "Hcr gown was composed Of
.-.l.4~-Sx:~ .:l.s... - - -