Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-05-07


long, flowing tasSels, and wild figures
wrought of variegated beads, after the fush-
ion OF some Western Indians. lie stood
behind the card table, and held in his left
hand sheet of paper, and in his right
large pencil. with which, ever and anon, he
dashed Oft few words, as if engaged in
tracing the progress of the game.
Still the gambler and merchant pcrsc-
vercd in their physical and mental toll.
The dial of the stars, with its thousand
fingers of golden fire, pointed to the world
shadows of midnight; but still they did
not pause. 1t was "shunlc and cut, and
cut and pass, ante up, and call you and
rake down the pile"
Towards the morning tremendous storm
arose. The rcd lightning flashed awfully
tic rain and hail poured down like fro
zen cataract-thc great river roared till it
rivalled the loudcst thunder of heaven and
the very pilot at the wheel was alarmed
But the mad players heard it not. What
was. the tunult of this raging to them,
whose destiny hung over the turning of
card? And the smiling, blue-cycd stran-
ger in buckskin still stood by them with
his pencil and paper, calmly noticing the
development of the game
Finally the storm passed, and the bcauti-
ful day-brcak camo on like a thing of glo-
ry III the east. Then the infatuated mer
chant distracted with heavy losses, dared
the climax of folly. He staked five thou.
sand dollars, comprising his last cent in the
world, on two pair of kings" The whis-
kcrcd gambler called him; they show
cd hands. The blacklcg had two pair of
aces" and rakcd the board. The mcr-
chant dropped on the floor as if he had been
shot through the brain, and that beautiful
young wife flew to his side and fell shrck-
ing to his bosom. They were borne away
inscnsiblc to the ladies cabin.
AS he deposited the winnings in his
pocket, the gambler cmittcda hoarsc laugh,
that sounded frightful as the chucklc of a
ticnd; but he instantly lost color, as low,
calm voice remarked in his car:
William, you play strong hand at ma
ny games, but here stands one that can beat
you at all of them"
He turned, met the glance of those keen
blue eyes, so prcternaturaly bright, and
shuddcrcd But he Immediately gained
his presence of mud, for he was no cow
ard, aud then he trowncd till his shaggy
brows met like the coil Of serpent, and
sternly demanded
BegGar, who are you to banter gen
tlcman thus rudely!"
{" am James Bowie, of Texas" the 9TH
CT answered with ringing laugh; "and
you are John Laiittc, Il bastard of the old
pirate y
The gambler rccled in his chair as if lie
had been struck with a thundcrbolt, but re-
covered again from the shock in moment,
he asked in firm tone,
What game do you wish with me ?"
"Polkcr first and pistols afterwards, if
you play FOUL" replied Bowie.
every wei, rejoincd tho other ard
they took their seats at the table.
For time the success seemed equally
balanced, the gain and loss being alternate.
At last the gambler vcnturcd one of his
skiliful man@uvrcs in dealing.
Bowie smiled strangely as his quick eye
detected the trick lie said nothing, how
ever but looked at his hnnd and bet five
Thousand dollars, stalking the money in ten
large bills. The gambler went five thou
sand dollars higher, which resulted in
call" Bowie held " four jacks; !" but
his antagonist, with his habitual chuckle,
showed " four queens" excluiming, as he
did So
by heavens the pile is mine ~
"Not yet" shouted Bowie, as with both
hands he raked the heap of notes to the
tune of twenty thousand dollars in his own
pocket.
Choking and purple with rage and shame
the gambler roared
To the hurricane deck and let pistols
be tr,unps this time p
AS good as goldw replied Bowie, and
the two hastily usccnded the stairs, and as
suming their separate positions--the gam
bier over the stern and Bowie over the
bow
At that instant the sun was just rising
in cloudlcss sky. Nature looked sublime
"a bride worthy of her Almighty Hus-
band, God. The woods and waters appear
cd as part of one divine picture, with the
boundless blue of Heaven for its back
ground. The broad boso,ned rive, rolled
away like a sheet ofburnished silver, spcck-
led here and there with the flash of golden
bubbles; shining fish gambolled in the
wave; aud all the bright birds--thosc
sweet singers, whose life is dream, and
that dream only music-chattere their
wild anthems to the new day, while the
great duelists, the most deadly known in
the southwest, stood with cooked pistols,
eye, to eye, and their fingers fixed to their
trigger; prepared to sley and be slain.
(" am ready, you give the word" cried