The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1860-08-22
Revenge


bosom one of the loyliest women whom it was ever my
lot to describe.
Her beauty was opposite to his own. He was in
complexion brunette; she, as fair lilly, when the
red Of the early morning gave it roseate hue. His
eyes dark night, when no star pierce the
clouds hers, blue the spotless heavens in win
day; his hair, black the ravens wing; hers of
that soft brown which melts away into shadows when
light and shade alternately fall upon it.
In figure, almost as tall he; form, perfect and
vouptuous features, regular and classical; her face
expresstve-she splendid specimen of Anglo
Saxon beauty.
In her countenance you could, at glance read her
if you had not studied the science of La
water. She was intellectual gentle, full of natural afec
ton, enthusiastic, poetical, romantic Had she not
been So she would not have leen there in that wild
gorge of the Serras where cloudcapped heights rose
around her and thunder of hundred waterfalls
rumblng from the distance on her ear. There, alone,
with him of her hearts first glad free choce-far from
the sunny ehld-hood's home-tartro all her kindred.
The hunting equipments upon his person, and the
rife leaned against the door-post, showed that he
about starting upon hunting expedon and to
judge from the many trophies of the chase hanging
the long walls of his house, such expeditions were fire.
quent and successful with him.
Her great blue eyes were liquid with rising tears
which her strong will could scarcely hold back and
she said as she cung to him, even as the Towering
vine clings to The oak;
"Donot 90 out to hunt to-day, dearest Benedetto
Ny heart is almost wild with the toreboding that some
evil will fall upon you-and, alas not less upon me-
becauseit strikes you"
Dismiss fears SO unworthy of your brave heart 1t
is favorable day for hunting, and you know that now
while may mustlay up cur stores for when the win
ter in, Can do nothing that way. But, ah how
happy then we will be with ourmusic, songs OF the
past, our dreams of the future, when another"
Hush" +" said she, blushipgly. Yet, for the sake
of that other stay at home this day
tL,,.o, o,, ,,1.. T rro,,ld do co rIadlv 9aor ono
had not promised James Champe, the MINER to meet
him some miles from here, to show him new lead,
for which he and his company promise TO pay richly
"Iregret the promise all the more," she sighed;-
"for that man. though know that he is coward, Is
yet the more IA villain He claims to be a Tennesseean
but the noble State of Tennessee never gave birth on
her soil to such recrean dog as feel in my heart
that he is. Remember that he has been here often"
Yes, on business for the company, of which be Is
the head"
"On the pretence Of business rather. His eyes,
lusttu vicious sensual have often made me shudder
when he looked on me-
Il will attend to his case and give him warning this
dav never to enter my house again" said Benedetto
while his face paed and his eyes flashed But, Lou
sa you know better than all the world how sacredly
hold and keep my promises ! must go
! She said no more but kissed him and as he passed
down the ravine in which their house stood, she
watched his form long she could see it through
the mist and tears and whispereda low prayer for hS
safety Woman-ike, she thought not OF danger for
herself all her fears we're for him
On the evening or rather well along in the night,
which preceded the morning which opened this story,
band of rude coarsey ydressed men, whose faces were
repusye with the signs of repusve debauchery, sens
uaity and dissipation, were seated in rude shany,
about three four miles from the home OF Benedeo
The mining tools around them proclaimed their oscn-
sibe oceupaton but the weapons hanging about, and
and in their belts coupled with their scoundrey looks,
l4I., ,l,- bod FOR
crime whenever its chance came in their way.
| A long table OF hewn planks occupied the centre
of the shantya greasy and dify piece OF furniture
upon which stood couple ofugs of rum, and tin cups
sufficient for the company. couple OF lamps reveal
ed their vile faces amid the rank cloud of their own
tobacco smoke. Some of them were playing cards, all
! OF them drinkil and smoking, and SO lnterlardmg
their conversation with oaths all around that any one
might suppose they we're swearing on a match,
/ Jim Champe what new dcvIluy Is working IN
your mind that keeps you still? You look for all the
world as YOU did when were plotting to get young j
in that scrapei in Nashville where we forced him tc
shoot Bob F.. all because could not do as we want
| ed With"
! Hush, jack Martin you have said enough about
that " cried the man who had been called Champe, and
sitting the head Of the table seemed to be the head
of the party. But can tell you what thinking
about We have paid that fellow Benedetto the hunt
er good many of gold for meat, since we have
been here"
That's So! replied Martin, while the rest stopped
talking and listened.
! Then I've been thinking that we are about to
pull up stakes and leave these diggins We might just
as well have that back, and more 100, that he has stow
ed away, continued the villain Champe.
You've struck vein, and I'll follow your lead in
that or anything else that is devlish, said Martin
" But the fellow is desperate and armed to the teeth,
and some ofus will go under as sure as we try 1t, re-
marked another of the gang.
eyes II he were there when went in FOR little
game But have laid plan which will take him ten
miles from here tomorrow to meet me. 1t he don't
! ind me-which he won't--hell wait for me two or
three hours there, and poor set of cusses ii
we can't do all want to do and be oil clear OF the
diggins before he gets back"
. That's so cried Martin, filing his cup, Here's
to the captain and his plan. Hurrah ! for both OF
them."
Zone thing want you to distinctly understand all
of you" cried Champe, ''the woman is to be mlne
Idont care curse for the gold-but she must be for
me-"
That's agreed to-aint it boys? The gold for US,
and the woman for the cap'n?n cried Martin.
eyes YES was the response.
And thus the dark plot was concocted.
Weared with haste, for he too, had been impressed
with the foreboding of some impending evil, Benedict
to reached the spot where he had agreed to meet
Champe-the mouth OF gorge, up which IN follow
ing game he had discovered quartz bearing gold, and
signs of there being great quantity Of it. Some
would wonder why he did not keep his secret, and
work it himself; but he neither knew how nor cared
to mine; nor did he wish to be in close contact with
men. His wife the sole companion of his hearts
choice.
He was, like the writer of this sketch, pardon his
misanthropic egotism-he loved the wilderness and its
gloomy grandeurs, the rocks and hills and lakes and
rushing streams but he liked not the haunts Of men
nor them, nor their ways.
Having come with such speed, EFnedetto did moi
wonder when he arrived at the place OF rendezvous
that Champe had not arrived; and he sat down be
meath tree by the side of spring which gurglet
from under rock and after drinking from it, and Law
ing his brow with its cool waters resigned himself to
patience and waited the arrival Of the tardy miner.
For full an hour he lay there dreamy, and then he
began to feel less easy and often laid his to the
earth hoping to distinguish the sound of coming foot
steps and as often he raised it, while look of uneasy
disappointment settled upon his face At last he 60
up and strobe to and fro, growing each moment more
and more impatient. Finally, after waiting full two
1hours-to him it seemed day-hi$ impatience mas
tered all other feelings and shoulderng his rife, ht
Ihastened towards his home not pglsing to look fol
game or even to raise his gun to that which fled aside
from his hurrying feet.
When Benedetto reached point whence he coulC
see his house, from which, when She heard his vel
known shout of return, his sweet wife ever ran t,
meet him, he paused for moment; but he toe
breathless to cry out, and too anxious to go tt
wait for breath-and on be sped like chased but un
tired deer, whose hope Of safety lies in some wei