Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-11-14
MUNTED DOWN.

Not many years ago ono Of the most beau.
.Rtiful valleys of the far West was cursed as
) tho resort Of a murderous band of robbers,
Sswho hid for chief, a villain whose vilo
4 and crucl deeds spread terror whorever his
jpaaine was known.
Almost q giant in stature, q man of
I remarkable strength, cunning aud brute
courage, the, Border Scourgo, as ho was
callod, had gained notoriety second to
none upon the Frontier for doviish wicked
ness
His band, composed of q set of oongenial
devils, hesitated at 90 wickcdncss their
chief led them to, and many settler and
we'll froighted emigrant train paid the toll
Demanded by this frontier scourge, or paid
the penalty Of refusal with thor lives.
Murder had driven the Border Scourgc
& from the smarts of civilization, and the same
y 8prime kept him predominant in the Western
nYilds, and his motto, "Doad men tell no
talos, was acted upon to the very letter.
A large reward had been offered for his
head - and many adventurous spirits, i'm
r PEELED by tho love Of gain, had loss their
lives in5sceking to rid the country Of the
rockies ruffian; for the Border Soouree
chad his spios everywhere throughout that
81 portion of tho country, and tho man who
Il Het forth to track him to death was certain
D 20 lind bis own grave at tho end of his
q journey.
ssS ma settlement not many miles distant
81 from the retreat of this robber band, dwelt
;8a farmer, who, years before, went to Cali
B fornla as a miper, aud having gaiucd sutii-
y aclentmea to buy him homo and make
Far ~kah1 hal
4 IN che West; and after few years found
,S S himself in easy circumstances.
Sixteen years before, Tom Abbott had J
y left his Eastern home, driven ,sa tliogsand
%tnisfortune that had. nnremem%' 'Irom it by
{ failure of his. 56tp:- ec,le upon him in the
twife..y on ''rDusiness, and the death of
3 yytasban r., leaving him, with daughter, Of
s two years of age, to care for.
4 Then he decided to seek his fortune in
california, and, placing his daughter Edith
81 10 g$thefcare of Ills fwfe's mother, ho sailed
for the Golden State.
s Having rendered himself comfortable iu
n his Western home, he OF length determined
Ito have his daughter conc und live with
@&him, aud with Joy he looked forward to the
day of hor arrival, for in all these sixteen
years he had not seen her.
He had her picture and gloatod over the
beautiful face, and there Was not settler
S for miles who had not seen it and praised
Its loyolincss, 80 that when it was rumored
q that Tom Abbott's beauty was coming, tho
whole valley was turning out to Welcome
u her, for woman was rarity there in those
2 days, and pretty woman an exception.
Edith Abbott had received good cduca-
s tion and had been reared in pleasant home
SSof refinement; but without word sho re-
5sSlinquished all, to live in tho far West with
Ms her only parent
sae, Perhaps thero wos another reason for the
IS sacrifice upon her part. Edith had lover,
1 y ss certain handsome, dasbpg cavalry officer,
Captain Oscar Mowbray, who had been
S45 ordered with his command TO tho frontier,
% to bo stationed at post within q DAYS
ride Of the settlement in which Tom Abbott
ISL dwelt.
a. Thus the young girl had taken advantage
cfa military escort to reach her home, and
SS ono pleasant afternoon courier reported
the coming of the soldiers, cscorting tho
fair beauty.
a crowd of settlers, among whom we're
5s q fow women, had gathered in the front Of
s$S3 Tom Abbott's comfortable aud commodious
n cabin, and conspicuous above all vas the
Ii tall burly figure of the Bordor Soourgc.
Why he was thore mono knew, and the
light ho hud to thus presume could not
gainsay; for tho settlers cared not to bring
upon themselves yengancc; and we'll did
they know that ho was not thcro single
o. handed
Whom the maiden with hor escort at
length arrived, and tho fond father was
y about to rush forward and greet hia daush-
q ter, tho Border Scourge sud d1enly steppcd
g4 forward and raising Edith from her saddle
q drew hor arm in his, and led her to where
her horror stricken parent stood.
$s.This is your father, Miss Abbott.
Permit me to welcome you to your new
sfhome And without word, ho turned
4 upon his heel and walked away.
Have you no word Of welcome for mo,
II "a dear father" and tho beautiful Dyes filed
g5 with tears
~ NJ y daughter!' regaining his self COM
sfmand. Tom Abbott claspod the maiden to
his hoart.
lSS Edith and Oscar Mowbray had looked
upon this aot as a nero token Of welcome,
believing him to be ono Of tho settlers; but
q when the young captain learned this truth,
With IA bound ho was in the saddle, and
toaIling upon bis men to follow him, darted
+; away III persuit, regardless Of the cries of
8 tlIo settIeTs.
Tho Border Scourge had gone but few
s s!inndred yards, and seeing that the young
officer was after him, turned, raised his
! Srovol ysr and fred.
STho bail took effect NTH head OF the