The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-02-17

/ kGE II ldI 10 the OuLSklELS Ol the SSLll6-
ment. Besides Mr.. .Oakhurst, who was
known to be cOoll desperate man,
and for whose Intimidation the armed
escort was intended, the eXpatriated
party consisted of a young woman
Familiarity known as ''The Duchess -
another, who had gained the intellect
Gus title of tMOther Shipton," and
"Uncie Billy" q suspected sluice
robber and confirmed dIunkard. The
cavalcade provoked no comment by
the escort. Only when the gulch
which marked the uttermoSt limit Of
Poker Flat WAS reached, the leader
spoke briefly, and to the point. The
exiles were forbidden to return at the
peril of their lives.
AS the escort disappeared, their
pent feelings found vent in a few
| hysterical tears from ''The Duchess, !"
sOme bad language from Mother
ShIpton," and a ParIhian voIley of
exPtetives from "Uncle Billy" The
philOSophic Oakhurst alone remained
silent. be listened calmly to Mother
symptoms desire to cut some Ody's
heart out, to the repeated statements
of "The duchess" that she would die
IN the road, and TO the qlarEning oaths
that seemed to be bumped out of
| Uncle Billy as ne rode forward. With
the easy good-humOr characteristic of
his Glass, he ihsi t d upon exchanging
his own horse, Five Spot" Tor the
surrel mule which the Duchess role.
Bat even this act did not draw he
party into any cl. scr sympathy. The
young woman readju,ted her some
what draggled piumes with q feeble,
faded cuquetry; Mother ShiptOn eyed
the pOssesSOr of Five SCOT" with
mAlevOience, and Uncle Billy inclu-
ded the whole party in one sweeping
| anathena.
The road to Sandy Bar-a camp that
not having as yet experienced the
regeneratlng influences of Poker Flat,
consequently seemed to offer some in
YitatiOn to the emigrants-Iay over a
steep mountain range 1t was distant
a days severe journey. In that ad-
vaneed season, the party soon passed
out OF the moist, temperate regions
OF the foothills, into the dry, cold,
branching air of the Sierras. The trail
Was narrow and difficult. At noon
the Duchess, rolling out of her saddle
upon the ground, declared her inten-
tion of going no further, and the party
halted.
The spot was singularly wild and
Impressive. A wooded amphitheatre,
surrounded on three sides BY precipi-
tous cliffs of naked granite, slOped
gently toward the crest of another
precipice that overlooked the valley.
1t was undoubtedly the most suitable
spot for camp, had camping been
advisable. But Mr.. Oakhurst knew
that scarcely half the journey to San
dy Bar had been accomplished, and
the party were not equipped or pro-
VlslOned for delay. This fact he point
al nTuf n hf1
philoSophic commentary on the
folly of Throwing up their hand be.
lore the game was played out" But
they were furnished with liquor,
which In this emergency stood them
IN place food, fuel, rest and prescience.
In spite OF his remonstrances, it was
not long before they were more or less
under It's influence Uncle Billy paSs-
ed rapidly from beIIicOse state into
one of stupor, the Duchess maudIin.
and Mother Shipton snored. Mr..
Oakhurst alone remained erect, lean
ing against rock, calmly surveying
them.
Mr.. Oakhurst did not drink. 1t
interfered with a profession which
required GOODNESS, impassiveness and
presence of mind, and, in his own
language, he ''couldn't afford it." AS
he gazed at his recumbent fellow
exiles, the loneliness begotten of his
parish trade, his habits of life, his
very VICES, for the first time seriously
oppressed him. He bestirred himself
IN busting his black clothes, washing
his hands and face, and other acts
characteristic Of his studiOusly neat
habits, and for a moment forgot his
annoyance. The thought of deserting
his weaker and more pitiable COM
panions, never, perhaps, occurred to
him. Yet he could not help feeling
the want OF that excitement which,
slngularly enough, was most condu-
Give to that calm eqTanimity for
which he was notorious He looked
at the gloomy walls that rose thou
sand feet sheer above the circIing
pines around n NJ /; at the sky, omIn-
ously clSuded at the valley below,
already deepening into shadow. And
doing SO, suddenly he heard his own
name called. A horseman slowly
ascended the trail. In the fresh, open
lace OF the new conner, Mr.. Oakhurst
recognized Tom Simson otherwise
known as "The Innocent" " of Sandy |
Bar" He had met him some months
before over ''little game, y and had. |
with perfect equanimity, won the en- |
tire tOrIune-amounting to some for
ty doliars-of that simple youth. At |
ter the game was finished, Oakhurst |
drew the youthful speculator behind |
the door, and thus addressed him : |
Tommy, you're good little 7nan,
but you can't gamble worth a cent
Don't try it over again." He then |
handed him his money back, pushed |
him gently from the room, and so |
made devoted slave of Tom SimsOn. |
There was a remembrance of this |
In his boyish and enthusiastic greet |
ing of Mr.. Oakhurst. He had started, |
he said, to go to Poker Flat to seek |
his fortune. "Alone?" No, not ex-
actly alone; in fact--a giggle-he had |
run away with PIney Woods. Didn't |
Nj. Oakhurst remember Piney? She |
that used to wait on the table at the /
Temperance House? They had been /
engaged long time, but old Jake /
Woods had objected, and so they had /
run away, and were going to Paker
Flat to be married, and here they /
were. And they were tired out. and
now lucky 1t was they had found a
place 10 camp and company. All this
The Innocent delivered rapidly, while
PlD ey--a stout. cOmely damseI of IF
teen-emerged from behind the pine
tree, where she had been blushing
unseen, and rode to the side of her
lover.
Mr.. Oakhurst seldom troubled !
HIMSELF with sentiment. S4iH less
with propriety. But he had q vague
Idea that the situation was not felicit-
Gus. He retained. however, his pres
ence OF mind sufficiently to kick
Uncle Billy, who was about to say
something, and Uncle Billy was sober
enough TO recognizes in Mr.. Oakhurst's
kick superior power that would not 1
bear trihing. He then endeavored to l.
dissuade Tom Simson from delaying
further, but in vain. He even pointed l.
out the TACT that there was no provi-
SION, nor means of making a camp.
Bnt, unluekily, "The Innocent'' met
ms objection by assuring the party
tiiat he was provided with an extra
mule loaded with provisions, and by
the discovery Of rude attempt at
EesN -, i