Mariposa Democrat., 1857-05-06

Of the word " fire, )" the pistol Of Young Thomp-
son pealed the death-kne of his hated rival.
The report roared like thunder on the still
night air, making up ten thousand elumbering
echoes in the tall rocks beyond the river, as if
the viewless spectres of the mountain had also
caught the rage of combat.
The victor bounded to his promised bride,
and grasping her icy hand, said earnestly;
" Come dearest, let us go; no one will hinder
US now"
eyes" she answered, as if murmuring in a
dream.
He led her to Captain Turner, and asked,
"Will you give us passage to New OrleansH"
Certainly with the greatest pleasure" /" was
the generous response.
"Who will pay the fareS" calculated COL
Thorn, in tones of burning irony; az the boy is
a beggar, as his father was before hint"
Thala started as if stung by scorpion; all
her natural and habitual pride came to the res
cue, overpowering even the strong resistance
of pleading love; and she faltered: 81 will not
90; must wait until you have a home"
The boy staggered as if stunned by an un-
seen blow, and then standing up rigid as if
changed into metallic form, he cried sadly,
regardless of the throng 81 shall be absent
two years; shall come back wealthy if my
bones are above the sod. But woe to you, if
you prove false or tickle; and darker woe to
him who shall dare to pass between you and
mel"
He kissed her hand, and walked slowly
away. Once only he turned, perhaps expect
ing her to recall him, but she had already hur-
ried off with her stern-eyed old father. He
cast one look towards the stars, so full of des-
pair, gloomy yet fierce, pregnant with unutter-
able defiance, and altogether indescribable, that
those who beheld it never will forget the fear
ful meaning stamped as with letters of hellish
light on that boyish face. Then in an instant,
bounded down the bank, leaped into his canoe,
and sped across the river. He was seen no
more in central Arkansas for years.
In the meantime he was fulfilling portion
Of his awful promise. Where could you find a
steamboat on the western waters unfamiliar
with thcname of the all-dreaded gambler and
duest, Wade Thompson? What city journal
did not occasionally recount some of his despe-
rate deeds? Hcplayed, too, with the most
astonishing success; every card he touched
seemed to turn to gold so that by the day he
had specified in his last farewell to Thalia, he
was actually rich. But the changeful coquette
had then been married to another for dozen
months; and he shortly afterwards died,
which, perhaps, saved her husband from the
former lovers wrath.
That merciless man can boast score of VIC
tins, all shot or cut down, either in fair duel,
or in sudden combat with an armed foe, and
all on equal terms, if indeed any terms of bat
tie could be equal with that eye and hand, both
quick as lightning. But the most singular phe-
nomenon in the character of the desperate re-
mains to be recorded With the exception of
the piercing blue eyes, his countenance seemed
mild as that of woman; and always, when
the diabolical fit Of anger came over his brain
and heart, his features never failed to assume
an aspect of speechless woe, and he would
burst into paroxism of burning tears, every
drop of which was soon made to count for one
Of blood.
lie has been arraigned for homocide in half
the States of the Mississippi Valley, but always
with the good fortune Of a favorable verdict
lis is now in California, the same restless, wan
dering Jew, doomed to the torture Of eternal
doubt and death; hated, yet feared; alone in
crowds, suffering the old hearts blight, never
soothed by a tone of pity; though of all things,
perchanco, he deserves pity the most-for the
everlasting laws have already punished him.