Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1850-11-22

over the turning Of a card And the smiling
blue.eyed stranger in buekskin still stood by
them with his pencil and paper, calmly no.
ticing the development Of the game.
Finally the storm passed, and the beautiful
day.brelk came on like a thing Of glory
in the gray east. Then the infatuated mer-
chant, distracted with his heavy losses, dared
the climax Of folly lie siaked five thousand
dollars comprising his last cent in the world.
on 1.-TWO pair Of kings" The whiskered
gambler called" him; they showed hands
the black-leg had 1.-TWO pair Of aces, #" and
raked the board" The merchant dropped to
the floor as Il he had been shot ihro' the brain.
and that beautiful young wife few to his side
and Tell shrieking upon his bosom. They
were both borne away insensible 10 III, ladies'
cabin.
As he deposited the winnings in hi, pock.
ct, the gambler emitted hoarse laugh. that
sounded frghiful a, the chuekle Of dend
but he Instantly lost color, as a low, calm
] 'NiN' l'hiathNu lu Hla taI--
"Villain, you play strong hand at many
diiiercu, games, but here stands one who can
beat you At all Of them ="
lie turned, met the glance Of those Keen
blue ewes, 50 Prstsrna,urally bright, and shud.
dcrcd. But he Immediately gained his pres.
cncs Of mind, for he va, M coward, and then
he frowned all his shaggy brow, me, like the
coil Of serpent, and demanded ,ternly-
Bcggar, who are you, to banter a gentle
man thu, rudelyi"
~ am james Bowie, Of Texas" III, other
answered with a ringing laugh: and YOU are
John llhlie, bastard Of the old pirate
The gambler rceled in his chair as ifhe
had been struck with a thunderbolt, but re.
covered again from the shock ia a moment.
and asked Va a Grm lone
What game DO you wish with mel"
" PolG first, and pistols afterwards, lfyou
. play foul ' replied Bowie.
Very well, rcjoincd the other, and they
took seats Al the table
For a time the success seemed equally bal.
lnccd, the gaia gnd loss being alternate At
lsst the gambler 'cntured one Of his skillful
manTu,cn ~ dealing
Bowie smiled strangely as his quick eve
deetoctsj the trick lie said nothing however,
but looked at his hand. and bet five thousand
dollars, stalking the money ia ten large bills
The gambler went five thousand dollars high
rr, which resulted IN " call" Bowie held
" four JacLs - but with his habtual chucLl,
hls antagonist showed " four queens, ~.
claiming as he did So
By heaven The pll, is minc''
Not YET" shouted Bowie, as with bo,h
hands be nLcd the heap u notes 10 the tune
oft"ruI, thousand dolIars. into his own pOcL-
. a.
. Choking aud purple ~,th ngr and shane
the gambler roared--
10 ,h, hurricane deck, and Iet pistol, BE-
trump. ,bl, um ,"
'"'' ~ XVI" ''Il'N b"Nlt' aHu VIC
i've ha'lilS a'cended the ',alrs assumed their
-'Para'" po''''on'-'h' gambler over the stern
and Bowie over the how.
- TIA, in'an, the sun was Jus, rising IN
cloudlcss 'Ay. Nature booked sublime
bride worthy her Almighty Husband and God
The woods aud waters appeared as parts Of
one divine picture, with the boundless blue Of
heaven for It, back ground. The broad bOs-
unr, river rolled away like an immenss sheet
Of FURNISHED silver, specklsd here and there
with the fash Of golden bubbles shining fish
gambolIeJ ia the waves, and all ne bright
bid,--those sweet singers, whuss life Is a
dream, aud that dream only music--chlnte4
their Wild anthem to the new day, while the
two great duellists, the mos,dcadly known IN
! the south west, stood WIN cooked pistols, eve
to cye, and their finger fixed on the hair tng.
ger. lrcparcd to slay and be slain.
/ 81 am ready. You give the worln cried
Bowie. in his clear ringing voice. and with
,hl, inssperable smile ui strange meaning on
An, l,r-
81 am rr,dy-Firer' shouted the gam.
bier. IN tones as murlerons as death.
The two pistols reared simultaneously
Bowie did no, move. though he had barely
c,c,ped with his life. for the bullet of his foe
had cut away one OF the golden locks Of HI,
y.lI,w hair The rambler was shot through
the heart. and dropping on the brink of tho
deck, had almost tumblcd iR,o the river. lie
VA. burned by the squa,,ers. a, the next wood