The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-04-02
FRIDAY MORNING. April, 2. 1862

another precipice that overlook
: the valley. 1t was undoubtedly Il
most suitable spot for camp, h;
camping been advisable. But NJ
Oakhurst knew that scarcely half Il
journey to Sandy Bar was accor
pished, and the party were n
equipped or provisioned for della
This tact he pointed out to his cor
panions curtly, with a philosoph
commentary on the folly of "thro,
ing up their hand before the gan
was played out" But they were iu
l. nished by liquor, which in this eme
gency stood them in place of fooC
fuel, rest and pr:escence. In spit
Of his remonstranc.s, it was not ion
before they were more or less undo
its influence. Uncle Billy passe
rapidly from a bellicose state int
= one of stupOr, the Duchess becam
maudlin, and Mother Shipton snoret
= Mr.. Oakhurst alone remained eret
:. against a rock, calmly surveyin
them. reer
, Mr.. Oakhrst did not drink. 1t in
r terfered with profession that II
quired GOODNESS, impassiveness an
presence of mind, and, in his ow
, language, he "couldn't afford it," A
: he gaZed at his recumbent feiloy
: exiles, the loneliness begotten of hi
pariah trade, his habits of life, hi
, very vices, for the first time serious
ly oppressed him. He bes6rre'
himself in busting his black clothes
washing his hands and face, an'
, other acts characteristic of his studi
!, ously neat habits, and for momen
forgot his annoyance. The though
Of deserling bis weaker and more
pitiahle companions never perhaps
Occurred to him. Yet he could nO
help feeling the want of that excite
ment which, singularly enough, Wa;
most conducive to that calm equa
nlmity for which he was notorious
He looked at the gloomy walls thai
rose a thousand feet sheer above the
circliDg pines around him; at the
valley below, already deepening
into shadow. And doing SO, sud
denly he heard his own name called.
A horseman slowly ascended the
trail. In the fresh, open face of the
new conner, Mr.. Oakhurst recognized
Tom Simsop, otherwise known as
The Innocent Of Sandy Bar. He
had met him some months before
over a "littIe game,' and had, with
Jerlect equanimity, won the entire
fortune-aInounting TO some forty
dollars-of that guileless youth
After the game was finished, Mr..
Oakhurst drew the youthful specu-
lator behind the door and thus ad-
dressed him: Tommy, you're a
good liule man, but you can't gam
bic worth cent. Don't try it over
again. He then handed him his
money back, pushed him gently from
the room, and so made a devoted
slave of Tom Simson.
There was remembrance of this
in his boyish and enthusiastic greet
ing of Mr. Oakhurst. He had start
ed, he said, to go to Poker Flat to
seek his fortune. "Alohe I" No,
not exactly alone; in fact-a giggle
he Lad run away with Piney
Woods. Don't Mr.. Oakhurst re-
member Piney? She that used TO
wait on the table at the Temperance
House? They had been engaged a
long time, but old Jake Woods had
objected, and so they had run away,
and were going to Poker Flat to be
married, and here they were. And
they were tired out, and how lucky
it was they had found place
to camp and company. All this The
Innocent delivered rapidly, while
Piney-a stout, comely damsel of
fifteen-emerged from behind the
pine tree, where she had been blush
ing unseen, and rode to the side Of
her lover.
Mr.. Oakhurst seldom troubled
himself with sentiment. Still less
with propriety. But lie had vague
idea that the situate was not felic-
itons. He retained, however, his
presence of mind sufficiently to kick
Uncle Billy who was about to say
something, and Uncle Billy was
sober enough to recognize in Mr..
Oakhurst's kick superior power
that would not bear trifling. He
then endeavored to dissuade Tom
Simson from delaying further, i'll
vain. He even pointed out the fact
that there was no provision, nor
means of making a camp. But, un-
luckily, 1.-The Innocent met his oh
lection by assuring the party that he
was provided with an extra mule
loaded with provisions, and by the
discovery of rude attempt at log
house near the trail. "Piney can
stay with Mrs. Oakhurst,' said "The
Innocent pointing to the Duchess,
''and | can shift for myself
Nothing but Mr. Oakhurst's ad-
monishing foot saved Uncle Billy
from bursting into a roar of laughter.
AS it was, he felt compelled to retire
up the canon until he could recover
his gravity. There he coniided the
joke to the tall pine trees, with many
slaps of bis leg, contOrtIons OF his
face, and the usual profanity. But
when he returned to the party he
found them seated by a fire--for the
air had grown strangely chill and the
sky overcast--in apparently amica
bic conversation. Piney was actu-
ally talking in an impulsiye, girlish
fashion to the Duchess, who was
listening with an interest and anima-
ton she had not shown for manyI
DAYS. "The Innocent was holding
forth apparently with equal effect, to
Mr.. Oakhurst and Mother Shipton,
who was actually relaxing into ami
ability. "Is this yer Id PIC
mic 2" said Uncle Billy, with inward
scorn, as he surveyed the sylvan
group, the glancing freight and the
tethered animals in the foreground
Suddenly an idea mingled with the
alcoholic fumes that disturbed his
brain. 1t was apparently of a jocu-
lar nature, for be felt impelled to
slap his leg again and cram his fist
into his mouth.
AS the shadows crept slowly up
the mountain, slight reeze brocked
the tops Of the pine trees, and moan
ed through their long and gloomy
aisles. The ruined cabin, patched
and covered with pine boughs, was
set apart for the ladies. As the low
ers parta6 thay nm q affpctadlv eypbano