Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-03-17
A FATAL MISTAKE.
A THRILLING STOEY.

! WHO had seemingly linked their for
tunes for better or for worse, and who
| whatever their luck, were constantly
in each others company.
The young men were Cha les Ches-
ter, Harry Bray and Edward Warren.
/ They were more brotherly than many
/ brothers, more akin than many kns-
men. True to each other, even when
women and money were between
/ them. DalnmOn and Pylhias, with q
! twin DammOm added. For a long
/ while they had been very poor: al
! last fortune favored them Each had
/ certain sum, by no means c.ntempti-
1 ble, slowed away in the lcathern belt
! he wore about his waist Each carried
| gold watch. and each wore suit OF
! clothes. supposed by himself to be the
! latest style, and choicest fashion,
Moreover, their revolvers were perfect.
! isilver-mounted. and rejoicing in a
multiplicity of barrels; for without
/ these it would be quite impossible to
| maintain a position i'm this quarter OF
! the wolrd i'll any society.
How they came by these possessions,
we will not inquire too particularly
| They were neither burglars or high
waymen, but dice and betting may
! have helped them 10 the winning OF
! their little fortunes. They Were not
over scrupulous; but they would have
knocked any man down who had neg
lected to address them "a gentlemen,
and used those TevoiYcrs promptly on
any stranger" who objected TO drink
ing with them; and, consequently,
stood rather higher in the communi-
~. Certainly, in thelrconducI to each
other they were faultlessly honorable
and miraculously generous,
One day sCOn after luck" had come
to its best, a letter directed in tremu-
lOus woman's hand to CHARLES Ches-
ter" was handed to that member OF
the trio, in the presence of the other
two. The young fellow seized it eager
ly, tore it open, read it through, and
tearing Off his belt, spread its contents
before him upon the table and coun-
ted il over. Having done so, he burst
into tears, and very unwisely and pro-
fanely cursed himself for extravaganza
and requested for himself all sorts Of
uncomfortable things hereand hcreaf,-
er, II proceeding Which seems to relieve
some men extremely, though why, II
woulG puzzle the uncniighteneG TO de-
clCre. The cause of all this, as his
comrades soon discovered, WAS that h 8
mother had written to him from her
little farm in q Southern State to tell
him dnlefuI tale OF sickness, death
ann ngst the stock, etc, and final
crash. \ mortgage was almost due,
and as the old people would find 1t i'm
possible TO meet it, they would be sold
out and left homeless i'm their age. 1t
VIII Kill your father, wrote the moth
er, and will die with him"
4" | did it alI, " said the young fellow,
sobbing openly. My debts and my
wild ways encumbered them at first,
and now look"
And he pointed to the old upon the
table, and began his profane litany
again. The mortgage was three thous-
and he had but two thousand.
els that all ?'' cried Ned Warren,
hauling at his belt.
Good Heaven What does he take
me for >" cried Harry Bray, furiouiy.
Five hunred dollars piece and the
expenses of the journey is about the
figure. There, 20 to the old folks
Wen see about your horse while you
p. elk your bag"
This set the othprat his oaths again
but in joyful style this time. They
were trumps and bricks, and by every
think he could think OF he'd do Tor
them if they were in any need of it.
He'd pay them back if he lived,
and hc'u-he'd-bless ;htm :" and so
chokcu off iLto sohs again, at which
they left him To recover, they returned
win here and well filled pocket
flask, and saw him set forth upon his
mission as though the" Old folks" ha
been their old folks also.
They waited for news from him, but
none came, They waited quietly at
first, then impatien:ly; at last they
heard this: He had never been seen
at home, or 10y any one who knew HIM,
since the day on which they had shook
hands with him, Some terrible fate had
b,fallen him in the lonely places over
which hc jOurneyed alone. To doubt
him never entered their minds. That
he was true TO them as they were to
him they well knew; and one thought
filled each mind. They must discOv-
er his fate, and if it were what they
supposed, avenge him.
So one bright morning, well noun
ted, well armed and followed bv IA
vorite dog, a hound, who would, by no
means, be left behind, the two set
forth in search of their lost comra0e.
They took the road he must have taken,
and asked at every tavern and cabin
for news of him. One old man 'e-
membered him well another man
had pointed out the dangerous place
in the road leading past precipice to
a man of their lost friends description,
but at that point the clue was lost
After much travel and many inqui-
ries, our comrades began 10 fear that
they should have paused to examine
the rocks and ravines at the foot OF
precipice alluded to, ere they proceed
ed further, and determined TO turn
back and do so. They came to this
resolution about nightfIll, and just as
they reached the borders of little
farm which bore evidence of careful
tillage. Upon this land stood also a
farm house; from the crevices in the
shutters of which streamed long bars
of ruddy lamp-light, and whence the
sound of music was plainly heard. 1t
was the only dwelling within sight.
I'VE will stay here" said one friend
to another, until dawn and then re-
turn"
That the house was not an inn did
not matter to either of them. HOspi-
tality was never refused in the land at
that day.
They rode boldly up TO the gaze and
gave a loud halo. In an instant the
door opened, and they could see with
in sudden panic in lively dance, as
all heads turned 10 see what had caused
this interruption.
Can you let Us sleep here, to-night?'
inquired one of the friends, as one asks
who fears no refusal.
Certainly, gentlemen, said aplcps-
ant voice. " You're welcome. You'll
find stable there, and corn for your
horse. Our man Jack is on the floor
tonight; but here's n lantern, if you'll
tend TO yourselves