Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-11-22

disturb nc; and how cOnSidcratc of nv
comfort and safety he has been ever
since | entered his humble abode" She
made haste to open the door, and the
hunter babe her good morning, and he
hoped she had rested well. Then he
made MP the fire, and, bringing Mary
some water in Il basin, with comb and
brush, said he would cook the breakfast
while she made her toilet. To this Ma
ry objected, saying she would to the
cooking herself; and, as soon as her
simple toilet was made, set about the
work. Ghc hunter brought the thinoS
for her to cook. peeled the potatoes. and
showed her where everything he had
was kept. Every few minutes he would
burst ont laughing, and say, "How fun
ny To have woman cOOk for l,,c,'
Mlry's heart was heavy, and she was
constantly thinking of her mother nj
home, and wondering where thcv
Thought she was but her position was
so novel for young girl, and her COM
panion SO cheerful, she could not help
blushing, and at times, despite her
troubles, her small, stccl-grav ewes
would sparkle with mirth. When thcy
sat down to breakfast, the hunter
thought hc had never seen so charming
Il creature as Mary, and somehow she
never seemed to mind the great brown
eyes constantly fixed upon her. Strange
she should not he afraid, for she was
alone with the most desperate man of
the west but, SO far from fearing him.
she thoroughly believed he was her
best friend and protector.
After breakfast she told the hunter
her tale, ,andagain claimed his protection.
He listened respectfully and atten-
lively, aud when she had done. said
$50 you thought you could trus
me? ?"
"T dill, replied Mary, while the hot
blood rushed to her temples.
For Il moment the muscles in the face
of the hunter worked convulsively, and,
rising, he went to small cupboard and
took from il two daguerreotypes, the
one of young girl, and the other of
a middle aged woman. Opening them,
aud placing them in Mary's lap, while a
tear dimmed his eye, ne said
These are the pictures of my dear
mother and darling sister, and ! swear
to you by them | will always be to you
as brother"
Mary held out her hand, and, as he
Trasped If, two hearts met in that clasp,
never to he divided on earth.
The hunter told Mary that she must
20 back at once to hermother, and. now
she had placed herself under his protec-
tion, she need not fear Long Ned or any
one else. Placing her on his pony, he
walked by her side, and led the little
brute, who not being used TO such Il
burden, Was disposed to he a little vi
cious. Carefully and tcnderly, as if
she were an infant, he guarded her I'M
til they came to her fathers house,
where they had scarcely arrived when
that most startling of all cries on the
border, "Indiansv' was hearl, and a
man dashed up to say that the settle
ment below had been attacked and all
of Long Ncd's stock stolen. Waiting
to Lear no more, Long Ned, who was
still at the farm, leaped upon Il pony
and dashed away across the prairie.
Placing Mary in the arms of her
mother. the Wild Hunter left her to tel
her own tale, and rapidly followed Ned.
The Indians were driven off and ALI the
stock recovered, but Long Ned did not
return. Some said he was killed by the
savaces others, that the Wild Hunter
shot him: but, be that as 1T may, he
was dead and no one seemed to care by
whose hand he had fallen. Nearly all
lhe rccaptured stock had once belonged
to Mr. Thompson, and, Ned being dead,
~, "A
To return it to tire farmer, saying he was
Ned's heir,-.i decision no one objected
to. What was most surprising, how
ever. was the fact that the Wild Hunter
did not drink any more or quarrel with
anv one. When pressed for an expla-
nation, he simply replied: 81 have
quit that sort of thing"
Little more remains to be told OF this
true tale of borler-life, and it may be
summed mp in these words Soon after
the Ind an raid there was wedding mt
Mr.. Thompson's, and the farmer, in
hucnced by his new son-in-law, stopped
drinking and became prosperous and
useful citizen. If ever you visit the
Big Blue, Just above Mr.. ThOmpson's
place YOU will find a neat farmhouse,
and in it a brown-haircd, happy-faced
woman. with four little curly-hca cd
children playing about her knee. The
| owner of this farm is quiet, orderly
well-to do man; and, If you will wall
until he comes home from the fields
YOU will recognize in him none Othel
than 1.-The Wild Hunter of the Blue.
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