Democratic banner., 1849-08-27
THE DYING GOLD SEEKER.
BY q. @. cHIPMAS.

The sun was slo WHY sinking behind the western
horizon, and cas- its last rays upon the extended
surface Of q desolats and dreary plain. One wid'
unlimited waste, a. far a. the eve could reach, q
lone fell upon the vision of q solitary individual
who lay reclining ut full length upon the EARTH
His cheek was wan and pale; and hIs hsggarc
countenance bore the marks of disease legibI,
stamped Upon It. His eyes were sunk far bac in
TO his head, and emitted q wild unearthly kiesm
such ss is often seen in the glance of q person OF
the brink Of eternity. His limbs were shrunk.
en- and dried up, and every thing betokened &
speedy dissolution of the soul and body.
With a powerful effort he raised himself. upon
his elbows, and gazed long and steadily around
him, until his eyes grew dim with the painfuInes.
of the look, and his form trenbled like all asper
leaf from the over-eXertion-
eyes," he at length bitterly exclaimed, sthey
have gone and left me to perish alone-may the
~bitterest curses of q dying man follow forever--Oh
why did ever leave my home, dragged Oft by
the cursed thirst of gold, TO perish miserably here
and shade OF mortal agony gathered upon hi.
pallid brow.
Again he glanced his eye around the plain, and
far in the distance, just where the sun seemed
sinking into the earth, the form of a man mounted
on horseback, came out in bold re .ief for an in.
instant against the sky, and then disappeared.
"lt is Hueston, he is coming back TO me-" NUT
tered the dying man, as he shaded his eyes with
his eDaciated hand. and strove again to catch a
glimpse Of the distant horseman. "No, I must
have been mistaken, they are gone, and he loo a.
mong the rest, and must perish, die like q dog,
unwept, uncared for, and alone-why should I
complain2-did not tear myself from home, a.
gainst the wishes of my friends and relatives, and
tell my grey.haired mother as she pressed me for
the last time to her bosom, that / would soon re-
turn laden with gold, from these Western mines,
and how scofied at the tears Of my own Edith as
she told me l might never return. And here / am
|qui7ering upon the threshold of eternity-with ev-
cry fibre Frustrated by disease, and dying inch by
inch, In the desolate wilds Of q western prairie;-
fool, fool that ! was, why did I seek for riches and
wealth. why Gid l peril my Ifs, health and happi-
ness, BY venturing in search Of such an idle bau-
ole, or follow until too late to repent il, the wild
and fatal delusion," and overcome BY the power
OF bis emotion, he sank exhausted upon the
ground.
Suddenly the tramp of = stsed echoed over the
spot, and an Indian warrior galloped up to the
side Of the Frustrated man, and bounding from bis
|steed, drew o tomahawk from his belt, and bend
ing over him raised the g~litterink weapon In the
air. AZ II flashed in the sunlight. the sick man q.
gain struggled to bis elbow and rivetted his gaze
with q steady look upon the eye Of the savage,
while q smile stole over bis ghsstly features. For
an instant te savage contemplated bis feeble foe,
then slowly hwering his Ratchet, exclaimed
"Pale face warrior weak-mueh sick-me no
kill him.Indsn kill strong man, and he pointed
to . fresh scalp hanging at the girdle-
"Whits warrior coming here-me shoot him
take sealp-ake gun-see,' and he pointed 10 a
rife ssrappedtu his saddle.
The eyes o. the dying gold seeker followed the
direction pointed out, and rested upon the well.
known rife d his friend. The truth flashed in
|stantly upon Rm-Hueston had attempted to 10.
turn to his ali, but was wsylayed and shot BY the
proving savsgs.
With q deei grosn he sank back for the last
time 70 the ezth, his lips trembled for IN instant
with . convulfve movement, the limbs sti1ened
slowly out, ant quivered for Q single instant, the