The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-01-10
Clay and Bowie.

Henry Clay used to tell story Of his
own experience. Upon certain occa-
sion, in his early manhood, Mr.. Clay
wns travelling in public stage coach in
Tennessee. His fellow passengers were
young lady and her husband the Int
ter vidently M invalid-Rnd mnn in
the front corner, SO muftled up in fur
lined cloak that his foatures werc con-
ccalcd. He appeared to berather under
than over the medium size, and was cvi-
IDENTIFY enjoying refreshing slumber.
By.and.bye n big, brown.faced, brawny
Kentuckian got into the coach, smoking
rank, coarse grained cigar. He gazed
around fiercely, us though he would i'm.
press upon the minds OF his new COM
panions that he could chew up and swnl.
low any one who dared to interfere with
him. In short, he was "half horse and
half alligator, with a goodly sprinkling
of panther and grizzly bear thrown Ill. y
He puffed forth huge volumes Of tmoke
without the least concern' for tho com.
fort OF his companions.
Presently the Indy, who seemed TO be
growing sick, whispered to hor husband,
aud tho husband, in the politest mnuner
possible, asked the stranger il he would
not throw away his cigar, rs tho smoke
greatly discommoded his wife. With
an impudent, staggering stare the fellow
replied, interlarding his speech with
several oaths:
~ reckon I've paid my place: I'll
smoke as much as l please. I'd ike to
sec somebody stop me !"
He looked very dangerous as he
glared around, and it was very evident
that he was used to quarrel md strife,
and, Furthermore, struggle with him
might have been II deadly one. The
young man who had spoken to him
slrank back, and was silent. The lady
lowered the sash by her side fora breath
OF fresh air.
Mr.. Clay felt every gallant instinct OF
his soul aroused. He considered for n
moment whether he should Interfere,
and found himself reluctant to draw
upon his own head the brutal violence
Of the gigantic ruflian. In that then
lawless country lie knew that his life
might be sacrificed unavenged. He
knew himself to be physically unequal
10 the contest, md he thought, after all,
it was not his business to risk his life in
so Quixotic manner.
Clay was settling back, with pity for
the insulted and disgust for tho insulter,
when, suddenly, but very quietly, the
cloaked figure in the corner assumed au
upright position, suffering the fnrrcd
mantle to fall back without particle Of
excitement, thereby revealing the small,
but well.knit, muscular frame Of man
pLlinly dressed in a closely buttoned
frock coat, with face rather pale, and u
pair OF bright gray eyes that CLEANED
like polished steel-and those strange
eyes quickly attracted tho attention Of
the ferocious Kcntuckian.
With n terrible calnness this quiet
man passed his hand under his collar at
the back Of his neck, aud deliberately
drew forth long, glittering and ugly
looking knife from its sheath i'll that sin
gllar plAcc.
"Strnngcr," he said, "my name is
Colonel James Bowie, well known in
Texas and Arknnsaw. II you do not
put that cigar out Of the window in less
than fifteen seconds, I'll put this
knife through your heart, as suro IA
death |"
Clay said that he could never forget
tho expression OF tho coloncl's eyes at
that moment. They told, rs unmistalin-
bly, as signs can toll, that tho threat
would certainly be fulfilled; mud this
conviction evidently impressed itself
upon the mind OF the offender. During
n very few seconds his eyes met thJse of
Bowie. With all his brute strength he
was the weaker mnn, and he quailed.
With muttered curse he threw the
cig,lr away, upon which Col. Bowie
coolly returned his knife to its sheath,
and without another look or word. re-
folded his cloGk about him aud lay back
rs before. At the next stopping place
the Kentuckian got ont and took n seat
with the driver.