The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-12-03
The Old Huater's Las, shot.

4 q .Es-.. /
By THE AufEoR OF The ''BoND OF BLOOD"
To see IN old hunter or trapper in his
buckskin garb, armed with rife, knife and
tomnhawk, Is not avery unusual thing in
the city of st. Louis, for that town is the
head quarters of the Northwestern Fur Com
pany, and the Danes;of the Chotsaus, Au'
breys, &c., are historically affixed thereto.
Some few years. SINCE, was sitting in the |
reading .soom of The Virginia Hotel there,
converSing with a gentleman on business
shen an old man, dressed -and completely
armed as a hunter or trapper is when in his
accustomed wilds, entered and minutely
\ scanned the features of every person present.
He was evidently quite old, and very thin
and feeble, looking as if he had recently |
j risea from couch of sickness. Yet his
dark eye beamed brightly, even fiercely in
its sunken socket and his erect form seemed
to. struggle against the mortal darkness
which pervaded it. aE3 8ar 5-e-st'.5r
The old man shook his head as be finish
a ed his gaze around the room and mutterng
in low tone, "Taei cuss is not here!" he
turned away. ks.a fea.ga .t ..a3. !
Having finished my business, also left,
and went up to the Planters House where
I | boarded. When | arrived it lacked but
few minutes Of dinner time and the guests
were gathering in the sitting room waiting
? for the gong to sound. had Just entered
,'bwhen the old hunter who had before attract
Il ed my attention, also came in, and as before
, commenced an inspection Of every counte-
/, nance. 'a"5 ~ a''5 M" j.,
q fbacSuddenly his eye flashed with IRE more
- fierce than ever saw glow in human face
y before, and he strode up to d young fellow
j who bore the name of being the most dar-
/, king hunter of the Northwest Company, OF
9 which he was truding agent, when on the
. hunt; and the most reckless gambler aud
o widest debauchqe of the crowd, when he v as
:. in the city, His name was Auguste st
4 Yrain. Only thrce days before, / had seen
,eE him on Bloody island, on the river opposite
10 ST.. Louis. stand at ten PAGES against one D
:, the best shots 10 the city, and not nerve
:. tremb led, nor did his face pale, bpt ha ewing
II ed" his man as coolly as il he had been
,ef shooting ut bird. Yet now, when thatoIc
man stepped up before him. and he caught q
70 glance ofhis fiery eye. his courage and pres
"a euce Of mind seemed utterly to tail him, an'
40 he stood pale and treulb b'iag, while the OF
=, mans voice, loud and clear as bugle, raHI
he in his ear aa'.das aeat 5ss.r -aos
d. 81 have sought you long,. Auguste 81
III vrain, and have found you' Remembe
hi Adsle!"s -, "a, yse,.r r..5.a-. .... ~.
nd As he spoke the ominous click Of the oil
ba Nuns rife was heard. Astonished into s
&c fence the crowd drew to either side, whi
he St. Vrain tearing his shirt bosom open, sal
>. in a low hopeless tone: g,4rs s
,b "Fire, old man, 1sserue i. =
The old hunter had scarce waited for ii
-, woru; for ere ST. Vran's last word was sp'
ON ken, the bullet from the hGnter's rife hi
st passed through bis heart. He sunk corp:
;ou on. the floor, murmuring only one wor
~ "Adele." ..... .,........,
ou The old man stood and gazed at the bot
i'm n.cment, then mgttereti 1T is right ha
, fired my last shot!'' -.-.... .....,,.,
,,s In moment he was seizsd-he made I
,,,s resistance-and hurried off to prison. As
rr. was then practicing attorney in the cou'
Tho Of that city, feeling sympathy for the, Q
inn man, I availed myself of my position to 60
INV hin, and freely Offer him my services.
sw received me calmly and kindly. but his vol
and was feeble as he replied, .se-s.,. 81.
J at "Its little use you can he TO me, sir, fol
Irg. have fred my List shut and tramped my Ia
1ls. tramp. But as you seem to be about t
ris on ly friend | have around here, limay
the well ease my mind and tell you why I'll st
me. St, eVrain. Two years ago, would ha
4 in shot myself sooner than raise hand to hal
,aw a, hair Un his head. He was young, har
). in. some, and brave; as good a trapper as ev
2 drew bead on q grizzly's eye, Iloued him
den 81, The old mans voice grew husky, his
1, auivered, he paused moment, then he We
igin On. tf'aa''i.s = .ix-,,
,s,. g, 81 was not the only one that loved him
!. !. "a My AdeIe--then only sixteen, the image
~. her poor dead moiher--she loved him, and
.yen pretended to love her. He promised to m
,a;s. ry her, and under that promise ruined her
o,,a Age and shame made her keep the sec
y. = until it couldno longer be kept. then ne
u;;th from her, lef. her to bring IA babe into
u ! world, and then to die brcken.heafted, W
,a,,t. |, lit upon her bosoms Both Of them sleep
2, 5.,na one grave ous ethei banks Sof'iths fellt
3. stone. For . time IthDughti should h
Io,,., to lay down there too. before I found h
!. but, l kept up tillsmy work aSas done. Ic
= not for lifesnpw." sy1 fsa aaaebaad ~
e.s,lS Itriea 10 cheer up the old amat. 1 !
d 10 Ehimi that the imsre recital OF ME wfongss
inits fnrsiA wAstern juEyawou'd acqoit him: but
sck, n enly, sheck hislhead and nhttsfsd, Ny
cling shot is fred. Llaaa at the end of my
the tramp -
bse.b u0nsswesk lafterwards; few Of ns, '
'pai hid, ,dissossssaIia kiha brother cf Che "a
~ IN srssg "a ksEa sssi ssdeisp y ssssTsi
y. .cil9 u asaftia . W