Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-12-18
A Tale OF Revenge.

/ illOClilE. anu tANb VI iN'Nh-o $500
have taken place many long years ag'
On the fork of the Pawnec. A party o
four, who had been rowing for many
wears in the West. all strangers TO eacl
other. were ole day accidentally throw
together, wnen strange aud bloody
scene ensued. These men presented a
strlkiug contrast in features. The
youngest was delicately made, VIII
leng, light hair and blue eyes; his ex-
posurc had given him rich brown
complexion. He was sf the medium
stature. and made for strength and
and agility. There was a darV void
over ms features which told tlat with
han the light Of hope bad gone out.
He was travelling on il mule, with his
rifle in his gun-lealher at he bow OF Ills
saddle, when he overlook mau Oh
foot, with gun on his shoulder and
pistols in his belt. VINO Was over s.X
feet, and had deep, wide scar on his
right cheek. A. day was drawing 10 Il
close, they proposed 10 camp. and
brought up ut the head of the Pawucc.
Shortly after they had camped man
was seen reconnUllern5 them win
rifle in hand. aud having satisfied hlnl-
SELF that his sign Vas tlIcndlJ, Inc came
mnOdIly into he camp. aud. alter look
Ing sLelnly at the t"o hen, "aS ask
b., Scar Check to come To the ground.
lie Was stout, Muscular man, much
older tnan the other two, wilh deep.
nabllual scoMl, loEs. black. matted
hair, and very unprcpossessng features.
Sumo comm9np place remarks were
made, but no questions were asked by
either party.
II was near twilight when the youa :
man, who had gathered some baiidlc
chips to make lire to cook with. sud
denly Perceived man approaching
lhrm OH mule; he came steadily ano
aud learlesslI Oh the camp, aud. casting
Look on the three; SAID: Look Sc ioi
luuians;' then Slan1ins al the dcer'kln
dress OF the trio. he observed, Old
leathers-sOhe time out. ch?' The man
was about fifty years Old. and his gra,
hairs contrastcd strangely with lis dArN,
brunzed features. upon which care ano
misfortune were strongly marked. lie
was ene-half clad by the miserable
skins he wore, and as he dismomtcd
scar Cheek asked. Where lrom| From
the Kaw' (Kansas), he replied, throw
M down a bundle ef otter skins. Attci
uusaddllng and stalking out his mule he
brought himself to the ground. and
taxing his rifle. looked at tue primins.
and shaking the powder in the pan, h,
added a few more grains to it; then
placing a piece OF thin dly skin over il
TO keep it from the damp, he shut lhc
pan.
The group watched the old trapper.
who seemed not to notice them. while
Scar Check became Interested ano
showed Il certain uncasiucss. lie lcOk-
cd tow ard his own rifle. aud once oI
twice lOOscucd the pistols in his belt, as
If they disconnected him. The lUuu-
ana the stout man with the scswl ca
changed dances. but no word PASSED.
81 lar, no question had hern asked a-
to who the other was; what little con
verSaliou passed was very lsconc. and
nola smile mad wr,alhed the lip OF and
of them.
The little supper Was eaten IN 81
lence, each man seom!u4 IL he wrap
ped in his own thoughts. Ii vas
agreed that the watch should be- divided
q ally among the four, each man
,tandn, guard for two hours-the old
trappcr taking the lirst wach. the
Young man the n,xt. and Scar Cheek
aud he with The scoWl following.
1t vas brighl moonlight ulsht. aud
over the wild waste Of prairie not a
sound was heard rs the three lay sleep
lng Oh their blankets. The old trdppcr
paced up aud down. ran his eyes around
lie wild waste before nj Il, and lhsn
would stop and mutler TO himself, but
the time and the scar may have dis
gui,od him. That boy, toe its strange
feel dawn toward HIM; then that
villain with the scOwl.' and the muceles
of the old trappcr's face worked con-
yuisiYely, winch Tie moon beams fall
ng upon, disclocd Traces OF a by-gont
refinement. The trapper noiselcssl,
approached the sleeping men, and
kneelins dswn, gazed utenlly upon III,
face OF each and scanned them deeply
Walking Oh, he muttercd T., hims j
again, saying: 1t shall be-. and then
Judging by the stars that his '-atch Ma'
up, he approached the young man anC
aNoke him, pressing his finger on hi;
lips 10 command silence at the time
and mstioned him to isllew.
They walked Oft some distance. wh,r
the t.apper, taking the young MAJ b, h
shoulder, turned lis face 10 the moon
light. and after gazing at it wistlully,
whispered in his ear. Are YOU PER-,
Ward?' The young man started wildly,
but the trapper prevented his reply by
saving, Enough, enough lie lhel
told him that he was his ancle, ant
that the man with the scar was lh,
murderer Of his father aud that h.
with the scowl had convicted him (thC
lrapper) of forgery by his false OATH. .
~ biood desprfcl The linz ef tn,