Mariposa Democrat., 1857-05-06

nal, could they have a Maker then? Has the
space in which they move Maker also9 Is
not eternity old as the EternalP An is dark
here and yonder."
Alas unhappy youth, the icy arrow of all
the ages has thrilled thy inexperienced heart.
Thou hast tasted the forbidden fruit that brings
not knowledge, but undying doubt. Thou hast
plucked the apple Of Sodom that grows even
in the wild woods of Arkansas, as it grows in
the gardens of London and Paris, as it grew
in Greece, Rome and Hindostan-as it will
grow so long as the Garth grows men. Alas
alas for thee there shall never more be starry
dreams, or thoughts with wings like angels
" Let us die, he continued, gazing earnestly
on the river; "let us two go bravely to sleep
beneath the shining water, as lovers have SC
often done, in each others arms and if the
Almighty Spirit should chide us, we will plead
And he seized her with strong clasp to his
bosom, as if about to bear her into the stream
"No, no, for Gods sake, no !" she CALCULATED
in accents frozen into gasping whispers by ex-
cess Of terror.
lie started as one awakening from some
dreadful dream The wild lustre left his eyes
and the tears came back again, as he cried
"Forgive me, adorable creature; forgot
that you are too beautiful for death. Live and
be forever blest; as for me, will face the
grim destiny alonel"
He imprinted on her white lips brief kiss,
and descended rapidly the bank Of the river
His feet were already in the shallow water
when she shrieked-
"stay, Wade, will be yours will fly as
you wishl"
He bounded back to her, exclaiming:
"Now too, will believe there is God o.
mercy. know there is Heaven, for find
it hercw
And the lovers melted together in tears and
caresses of ineffable fondncss.
After few moments, such as crush ages o.
rapture into nstants, the youth said:
"Come, my hearts own bride, let us away
we must be miles down the river before sun
rise, unless we may chance to fall in with {
boat"
As he spoke the familiar hoarse snorting o
a high-pressure steamer became audible. The
young man uttered a cry of joy, while tbs
woman, already relenting faltered;
awe must defer our flight until some Other
time; how can leave without my clothing ?
At the moment, an angry curse, mingled
with peal as of Internal laughter, sounded i'm
mediately behind them. The woman fairly
screamed, for she knew the fearful impreca
ton as the voice Of an unrelenting father
They turned, aud the fierce-eyed old man stoot
before them not alone, but accompanied by q
proud, sneerng brother and former suitor o
the daughter-one abhorred rejected, yet still
perseverng, in spite of her aversion
The picture was extraordinary, even for the
backwoods. The mpetuous father giant o
strength and fury in his youth, and still more
powerful than any man in Arkansas-his face
writhing, his tongue inarticulate with rage, his
cane uplfted, yet forbearing to strike; for ole
Col. Jack Thorn though Satan in wrath and
revenge, had a keen sense of the Western prin
ciple of honor, and therefore scruped to assault
an unarmed or unrcssting foe. His son John
tall, dark-vsaged person, with cruel, thir
lips hourished cowhide, but hesitated to an
ticipatc the purpose of his father, who could il
brook any interference with the course of bis
own quarrels. Capt Davis, the rejected suitor
huge red-hared monster, the most murder
Gus duelist of the frontier with one hand
smoothed an immense beard, and with the
other fondled the siver-mounted butt of his pis
tol, while diabolical grin curled his coarse
lurd lips, and his small, yellowish eyes flashed
ruddy jets of flame.
ado not strike me, said young Thompson
folding his arms on his breast and looking
steadily but mournfully in the face of Thalia's
father Do not strike me, for cannot strike
back"
"And why not, coward, wretch, son of the
devil ?" roared the Colonel.
The youth glanced at his beloved, and was
silent
"Do you think a daughter of mine shall evei
wed beggarly poltroonS Sooner would | cut
her up with my bowie-knife, as meat for the
hounds"
81 am not coward" replied the boy in q
thrilling Whisper and a large blue vein swelled
up like a cord in his left temple as if about tc
burst
"Then fight u" thundered the Colonel
fight me and you shall have her." he added
with an oath lrightful enough, one might have
imagined TO appal the demons that inspired
him.
quick arrow of lightning darted from the
blue eyes of the youth, to be succeeded by
streams of tears, as he gasped "Ohl God, il
is mpossible" But whether he alluded to the
proposed combat, or the exhaustion of his own
powers of endurance, the hearers could not
well conjecture.
The duelist Captain Davis, nterposed
" The lily-liyered boy who is afraid of lead and
cold steel, is not fit to marry"
A ". =