Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-07-02
The Wager, or the Trapper's
Daughter.

from northern WlnuS, StOOu the nttle cot
tage of Gabriel Health. Its occupant
an old bear hunter-had been a wanderel
among the Ottawas. Without society
except their occasional companionship
and wholly welded to a wild life, yet as
age came upon him, he pined to return
"a TO his kind.
Helena Heath inherited from her moth
er-the daughter of Canadian hunter
both her name and the rowing spirit OF
her race. From the days of earliest re-
collection she had been at her father
side on the wild prairie, or ranging over
the mountains.
The old hunter delighted in nothing
more than sllirmishes with the IndiaIs,
who were wont to acknowledge the debt
with interest. Once with only two COM
rades, he was surrounded in his trapping
lodge, and forced to stand weeks siege.
Then the fearless conduct of his daugh-
, ter won from him hunters praise.
1t was a singular training she received /;
wandering over an uninhabited country
with rude hunter. shut out from educa-
ton, and only taught 10 read and write
by an accidental visit of a few weeks at a
{ missionary station, without means of re-
finement, and having for the language
; of her mind only what could be learned
! from the voice of nature in her deepest
, seclusion. She loved the green woods,
the nightly forests, for there her soul
could live beyond the rough influence Of
the only life she had known
Such was the character of our heroine,
when old Gabriel Heath exchanged his
wandering life for a residence in the little
cottage on the hill Here few acres
supplied him with many of the necessities
of life, and he had an opportunity to fol-
low at his pleasure, the business of his
youth; and comfort seemed to circle
round the cottage home, whose exterior
was rendered somewhat picturesque by
the daughter.
In fine days old Heath titled his
ground, or hunted among the neigboring
hills; and in unpleasant weather he sat
by the fifeside smoked his pipe and told
large stories of his old adventures.
A thriving village lay just behind the
range of hills among which the cottage |
was nestled, although the humble Gotta |
gers formed but little society with its in |
habitants.
Long exposure to the sun had yelled |
but not hidden Helena Heaths fair com
plexion with a rich olive, and added to |
her charms. Constant exposure had Civ
en- firmness and elasticity TO her limbs
No wonder then, that though but seldom
seen, and more rarely addressed, she was
esteemed the belle of the surrounding
country. Ramblers among the hills had
noticed the fair cottager, and had become
infatuated with her beauty and naivette,
and even become suitors for her hand
but they had all been repulsed. The
bold and adventurous she instinctively
d liked for the coarSeness which generally
characterized them. The few of differ
ent character who occasionally visited her.
she did not trouble herself to notice. of
this latter number the most prominent
was Thomas Clifford, n young lawyer, who
had opened an Office in the village. Ed
ucated in an Eastern university. and nat
urally of a retired cast of mind, Clifford
had always avoided the world, and lived
only with his books: and consequently.
but part of his character had been devel-
oped. In his eyes the beautiful young
cottager was the type of what philoso-
pliers had sought to find, and he deter
mined to obtain the reality of the child
freshness, while they could only conceive
the ideal. He therefore resolved to
amend his deficiencies in her eyes.
and his sanguine nature hoped the
rest.
Old Heath looked upon marriage as a
neceSsay evil, which all ought TO endure ,
and he was determined that I
none but man after his own heart should
possess his daughter, and the qualifica- I
tions necessary, in his views, were strength
and agility in manly sports. He took no /
pains to conceal his determination, and ii l
was surprising how suddenly such games |
rose in favor with the young villagers. a
Time passed, and among those who I
had gained the applause of the old hun
ter, was a sturdy pioneer named Alexan- G
der Wilson, though he had never shown 7
any preference for the young forester O
And time had also brought the young 4
lawyer to the feet of the beautiful cottage
girl, while to her his vows of attachment 1
had become an episode well cherished. t
We have forgotten to mention that ov- b
er the range of hills that formed the pic h
turesque landscape about the mountain O
home, noble river spread its liquid wa t
ters. Clifford had always enjoyed all the | f
sports that can be gathered from a life of
rural freedom. a
Strongest at the oar, unerring in the a
aim at the target shot, and sinewey in the t
eaping wager, he had become quite a fl- h
Vorite, as well as the envy of his cotempo- h
raries h
In all his manly feats, Helena Heath b
was the first to praise; and while her pride
)f his masculine requirements was increas- {.
ng, she could not but feel admiration for e
ais mental attainments, which after all,
ound a something kindred and congenial n
within her own bosom. t.
One afternoon, as young Clifford was D
'trolling along the shores of the stream
lbove mentioned, he saw the IA ri
rOrite of old Heath, the trapper Il
Wilson, push off in a skiff Having fire. o
Iuently been brought in contact with him, Il
iitford, out of friendship, walked to the l
vater's edge and wished him a pleasant
Toyage. t.
.'lt can't be but pleasant such day as ic
his. Come try hand with us atan oar" ie
aid Wilson. "
The temptation was too great to be
and Clifford stepped into the W
'oat, which shot out upon the water, ris-
ng and falling with the waves For n ia
eng time the skiff continued to move al
'ut into the stream; at last the breeze
tiffened and they rested on their oars to CT
njoy the movement of the boat AT last CT
Wilson said.
at is now sunset at eventide. | have al
III 10 n
Certainly" replied his friend, "espec- fir
ally if your rendezvous is to be of an in k
eresting nature perchance with lady st
ove"
''You are good at guessing" was the re- IL
ly. gt
You have, then, an evening tyrst?" d,
.."Yes! with the prettiest girl in the a.
ountry." I'll
Clifford thought of his beautiful Helena.
nd wished only that his friend possessed in
ne as fair and true. For a few moments, m
9th were silent, and then as they ap- bl
reached the land, again commenced the re
onversation. be
MY fair one is very fair. Though l 70
m but hardy pioneer, know how TO Isl
alue qual. l.fcations like hers" til
"Ah," replied his companion, ''you are NJ
aPPy then; but tell me who this fair one