The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-09

more pltlaUlo COuphulOuh never peEuaP1
occurred to him. Yet he could not help
feeling the want OF that excitement which,
singularly enough, was most conducive
TO that calm equapimity for which he was
notorious. He looked at the gloomy
walls that rose thousand feet sheer
above the circling pines around him; at
the sky, ominously clouded; at the valley
below, already deepening into shadow.
And, doing so, suddenly he heard his own
name called.
A horseman slowly assembled the trail.
In the fresh, open face Of the newcomer
Mr.. Oakhurst recognized Tom Simson,
otherwise known "A "The Innocent" Of
Sandy Bar. lie had met him some months
before over a "little game" and had, with
perfect equanimity, won the entire for.
tune-am0unting to some forty dollars
OF that guileless youth. After the game
was finished, Mr.. Oakhurst drew the
youthful apeculator behind the door and
thus addressed him: Tommy, you're a
good little man, but you cant gamble
worth a cent. Don't try ii over again"
He then handed him his money back,
pushed him gently from the room, and SO
made devoted slave Of Tom Simson.
There was a remembrance OF this in
bis boyish and enthusiastic greeting OF
Mr.. OAkhurst. He had started, he said,
to go TO Poker Flat TO seek his fortune.
"AloneY No, not exactly alone; In fact
IA giggle), he had run away with Piney
Woods. Didn't Mr.. Oakhurst remem.
Der Piney? She that used TO wait on the
table at the Temperance House? They
had been engaged n long time, but old
Jake Woods had objected, and SO they
run away, and were going to Poker Flat
to be married, and here they were. And
they were tired out, and how lucky il was
they had found place 10 camp and com.
pany. All this the Innocent delivered
rapidly, while Piney, stout, comely
damsel Of fifteen, emerged from behind
the pine-tree, where she had been blush
ing unseen, and role TO the side OF her
lover.
Mr.. Oakhurst seldom troubled himself
with sentiment, still less with propriety;
but he had vague idea that the situa
ton was not fortunate. He retained,
however, his presence ofmind sufficiently
to kick Uncle Billy. who was about TO
say something, and Uncle Billy was sober
enough 10 recognize in Mr.. Oakhursts
kick a superior power that would not
bear thrilling. He then endeavored TO dis
suade Tom Simson from delaying further,
but 10 vain. He even pointed out the
fact that there was no provision, nor
means for making a camp. But, unluck.
lily, the Innocent met this objection by
assuring the party that he was provided
with an extra mule loaded with provi.
sions, and by the discovery Of rude at.
tempt at a log house near the trail.
"Piney can stay with Mira. oakhurst,"
said the Innocent, pointing to the Ouch.
esq., land can shift for myself"
Nothing but Mr.. 0akhurst's admonish.
Jog foot saved Uncle Billy from bursting
into a roar OF laughter. As it was, he
felt compelled to retire up the canon un.
til he could recover his gravity. There
he contided the joke to the tall pine.trees,
with many slaps Of his leg, contortiona OF
his face, and the usual profanity. But
when he returned to the party, he found
them seated bya tire-for the air had grown
strangely chill, and the sky overcast-in
apparently amIcable conversation. Pin
ey was actually talking In an impulsiVe,
girlisl fashion to the Duchess, who was
listening with an interest and animation
she had not shown for many days. The
Innocent was holding forth, apparently
with equal effect, to Mr.. OAkhurst and
Mother ShiptOn, who was actually relax
ing into amiability.
"Is this yer did picnicY" said Uncle
Billy with inward scOrn, ~ he surveyed
the sylvan group, the gIancing freight,
and the telhered animals 10 the fore
ground. Suddenly an idea mingled with
the alcoholic fumes that disturbed his
brain. 1t VIA apparently Of jocular ma.
ture, for he felt impelled to slap his leg
again, and cram his fist into his mouth.
Az the shadows crept slowly up the
mountain, aslight breeze rocked the tops
Of the pine.trees, and mOaned through
their long and gloomy aisIes. The ruined
cabin, patched and covered with pine
boughs, was set apart for the ladies. As
the IoverR parted, they unatlectedly ex.
changed y kiss, 40 honest and sincere that
il might have been heard above the sway
ing pines. The frail Duchess and the
maIevolent Mother Shipton were proba.
bly, too stunned 10 remark upon this last
evidence Of simplicity, and so turned
without word to the hut. The fire was
replenishcd, the men lay down before the
door, and in u few minutes were asleep.
Mr.. Oakhnrst was light sleeper. To.
ward morning he awoke benumbed and
cold. As he stirred the dying fire, the
wind, which WA now blowing strongly,
brought to his cheek that which caused
the blood TO leave it,-Snow
lie started to his feet with the inten.
ton Of awakening the sleepers, for there
was no time TO lose. But turning to
where Uncle Billy had been lying, he
found him gone. A suspicion leaped to
hia brain, and curse To his lips. He
ran TO the spot where the mules had been
tethcred; they were no longer there. The
tracks were already rapidly disappearing
in the snow.
The momeniary excitement brought
Mr.. 0akhurst back TO the fire with his
usual calm. He did not waken the sleep.
ers. The Innocent slumbered peacefully,
with n smile on his good-humored,
freckled face; the virgin Piney slept be.
side her frazier sisters as sweetly "a
though attended by celestial guardians;
aud Mr. OAkhurst, drawing hIs blanket
over hia shoulders, StrOked his mustaches
and waited for the dawn. 1t came slowly
in whirling mist Of snow. flakes, that
dazzled and confused the eye. What
could be seen OF the Landscape appeared
mugically changed. He looked over the
valley, and summed up the present and
future in two words-"SnoWed I'M"
A careful inventory OF the provisions,
which, fortunately for the party, had been
stored within the hut, and 10 escaped the
ielonions fingers OF Uncle Billy, disclosed
the fact that with care and prudence they
might last ten days longer, That is"
said Mr.. OakhurIt, soto pOce TO the lnno-
cent, "if you're willing to board us. II
YOU ain't-and perhaps you'd better not
we can wait till Uncle Billy gets back
with provisions" For some occult rea'
son, MIR. OAkhurst could not bring him
self to disclose Uncle BiIly'S rascality,
and 80 offered the hypothesis that he had
wandered from the camp and had arci.
entalIy stampeded the animals. He
dropped u warning TO the Duchess and
/ N,st.. EL;D,nn ,Hhn nj Cnuraa knRW