Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-09-30
nlisfeIlaup.
The Rangers Shot.
DrTuE A0rnor or THE scour OF rHs LAX

"loohu pihhilg nfe OF maple logs, Whlcn sneu
Its cheery glow in wild fantastic shadows around
the room. The wind whistled and shrieked
like some mighty demon without, as each blast
grew louder and its predecessor, a shuddcr crept
over me, and as thought, an naudibe " God
pity the poor, trembled on my lips.
g Yes. yes uttered Claytun, musingly,
'' God pity the poor, for the rich man surroun-
ded by all the luxuries wealth can procure,
never allows his thoughts to rest on the suffer
irsH Of his fellow beings, which mite from
his bounty might alleviate, and perhaps save
them from crime or starvation.
Claytun was the son of very wealthy and
kind parents, who commanded the universal re-
spect Of the rich, and the love of the poor.
Being highly accomplished, and possessed of "a
somewhat rowing disposition, his adventurous
spirit was not satisfied, and many were the
dangers he had encountered in his ramblings
over the sparsely settled and less hospitable
parts. of our country.
He had just returned from one of these ex-
pCdioiolc, hilu us uC buI6W bllC CigdT WHICH UG
had been smoking into the fire, said,-
g Gaspar, in your wanderings you must have
met with many curious adventure, and as the
weather will not permit of outdoor enjoyment,
perhaps you can while away an hour by rela-
ting some of them
Aye, could while away many an hour by
so doing, but for the present | shall tell you
nothing in which it was my lot to act part,
but rather relate an incident as it was told me,
which from its thrilling nature, Ishall remen-
Der while life lasts.
Do So" I said as he paused moment.
6 Don't be impatient, Dick, but pile few
moro logs on to the fire, and will commence
the narration of my story"
1t was hut the work of a moment to replen-
ish the.dying fire, and as the blaze roared and
crackledup the huge chimney, he began.
q 1t wis late in the fall of l8-, that l was
travelling towards small town in the interior
of Texas. 1t was cold, clustering day, and
about noon storm of rain and sleet had set in,
so that as the first shadows of evening began to
deepen into the more sombre hues of night, |
was completely drenched to the skin, and in any
but an enviable situation, I assure you.
My horse was slab-sided sort of an
a2imal- 7ss, with about as nansh ;. life and
vivacity in him as one of the mules used to trans
port luggage to the States. 1t was in vain that
drove the spurs into his fanks out of that
snail-lkc pace he would be neithsr coaxed nor
driven.
" The storm was every moment increasing in
fury, and | confess that the idea of passing the
night at any of the numerous Ranchero cabins
that skirtcd the road, was anything but pleas
ing. knew them to be q set of cut-throats,
who would not hesitate to murder the poor
traveller for the sake of a few pennies.
i" Occasionally they would peer out into the
darkness as passed, and as frequent flashes Of
lightning llumined the heavens, could see
their long, lank visages, looking more like
iiends incarnate, than aught earthly. As Davy
Crockett says, was in q quandry, and one
which | saw but little chance of getting out of
My hands were so cold and stiff, that could
hardly hold my reins, and so dropping them
let the beast pursue the way unguided
SAT the last turn upon the road, had beer
informed that it was but twenty miles to the
village was in quest of. I had ought to have
reached it then by noon, and yet here it wa,
night, and no signs of anything in the shape o
village Whatto do knew not, and just at
| was about to despair of reaching my destn
alton that night, and resolving to stop at the
next ranchoros cabin that presented itself,
turned a sharp angle in the road, when direct
ly before me lay a small village, of some ten O
fifteen houses, from which bright lights wer
cleaning. You may be we'll assured, that
more welcome sight never greeted traveller
eyes. My steod seemed to partake of new
life, for he suddenly pricked up his cars, ant
dashingon at around trot, soon brought me t,
the door of the village inn. After trying fol
some time, | at last succeeded in summoning 6
ostler, dark, Misunderstanding scamp, anc
bidding him take my horse, entered the inn
if so you might call it.
8: A few chairs We're scattered about thu
room, some minus the backs, and some, and
very few, whole. A huge fire, however, looket
inviting, and after dlsposing of my overcoat
l seated myself by it to enjoy its genia
warmth.
There were but two persons in the room
the landlord, and an inhabitant of the place,
Judged from his appearance. and as | sool
learned, correctly. / was somewhat struck
with his appearance, he being totally unlike an
one had yet met in that part Of the country
lie was richly though not extravagantly dressed
wearing a large palmetto hat, and in his han,
he carried massive gold-headed cane. He wa
possessed OF fine open countenance, with
piercing black eye, and but for his hair, whic
was perfectly white, l should not have Judge
him to be abovcthe middle age. knew tina
some powerful cause must have acted upon hi
system, to produce this ouly mark of advance
age, and therefore felt some curiosity to kno
1t.
The landlord was type Of the Rancher
with a sloping forehead, and cold stony-lk
grey eye, which was never still, but seemed t
be continually gazing at me, as if its owne
was endeayoring to resolve in his mind tt
amount of money my pocket contained.
So A cold evening, sir. remarked the gel
tlcman | first described, as sat warming N.Y.
self