The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-02-03
BUDGET OF FUN.
William and Susan.


Susan Brown and William Brady, lovers ia
the Lone Star State, one calm night all snug
and shady, side by side in converse state.
Twas on old man Browns piazza; stars were
Frightening all the skies, and The moon above
the piazza was lust upon the rise. Twas the
hour for love or iquor-calm, sweet hour in
early Jnne: love nor wine will ever flicker on
such night with such moon.
Susan was as fair as Hebe, dressed in all
her Sunday clothes-ialrer than your cousin
Phoebe, who is talrer than the rose. As tor
William-never wildwood sheltered youth
more stout or hale; he was from his very
childhood what the Texans call a whale
There they sat for long hours talking of their
Joys and hopes and fears; talking of their
loves, and chalking out their plans for com.
ing years. Talked they also of their marriage,
limiting of n distant day when little crib and
carriage might perchance come into play.
Thus they sat, her hand IN prison-not a
prison harsh or stern-for twas merely lock-
ed IN his'n, and his lips were pressed to her'n.
But, alas! the course of true love smoothly
runs, oh, never, never Hearts linked in old
or new love soon or late must sigh and sever.
Oh, that in sea of rapture, where the heart
most sweetly soats, tate piratic's sure to cap
ture half our joys and cut their Threats.
Hark! the smell of shot and powder rises
stilllOuder umbles the heartrendering smell
SusaH's sybil soul prophetic knew that rum
BILE meant but ill-knew that old man Brown
erratic was upon the bunt Of Bill! Bill, the
lode-star whom she follows, withdrawing,
caring not; now she feels that fifty dollars
were poor pay to see him shot.
Oh. the earnest love of woman. Little Tor
itself it seeks; it is not thing uncommon for
its flame TO last six weeks!
All at once a door is busted close to where
the lovers sit-Wiliam had got up and dust.
cd, but it was too late TO git. Ere he dreamed
of flight or fear once, or had time to cut and
run old man Brown made his appearance
with his double barreled gun. Susan's knee
shook fast and faster, Williams also shook,
It's said, till they tumbled down the plaster
from the ceiling overhead.
Susan screamed, her dark hair flying like
a meteor streaming far, springing to her feet
and crying. "Please don't shoot, oh cruel
pal" But that pa, so cold and cruel, swore
he'd send Bill to that cline, where there's too
much fire and fuel for TO have a pleasant
time. Then he raised his shooting iron, raw.
ing much and swearing more, till the air was
blue-but why run on thus telling how he
swore? What, oh, what was William dong?
While thus raved the old galOot! seeing
plainly what was brewing, he was likewise
Hold rash Papa" cried the daughter; all
UNDECIDED were her cries, as also the sweet
saltwater streaming from her eyes. Standing
there in all his rgor, old man Brown now
aimed his gun, pausing ere he pulled the
trigger, thinking maybe Bill would run. Bill,
though, was not of the cattle which will Meth
er dare nor do; but, once showed into a battle,
he was sure to see it through. Never since
the siege of llium was suspense felt more pro.
found; for moment more and William had
been made 10 bite the ground.
Quickly drawing his repeater, which he
carried two or three, cooking it at shorter |
meter, drew bead on o. M. B. Few things
swift as lightning are there? Swift thus came
the pistols roar, and poor SuSan's hapless
father lay there weltering in his gore! Viii |
hams sure, unerring bullet-an internal slug, !
no doubt-took o. NJ. Is. in the gulet, and he
waltzed right up the spout.
And the Coroner, living nigh him, came;
but William didn't run, feeling sure they'd
justify him in the deed he had done. Which
they did, tor papa's fury, Susan, weeping, told
it DER, and to William SAID the jury: $50,
my son, and shoot no more"
Here my muse must stop and tarry; all she has
is in this lay; whether Bill and Sue will mar.
ry, she is not prepared to say. But as Bill
who is no joker with stocked cards. you un-
derstand-in that game of leaden poker play.
ed square and honest hand.
Should he, when there are no traces left of
his unerring shot, meet Sues hand with but
four aces, he will doubtless take the pot; for
Sue knows her pa was able and had done it
it with rush, with his full to sweep the ia
BILE had not William held charlottesville
CourterJOuTndl.