Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-12-06
A Romance Of the Frontier.

She was little thing, says the Leau
willie HeraH with large, luminous eyes,
that, lighting up her features, rendered
positively attractive a face that would
otherwise be passed in a crowd without
second glance, and wealth OF coal
black hair, neatly arranged, except a
single heavy lock that by its own weight
had escaped from its iastenlngs. She
seemed half frightened by her position,
and her dark cheeks and forehead flush
ed To the roots Of her hair rs she step
ped into the little room where the
Squire sat dispensing justice. She
seemed not over sixteen, and mOdesty
was apparent in her very attitude, as
she stood with folded hands awaiting
the commencement Of further proceed
iugs.
Her companion was a grlzzed, aWk-
ward-looking man, apparently fifty years
OF age, with an ugly scar stretching from
the inner point OF his eye across his lett
cheek to nearly the point OF his chin,
describing an are, which had left wide
track bare OF AN otherwise luXuriant
growth of gray whiskers. Hair matted
and growing low down on his forehead,
together with the distortion OF his
eve, occasioned by the scar, gave his
countenance sinister leer, positively
repulsive.
The ill-assorted pair stood for a mo-
ment while his honor disposed OF some
papers before him, the man iumbled a
WORKOUT felt hat, while the girl nervous
ly twisted her fingers. AS the Justice
turned toward them eNpeCtantly, the
man stepped 10 the desk, and leaning to-
warl His Honor, said in confidential
husky whisper:
Squire, you marry people, | sup
poSe?
The official nodded
well, | reckon can give you a little
Job this morning.
"Who are the partics''
"ThiS little gal an me.
His Honor pushed back his chair, put
on his spectarles, and deliberately sur
viewed theman from head TO foot. HIS
inspection finished, he turned to the
girl. whose bushes, under his earnest,
| inuuiring gaze, chased each other over
neck, cheeks and forehead, until she
was one glow of burning color.
''See here, my man, said the Squire,
come into my private room for mo-
mrnt. Take seat, miss
Leading the way 10 the inner room,
. His Honor closed the door and turned
| fierCely upon his companion.
"Ain't you ashamed Of yourself, you
/ old scOundrel, to come here expecting
me to marry you TO young child ike
| that
Nov don't get hot, Squire. know
/ amt much TO look at. I've been told
that since was a kid, and this beauty
spot" touching the scar, "ain't an I'M
proyement. An it's all along o thu:
scar that this ere circumstance hal
come about. This was the way 1t hap
/ pened: .,.,...l
awkward. and all OF that, amt been
the best man in the world. never
harmed anv body, but ! generally KEEP
pretty full. and i | got ahead any, why
Il all went in few days for liquor and
so travelled round, and was never any
thing but vagabond. Well, last sprlnG
| ! struck the camp, an saw men MAKING
money, an after big drunk iound my
| self without a cent. This am I no place
for a man when he's dead broke, an
/ umbled TO myself an chopped short
| worked a month in the little Pittsburg
an never got drunk once, an then
took nv money an laid in two months
grub stake, an went up South Evan:
and took up a claim. There's where
first met Kitty, out there. Her father
had the next claim to mine, and she
kept house for her father, an we got
kinder neighborly like. When l go'
broke / was down forty feet, an the hole
looked good. l worded for the Little