Ellsworth American., 1872-05-16

at once sought seat in their viciDit,
without any intention, however, of in
trudIng myself upon them. As the
sat talking with each other | had a fai
'hance to observe them CLOSELY. Tue
were beautiful pair. From tnei
actions and their accent, mental
decided that they were newly marrie,
and Yankees, but well-bred. The lad
was apparently about seventeen o
eighteen years of age; and though
'ilen' and have never changed my min,
since, that she was The possessor of tn,
ioveliest face | ever beheld. III,
words of Edmund Burke on Mari,
Ahtonettc reverted to my mind. /
was cast IN an oval form, and SCENE,
10 he framed in ringlets of gold, rs hcl
hair played loosely around il, a.,
over her neck and shoulders. Ucl
eyes coul0 not get GLIMPSE of. "A,
sht Kept them FISHING upon ner com
panion, who, darker complexoued ano
more sedate. was listening with a graf
III a smile TO the prattlc Of a being Ii,
evidently loved
Not wishing to be observed by the
happy pair. | moved away and bepau
stroll among the other passengers.
iouhd-which IS inevitable in the cx.
Z eine south-west-that cari-tab.c IL
had been impruyisel, and that tie
single male passengers were about 10
begin 70 play. knew that brand,
would follow. and my thoughts were ot
Tue Young couple. should II bruwl en-
sue, which IS the usual ending to card
gaming among the rude border men of
lcxas. Caring very little for life.
dispute generally ends with Slash ii
the knife. or a shot. A groali-the
death-rattIc-and back they 20 TO their
cards rs If nothing extraordinary had
happened
Among those at cards | noticed one
man VINO appeared to be bully Of the
ufe-eatIng order. Ills voice vas the
ioudcst, and his oaths most pleutiful
lie mad produced bottle of spirits
whcn approached the table. ami, 10
f~N"''''' "oIuS, WAS pre-
pariIg 10 take Il couple of sllngs oIt Of
thc crttcr. had q prescntitucnt ilat
there would be trouble with ,hYt man
-. leaving The spot, went forward.
and taking out my pistols. mu,,. Al,
examination 10 bc sure they were in
proper condition in case neccsit, clli.
ed Tor their use. then strolicd tp-
ward tht bride and her groom. They
were watching Tie scenery which ~.
passed on the river with interest. and
,.ld not notice me. FeclinL uneasy.
sauntcrcd back To the cartl-lable. nnd
just IN time TO observe 4 scene M that
Time new 10 me. The hullv had lost
All his money, and was acclsin.. the
others, who seemed TO be afraid Of nim
OF cheating. With such obscene Ilths
IT, had en- cmntirII itIi~II"'l away in disgust.
passions were intlaned the more at ill.,
losses. Evidently in 4 state OF mind
capabable of any mischief. lie left the
party and walked forward 10 the spot
where the Young man and his wife were
Nihtib-- iotlohtb llt SlJbl IoI II
moment bitterly cursing tie PLAYERS
who hai lccccd him. Upon seeing the
beautiful face Of the gir.-uIi,lc, III
walked over To where sh. sat, and be-
fore she was aware what his intentions
were, his arm was around her waist.
involuntarily stepped forward, but he
fore ! reached him the Husband. whose
attention had been diverted by scene
on the river. dealt the ruililn such a
blow as laid him on hi, back. Ouckiy
recovering the senses the blow had
stunned, the drunken brute pulled out
a knife and sprung at the Young man.
who appeared like boy III comparison
with his assailant | saw that the
young husband was unarmcd. and that
hi, life was IN danger. There was no
time to lo-e-thc lady Ii "a tainted. /
caught hold Of the arm that held the
knife, and forced its ho.der back hul
being Il powerful mal. iii 4 not hope
TO cope with him III main strength.
My interference maddcned him With
an oath he attempted TO free hi ar ii.
told the as-alled party - look after
his lady-that | would attend to IL,
rutlian. \ terrible It u.4le Ct suel be-
tween US. felt that my ife Il pended
on nv getting out revolver. By this
time the oaths and imprecations OF the
batiled drunkard had brought To the
scene the captain of the steamer ami
the rest Of the passengers. | still
managed 10 ohold his knife arm and thus
controlled the weapon, although cut in
several places from rolling over each
other on the deck. The captain At
tempted to interfere. The rou4n char
acte who surrounded him threatened
to shoot him if he did. Let them fight
ii out could hear them saying Bill
Burton knows his business tll be al
day with that lean cuss in a mint ol
two. | was becoming weak; | there
| fore felt that something decisive mus
| be done Gathe ing my strength fol
a final effort gave the enraged fienc
u sudden throw, letting his arm, that
had SO persistently held, 20 at til,
same moment. Quick as thought.
had out Il pistol, and. as be sprang a
me again, sent ball whzzin:
through his head. With an oath CUR
Cling in his throat, he dropped dead a
the feet OF the on-lookr RS
The philosophical Indifference of hi
companions astonishcd me. fully ex
pected TO be the victim Of their re
venge. 'Ye don fu,tra:e, stranger
jest rs good rs Icoud ha' done myself
remarked big. burly fellow, who has
been one of the card players. Thcl
speaking in a whisper. But look ou
for his brother Ned, when YOU get i
the neighborhood Of Austin Wit
this advice, he walked away with hi
fellows; and they were soon deep /
the game Of cards again, as if nothin
unusual had transrired. The captain
arough but kind specimen of the rive
steamboat commander, pointed to m
clothing, which was stained with bloc
and cut in several places Heedin
little as to my appearance, | locke
around for the ones who had been til