The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1860-12-06
THE WAGER; Or, THE TRAPPER's
DAUGHTER.

In mountain valley, snugly sheltered
from northern winds, stood the little cot
tage Of Gabriel Heath. Its occupant
an old boar-hunter--had been ander-
er among the Ottawas Without society,
except their occasional companionship.
aud wholly welded to wild life. Yet,
as age came on him, he pined to return
to bis kindred and wear social letters.
Helena Heath inherited from her
mother-the daughter of Canadian hun
ter-both her name aud the roaming
spirit of her race. From the days of her
earliest recollections she had been at her
fathers side on the wild prairie, or rang
ing over the mountains.
The old hunter delighted in nothing
more than predatory skirmishes with the
Indians, who were wont to acknowledge
the debt with interest. Once, with on.
~ TWO comraucs, ne was SURROUNDED ~
his trapping lodge. and forced to stand
weeks siege. Then tic fearless con-
duct of bis daughter, child as she was,
won from him hunters praise AID ia
therly pride.
1t was singular training that she re-
ceived; wandering over an uninhabited
country with a rude hunter, shut out
from education. aud only taught to reau
aud write by an accidental visit for few
weeks at missionary station, without
means of refinement, aud having for the
language Of her mind only what could be
learned from the voice Of nature in her
deepest seclusion. She loved the gresn
weeds, the mighty forests, for there her
soul could live beyond the rough influ
enee of the only life she had ever known.
Such was the character OF our heroine,
when old Gabrie' Hea.l. exchanged his
wandering life for residence in the lit
tie cottage on the hill. Here few acres
supplied him with many of the necessa
ries Of life, and he had an opportunity to
follow at his pleasure the business Of his
youth; and comfort seemed to circle
round his cottage home, whose exterior
was rendered sumewhat picturesque by
the natural taste If the daughter.
In fine days old Heath titled the
ground or hunted among the neighboring
hills and by the side of the streams and
in unpleasant weather he was by the
tireside, smoking his pipe, and relating
stories Of old a. ventures.
A thriving village lay just beyond the
rangs Of hills among which the cottage
was nestled though the cottagers formed
but little sociability with its inhabitants.
A long exposure the sun had vciled
but not hidden Helena Heath's fair com
plexion with rich olive, and added to
her charms onstnnt exercise had given
frmness and elasticity to her limbs No
wonder, then, that though but seldom
seen, she was deemed the belle of the
surrounding country. Ramblers among
the hills had noticed the fair cottager,
and become infatuated with her beauty
aud naivette, aud even became suffers for
her hand, but they had been all repulsed.
The bold and adventurous she instinct.
lively disliked for the Goa 'seness which
generally characterized them. The few
Of different character who occasionally
visited her she did not trouble herself to
notice. Of this latter number the most
prominent was Thomas Clifford, a young
lawyer, " had opened his Office in the
village. Educated in nm Eastern Uni
versity, and naturally of a retired cas-. Of
mind, Clifford had always avoided the
world, and lived only with his books /;
aud, consequently, but par of his char
ncter had as yet been developed. 10 his
eyes, the beautiful young cottsger was
the type Of what philosophers had long
sought to find, and he determined to OBJ
tain the reality Of the child freshness,
while they could only conceive the ideal.
He therefore resolved to amend his def
cienoes 10 her eyes, and his sauguine ma
ture hoped the bes..
Old Heath looked upon marriage as q
necessary. evil, which all ought to endure
sometime, and he was determined that
nose but . Ran after his own hear,
should possess his daughter and tn,
only qualification aeoessary, 10 his views
we're strength and agilisy 10 msnly sports
DC took 40 pains . conceal his deter
imitation, aud it Vas surprising how sud
J denly such games ross 10 favor with Ia,
yoen6 siflA1ers. ]. .ssasas. III. -. VA