The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-10-09

aCOundrel. NeQ Qhu WUu moot - aAA'
Thompson's stock and money and was
now waiting To- finish. up his deyllish
work by taking the last thing the poor
man had, He had not long 70 wait, Tor,
one evening, -rhompson. with his team
and wagon, came over 10 the rancho, ana
after sundry drinks had been taken, Ned
proposed to play for the team OF horses.
At iirst Thompson refused, saying 1t was
All he fiadie and he meant, 10 keep that
but adrinkor two more. and the exhibi-
ton by Ned of q hundred Dollars N
money, changed his mind, and he sat
down at the fatal table; he was so sure he
would win thigtime, and them Ned said
be only wished he would, for he wanted
to see Mr.. Thompson get back some OF
his property. - - a m ~
In one hour the last horse was gone,
and Mr.. Thompson rose from his chair
and staggered to the wall, where he stood
with his head hanging on bis breast, pom
dering his misfortunes, and Iealiz ipg at
last that he and his family, were cpenni-
Less, and he had not even the means 81
getting home. Ned came upr and. slap7
ping the farmer familiarity on the shoul-
der. asid "Come, cheer up, old fellow,
and lei. Us take drink"
Thompson. move mechanically TO- the
bar, and, filling his glass to the brim,
drank II Of. Again and again no drank,
and, at each swallow OF the vile stuff,
seemed TO grow more desperate. He was
now maudlin drunk, and Ned led his vic.
timeA to rome side, and said he had long
wanted .awife, and, as Mary was 70 fine
girl, be would like to marry her. He
sympaihizsd with Mr.. Thompson In bis
losses; and, as 1t was the custom In new set.
Elements for men to buy their wives from
tho Indians, helwould put. upall he had
won Of MIR. Thompson against Mary. AT
frat the farmer was shocked and surpris-
ed; but, the more he thought oil 1t the
more reasonable Ned's proposition seemed
to be, and, after another glass, he sat
down and staked1 his own daughter on q
hand'ot cards. Ned won, and the farmer
burst into tears. The gambler made light
Of the matter, and assured him, II he had
lost daughter, he had won Q son.in.law.
Again and again they drank, and, Ned
calling for bottle Of whisky, the two got
into the wagon and started for the farm
er's home. On the road, Thompson drank
heavily from the bottle, so that, when
they, arrived at the farm, the farmer was
so drunk he had 10 be helped out Of the
wagon. II was very late, but the wife
and daughter were still up waiting for his
return, and Mary was clad in q neat white
muslin dress, which made her look charm.
ing. They were both much surprised to
see a stranger with Mr.. Thompson, but
received him kindly, thinking, no doubt,
he had merely come to see Mr.. T. saie
homo. ,,.,..,..,
Ned turned out the team-his team
and then entered the cabin. He was Q
repulsive looking fellow at best; but, now
that the night wind had pulled and flush.
his blosted face, he looked perfectly hid
eous. Fixing his bleared eyes on Mary,
he stared the girl out OF countenance, and
caused her to blush and turn away.
Wherever she went, Ned followed her
with his ferret eyes, until the girl be-
came so nervous and uneasy she went
into the room and walked the old man up.
When she returned to the outer room, she
found her mother had fallen into aswoon,
and her father, who had been asleep in
the chair, was now sitting up, apparently
quite sober, and talking toned. Mary
ran to her mother, and raising her In her
arms, placed her upon the bee, wheres she
sprinkled water 10 her face until ''she re-
covered, and began TO sob BITTERLY
j Her father now called her to his side,
and said:
"Mary, we. have lost everything; this
gentleman has won all, and he wants you
for his wife. I have promised him your
hand. Go to him" ~
! / The surprised and confused girl ran to
her mother; but Ned called to her, in a
rough voice: ....-.,-,s.
Come here To me, girl, you're now my
little woman, and ! want you"
Scarcely knowing what she did, with
one bound she reached the door, and In
moment more was out in the dark night
and flying across the prairie towards the
barn. She heard her father call to her
to come back, and then halloo to Ned to
run round the house while he went to the
barn. Mary had intended to take her
pony from the barn and ride she knew
not whittier; but, hearing her fathers
voice close behind her, she slipped out Of
the stableby aibsck-doorg and ran across
tho prairie. For On hour she'rar on, and
then sank down completely exhausted
Long and bitterly she wept, lying prone
upon the cold, damp ground. Then,
startled by the howl ofa wolf, she sprang
up and tried to. think. Where should che
poP What should che do? Itwas moi
lar to the river, and she would cast her
self In and beneath its dark waters end
her troubles. Arrived upon the bank
she stands like q statue, gazing down al
the gurgllng flood. Her purpose Is firm
one plunge and all will be over. Blu,
bark; what noise Is that? Its the dipol
daddles; and, as Mary stands on the very
, brink OF river, in the light Of the new
, risen moon, q canoe, with four Indians ID
: Iit round the bend Of the stream within q
/ few rods oil her. Why does the warrior
In the bow OF the boat rise, and with 9
gesture impose silence on his comrades
/ dc believes thiswhite and statue- like fg
ure Is no human being, and even the oar
ceaseito dip while the boat floats silently
by, and the savages pass on their way L
/ the settlement TO steal stock. i PSI li.r
/, Mary had stood perfectly still, it'll,
} caring what became Of her; but the sigh
Of the Indians had changed her purpose
and no sooner had they passed than shl
! hastened rom the river..zAs ,sheaturnet
! about, a great gray wolf arose from th,
: grass within few feet Of her, and slunl
away with an angry grow, while nigh
!, owl, perched on the limb Of a tree over he
head, tapped his great wings and uttered
! dismal cries as he flew airighted up TIL
!, river. ~ $50 "a i-- 3 ~ = We y, -
J, Mary had been thinking for the pastfev
minutes Of "the Wild Trapper Of the
Z Blue" and she had now determined to z,
70 him, She knew, ehc was not iar, iron
! Ibis cabin, and why should she not 60 ani
2 claim his protection : Perhaps he was no
y bad; indeed, she had always bslitpsd b
,,,aa naN AZ xuinkad "a th a., ba n ,aF M