Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-06-16
THE BRIDE OF THE BAcKwoops.

Stab him, you brat, stab him quick he +,
waking up
a queer spell, this. to break up a love.
dream, but cmincutly eiitctual | was asleep
in n cabin in the remote and nrwiv.scttlci re-.
gi"n> Of Arkansas; and the object Of my cx-
rur>iOn into these Wills was to look after the
al!airS Of II debtor who was likely to diminish
the profits Of my cxtcn-ive and hitherto sue
ce>slul business in Philadelphia By several
, thousand dollars. -.-....--.---. ......--......
larrivcd exactly at the right moment. Sc
cured my money, and left it in charge Of my
landlord, while started on little ride into
the outskirts of the st ttcInent, to give vent to
my elatcd feelings at my unexpected success,
and pick up what little inttfcnts | could 10
entertain my frie0ds at home haYe lu>tier
story to tell than ! anticipated, for my curl
Osity, like that Of Mother Eve, brought me into
trouble; but with this dill,rencc III the final
result, that, whereas she lost her Paradise, |
gained mine.
Tie mngniIicencc OF the weather, Tor II was
in early May, and the novelty Of everything
about me- caused Inc to ride carclcs>ly here
and there, until 1T length lost myself in IL
path difficult 10 trace and impossible to re.
trace. Neither going back nor grumbiug was
Of any use; so pushed ON.
Drawing up at last before miserable hut,
hailrd, aud was answered by the Mingled howl
ing, yclping and growing Of half Il dozen dogs
If every grade. Our combined cIam0r at
length brought out taIl, Swapping fellow,
exceedingly dilapidatcd as to his wardrobe,
and Judging from hi, features his moral char.
act,r also.
.What4l yer hrv, Straugrrt'
Can you direct me batk to Pcnthrakc,
ficn1t"
10 Prntlrak", Lord ii'o bctt,rn fifteen
mild. What on airth brought you here this
time o day."
Ny horse, as you see" replied, Judging
il best to BE- taccti,rIS, ard thus cIIi the con.
ver>ation a. easily AS pos,b!.
Now, a.thnn%h say it,, | :u not one uf the
tiinofeuS sri' and !;a;'g M reason 10 ht'. Hs |
can lock down on any man not over six feet
high, ard can also Compare iavoiahly with
most men Of that stature IN muscular dcvc!Jp
ncnt But il wn> last growing dark, aud ir,.
prudence, nv iI.sr:ia'ab.r AMI huud guild.
throughout this expedition. la prompted ms
To take out, in Iii sight, nv watch an Il, gprt
gold repeater, when ha 0;Iulcd 10 the time Of
day. The look of uIipu> ly blended a>tpnisli.
mcnt and c"yctousn,ss which passed Vsc his
,alinw vi,agr, increased my desire to part com.
pahy. lie seemed to observe my uneasincss,
and continued his iutcrrogatpric, ,--.--........-
Nv hatll yer take for that ar huasy"
IL would take some corn, il You had it, L.
there any settlement on aLeadI"
"la.as, bout mild"
Any hotel there :"
No, but any on emil take yer in; they're
, alters glad 20 see strangers"
Putting spurs to my horse gallopch away,
/ and entered the village just ut dark. 1t Vas a
c"lIc ton Of lUS hut>, With here and there n
small frame building. On. Of these had more
pcrtcn>iuns 10 comfort tl.an the rest there
was in the r,a spacious barn, with garden
on ole side, and large enclosure for cattle,
nunbrls oi which were coming ia from pas.
kArr.
| made NY way to the door without any
Scru: j., trrcN my bride over a post, ani had
hardly tine 10 Gi>mnu't, before Il substantial,
Nch>lh!c "d man pres, nt,d himself To my
request for II n2hts ludSug, he gave q genial
All! beatty affirmative:
oh, VS., sir, yes come in. The old $50.
man and are alway, giad to keep gentle.
man. II l. a long tlmc since we've Srcn one.
Mrs. Birch, Is have some supper directly,
sam! sam. pat up this horse
We adjourned to the barn, where nv horse
was hbrrally piovld with corn and hay. |
remarked that the stable door was destitute oi
ii lock, and asked the old man ii the horses
were not Liable to BE- etorn.
"Oh no, We have n decent nei-hhurhood.
There's only one really bad man anywhere
about here Bully Lake, a> they call him, but
he ain I got courage enough to stcal a horse.
said nothing, but thought good deal
After supper Sam was dispatched 10 his cot
in the lott, and really enjoyed the evening $
conversation with the old couple, who seemed
altogether superior to the people had seen in
tho>" parts.
The house was tWo->torv cottage, with
two rooms On the ground tlour-one used as u
kitchen, and the other furnished with u huge
s:one tircpa ace and II window ON the same side,
With a bed on the other, was the sitting and
sleeping room. The old people informed me
that this room was at my service, aid them.
selves retired to the loft tvh prcscntmcnt
that something unusual would happen before
morning; 50, examining my revolver with
care, laid It on the projecting beam beside
the bed, and undressing. stcrnly resolved to
r,st without sleeping, and keep my cars open
to any noise from that Stable.
The very effort to keep awake, aided hy in.
tense fatigue, ovcrcamc itself, aud in less time
than have taken TO tell 1t. WAS away from
the stable, away from the wiltl> of Arkansas,
away of in Drcamland by the side Of one
whom once claimed as mine, but who had
been wOocd and won by Death, the only rival
could not vanquSh, | was listening to the
mclodinuS tones Of affection, when suddenly
they changed TO a diabolical hiss and the
words at the commencement Of my story gra-
ted ON my car.
sat bolt upright The full moon poured a
flood Of radiance into the apartment, and near
my bed stood ragged, slender, slouchy boy,
with bowie knife in his hand. Nv sudden
elevation checked his progress lie Started
back towards the window, through which Il
man, not differing much in appearance from
my informant of tho previous evening, was
struggling to force his presnmptuouS carcass.
fired my pistol full ut his face, but my drow-
sy condition married myaim The ball struck
the mantel, and CHANGING, entered the shoulder
Of the boy, who, with fearful Shrek, fell,
bleeding and staggering, into the corner
l.eaping into rather than drawing on my pants,
| erapprd the other just as his feet touched
the floor. He grapplvd me likewise, in such
manner as to preclude the use of my pistol.
We rolled over and over upon the floor; now
] was uppermost-now he. This interesting
passage at arms was not without spectators.
At the report of my pistol, the old man had
sprung from his bed. and rushed to my door,
where he stood parayzcd with terror at the
awful work going on, without power to move
or speak. The cid woman made up part Of
his deficiency. Without leaving the bed, she
screamed at the top of her voice-and it was
a powerful ONT" Murder! Fire IIelp.
help helm! !" Though she WaS in the loit md