The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-05-07
Misrellangp.
A Party Of -Four.

meeting, and an act of revenge said to
have taken place many long years ago,
on the fork Of the Pawnee. 4 party
Of four, who had been rowing for many
years in the West, all strangers to each
other, were one day accidentally thrown
together; wheE strange and bloody
scene ensued. These men presented al
striking contrast in feature. The youn-
gest was delcately made, with long,
light hsir and blue eyes; his exposure
had given him rich brown complexion.
He was OF the medium stature, and
made for strength and agility. There
was a dark void over his features which
told that With him the light Of hope had
gone out. 6iiis
He was travelling on a mule, with his
rifle in his gun.leather at the bow Of his
saddle, when he overlook man on foot,
with gun on his shoulder and pistols
in his belt, who was over six feet, and
had deep, wide scar on his right cheek
As day was drawing to aclose they pro.
posed to camp, and brought up at the
head of the Pawnee Shortly after they
had camped man was seen reconnoi-
tering them with rifle in hand, and hay
ing satiied himself that his sign was
friendly, he came moodily into the camp,
and, after looking sternly at the two
men, was asked by Scar Cheek ito come
to the ground" He was a stout, mus.
cular man, much older than the other
two, with deep, habitual scowl, long,
black, matted hair, and very unprepos-
sessing features. Some common, place
remarks were made, but no questions
We're asked by either party s1t
1t was near twilight when the voung
man, who had gathereds some buffaio
chips to make fire to cook with, sud
denly perceived a; man approaching
them or. q mule; he came steadily and
fearlessly on the camp, and, casting d
look on the three, said "Took ,ye for
Indians;n then glancing at the deer.
, skin dress of the trio, he observed,
|"Old leathers--some time. out, eh 1"-
The man was about fifty years old, and
his gray hairs contrasted strangely with
his dark, bronEed features, upon which
care and misfortune were strongly mark
ed. He was one-half clad BY the miser
able skins he wore, and IS he dismoun
ted Scar Cheek asked, ssWhere from p
"From the Kaw" KansasJ, he replied
throwing down a bundle Of otter skins
After unsaddling and stalking out biz
mule he brought himself to the ground
and taking his rifle, looked at the prim
ing, and shaking the powder in the pan
he added few more grains to it; thel
placing piece of thin dry skin over
to keep it from the damp, he shut lh
pan.
| The group watched the old trapper
who seemed not to notice them, Will,
Scar Cheek became interested AMI show
ed certain uneasiness. He looked to
ward his own rife, and once or twic
loosened the pistols in his belt, as il the,
j disconnected him The young and tn
stout man with the scowl exchange,
glances, but no word passed So fal
no question had been asked as to VIII,
the other was; Whist little conversation
passed vas very laconic; and not a smil
had wreathed the lip Of any of them
i The little supper was eaten in silence
each man seeming to be wrapped in hi
own thoughts. II was agreed that tn
watch should be divided equally anon
the four, each man. standing guard 70
two hours--the old trapper taking th
first watch, the young man the mex
and Scar Cheek and he with the scoH
following. ier az s.
1t was bright moonlight night, an
over the wild waste of prairie not ,
sound wss heard as the three lay sleer
ing on their blankets. The old trappe
paced up and down, ran his eyes aroun
1.-The wild waste before him, and the
would stop and mutter to himself, q
cannot be he," he said aloud, "but th
time and the. scar may have disguise
him. That boy, too--it's. strange ] fee
drawn toward him; then that william Wit
the scowl," and the muscles of the ,ol
. trapper's face worked convuisively
which the nhoohbeans falling upon, di:
closed traces Of aby-gone refinement :
} The trapper noiselesslY approached tt
} sleeping men, and kneeling down, gaze
} tintently upon the face Of each and scar
ned them deeply. Walking off, he mu,
tered to himself again, saying: "lt sha
Ibe," and then judging by the stars tbs
Ibis watch was up, he approached th
young man and woke him, pressing hi
Finger on bis lips to command silence .
j the time, and motioned him to follow
They walked Of some distance, whe
the trapper, taking the young man b
the shoulder, turned his face to. tt
moonlight, and, after gazing st it wis
. fully, whispered in bis ear, "Are yo
! Perry Ward ~ The young man starte
: wildly, but the trapper prevented b
reply by saying, Enough" He the
j told him that he was his uncle, and th'
2 the man with the scar was the rnurde
! er of his father; and that he wflh II
4 Escowl had convicted him (the trappel
, (of forgery by his falae oath. The bloc
y deserted the lips OF the young man, an
This eyes glared and dilated almost frol
: their sockets. He squeezed his uncle
hand, and then, with a. meaning glanc
as he looked to his rife, moved towar
the camp. "No, no." said the trappe
"not in cold blood; give them chance
, They cautiously returned to the cam
rand found both the men In deep sleeI
1.-The uncle and nephew stood over then
Scar Cheek was breathing hard, whe
tbe suddenly cried out, 81 did not mu
(; tder Perry Wardr' "Liarr' said th
!, ,[trapper in voice of thunder, and th
1.-TWO men started and bounded to the
Fleet. "Red skins aboutf" said they i
a voice "No, worse than red skins,
said the trapper. "Harry Ward
! about!' and seizing his knife he Fluns
ed it in Scar Cheeks heart. "Ther
} take that" said he with scowl. ant
raising his rifle, the trapper fell a corpse
+ With-a bound and Wild cry. the youn
man jumped at the murderer of his ur
Gle, and with his knife gave him sewers
fatal wounds The struggle was feal
full one, however, and the young ma
had also received several bad cuts, nhe
his adversary fell from the loss of blood
, tand cnon aftpr avnirad Tina ondo