Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1856-05-08

seemed to have no earthly pleasure but in tina
solitary hut, which, however rude, held deal
associations enough to Gil that big heart, and
quicken all those sluggish veins Of his ungainlj
body Sometimes one of the rangers would
come across him alone with his long rife, amids,
the timber islands Of the plain, or in the deer
woods and he always appeared to have beer
SO successful, that the rumor gradually got
abroad that be was splendid shot. This at
tracted attention somewhat more to his appar
emily unsocial and solitary habits. They bad
| the curiosity to watch him, and when they
saw how devoted he appeared to bis wife-the
gibe became general, that he was a "hen-peck.
ed husband, under petticoat government" and
other like gratifying expressions. This, taken
in connection with bis lolling, awkward gait
and rather excessive expression OF simplicity and
easy temper, disposed those harsh, rude men
| very greatly to sneer at him as soft fellow
who could be run over with impunity They
even bulled him with taunts-but Jack locked
like such formidable customer to be taken hold
OF, that no one of them feit disposed to push
him too far and risk being made individually the
SUBJECT of display Of the great strength indi,
Gated in the size of his body and limbs. He
was upwards of six feet four in height, with
shoulders like the buttresses of tower, and pro-
portions developed in fine symmetry Indeed,
but for slight inclination to corpalency, and
that sluggishness of manner we have spoken of,
which made him seem too lazy ever to under
take the fcat-he looked just the man who
would take Buffalo bull by the horns amidst
his believing peers, and bring him to the ground
with all his shaggy bulk. Finding they could
not tempt him to personal fray, they changed
the note, and by every sort Of cajolery endeay-
ored to enlist the remarkable physical energy
and skill be was conjectured to possess, in the
service of their schemes of brutal violence. Bat
Jack waived all sort of participation in them
with smiling and unvarying good humor,
which though it enraged the bafiied 'rufiaus.
gave them no possible excuse for provocation.
They would not have regarded this, but that
there was still less invitation in that formidable
person and rifle, and somehow or other they had
all underlined sense that the man was not at
himself" as the phrase goes in the west--that
he had not yet been rouscd to consciousness o.
his own energies and capabilities, and they were,
without acknowledging it, little averse to
waking him. They finally gave him up there
FORE and Jack might after all, have been left
in peace to love Molly and the children as hard
as he pleased, and indulge his passion for marks
manship only at the expense Of the dumb, wild
things around him, but that be was accidental
ly led to make en- unfortunate display of it. A
few log huts near the centre constituted the
county town. Here was the grocery. or store,
as it was dignilied--at which alone powder ard
lead and whiskey were to be obtained for many
miles around. Jack happened to get out of
ammunition and came into this place for q fresh
supply. Attracted by the whisky, this was the
head quarters Of the Regulators and they were
all collected for grand shooting match, and Of
course getting drunk as fast as possible to
steady their nerves When Jack arrived, be
found them gathered in a group under cluster
Of trees several hundred yards from the house
1t had been solre time since there had been any
alteration between any of them and himself !;
and though he supposed it was all forgotten
yet he felt some little disincuation to join them
and had resolved not to do it. But as oace,
and again, and again that sharp report he loved
SO we'll to hear would ring out, followed by
cia,nors. exclamations aud eager grouping of the
men around tho target to critically examine the
result of each shot, his passion for the sport,
and curiosity to see how Others shot, overcome
halfdefned feeling that he was going to do
what. for Mollss sake, was an imprudent
thing. Hinch, the Regulator Captain had al
ways been the unrisailed hero, of such occa-
s.ons for apart from the fact that he was rcai-
" an admirable shot, he was known to be so
Eercc clustering and vindictive bully, that
nobody dared try very hard to beat him. since
he would be certain to make personal affair
of it with whoever presumed 70 be so lucky or
So skillfuh Now, every body in the county was
well aware Of This but Jack, and he was not
aware, or did not care for the matter, If he did
know it. He knew, though, that Hineh was
famous shot /, and noticing that he was pre-
pairing TO shoot, started TO join them, determinl
| cd to see for himself what they called good
shooting He came swinging himself carelessly
among them, with long, heavy strides, as they
were all vociferating in half drunken raptares
over the glorious shot just made by HincA-aud
he, in his customary manner, was swearing and
raving at every one around him, haunting them
with their bungling. and defying them to try
| again. Observing Jack he jelkcd the target
away, and with a loud grating laugh, thrust il
insultingiy close to his face "Ha. Jack Long
legs They say you can shoot Look ct that
Look close, will you p pushing it closer to his
eyes. "Can you bea, it 7" Jack stepped back
and looking deliberately at the board target
| said very drvly-" Pshaw ! the cross amt clean
out shouldn't think was doin any great
things to beat such shootin as that p You
shouldn't, shouldn't you ~ reared Hinch, fnri
GUS at Jacks GOODNESS. You'll try it. won,
YOU I'd like to see you You must try ii
| Vou shall try il Ve'u see what sort of swell