Democratic banner., 1845-03-01

'o'oSe' Jul uetpif ami PROOF u
confined confdence-as fos risk
their eagle eyes and iron nerves de
fled the might OF whiskey. Afte
their recent alienation a doubly gen
erous impulse, withou, doubt had in
duced Fink tn propose ard suhjec
bim,elfto the test.
Carpenter had been drinking wild
~. and with q boislerous laugh
snatched up his rifle. All present
had seen he parties "shoet.' and
this desperate aim instead Of alarming
was merely made I matter of wild
jest.
"lour grog is split, forever. Nike"
"kill the old varmint, young 'nn."
-'WhatH his skin bring in ST. Lou
is?"
Amid a loud laugh Carpenter rails.
ed his piece-even the testers remark
ed that he was unsteady--"crackr,-
the can tell, a loud shout, but instead
OF a smile of pleasure, Il dark frown
settled upon the face OF Fink He
made no motion except to clutch his
rifle as though he would have crush
ed It; and there he stood gazing at
The youth strangely! Various shades
OF passion crossed his featurcs-sur
prise. rage, suspicion-but OF length
they composed themselves into a.
sad expression: the ball had grazed
Tho top OF his head, cutting the scalp,
aud the thought of ~treachery had sci
his heart on fire.
There was 4 loud call upon Mike
to know what he was waiting for. in
which Carpenter joined, pointing 10
the can upon his lead and bidding
him fire, If he knew how"
carpenter, my son." said the
boatman, II taught you to shoot dif. I
from the last shot! You've
once bu; you won't again." ,
He fred, and his ball crashing ,
the forehead Of the youth, +
aid him 4 corpse amid his, az sudden :,
Y hushed companions. Time wore
'n-many a. the for, spoke darby OF
he deed-Mike Fink had never been b
10 miss his aim-he had grown c
liraId Of Carpenter-he had murder C
ID him9 While this feeling was (
gathering against him, the unhappy
'oatman laid in his cave stunning -,
10Th sympathy and sustenence. He u
poke Of none when he did come 9
orth, twas as a spectre, and only to y.
aunt the grave Of his 'toy," or if h,
Ie did break silence, twas to burst 4,
nto 4 paroxysm Of rage against the !,
nemies who has "turned his bows
cart from him."
At the fort was a man by the name IN,
t Talbot. the gunsmith OF the sta ma
ION; be was very loud and bitter in CO
Is denunciations Of the murderer" II
S be called Fink, which finally reach ca
the ears Of the Latter, filled him
nth the most violent passion, and 4,
e swore that lie would take the life of
his defamer. This threat was al
.ost forgotten, when one day Tai ed
DIT, who was at work in his shop, it?'
" Fink enter the fort, his frat visit
nee the death Of Carpenter. Fink
preached: he was care-worn, sick she
I'd wasted; there was no anger in Of
s bearing, but he carried his rifle, -
ad he ever gone withou, it, and the
'nsmiih, was not a coolly brave
an; e his life had been
reatened.
Fink cried he, snatching up 4
If OF pistols from bis bench, "dont Pill
.proach me-ify you do you're u dead ter
tral
Talbot" said the boatman. in a dec
q voice, you need'n, be ofraid;- ahc
done me wrong, I've come 10 me
* to you atout-Carpentei-my an'
VI" ems
He continued to advance. and the CO.,
nsnith aglin called to him. Coz
''Fink! | know you-if YOU come Ra,
zee steps nearer. I'll fire by" mel
Mike carried his rifle across his DIRE,
n, and made no hostile demonslra- the
n, except in gradually getting near cha:
ii hostile his aim was. wit
Talbot. you have accused me of of
rdering my boy. Carpenter, that
aIsed from 4 child-that | loved
: a son, that | can't live Without +
not mad with you now. but you -
81 let me show you that | couldn't
it--that I'D rather die than to G
done lt--that you've wronged ~
BY this time he was within n few III
ps OF the door, and Talbott's aglta. d.
/ became extreme. Both pistols payt
pointed at Fink's breast, in ex. pric
tatlon of a spring from The latter. Corr
BY the Almighty above us, Fink.