Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-11-17
The Sturp Teller.
THE TRAPPER'S STORY.

"You needn't laugh, young man. lV'
seen bolder hearts as your'n, soften at danger
I've been in the woods, this nigh upon fort!
years, and have seen ugly marks of many al
ugly scrimmage, and have seen comrades a.
never know'd fear, shun the White Wolf
'Taint for such as you to make light of sucf
things"
There was solemnity and sternness in tht
old Trapper's voice, and the fire OF a still
warm heart, kindled moment IN his OLD
dim eve, as he slowly twisted an immense
chew from the plug, and thrust it thought
fully into his cheek. The young hunter ad
dressed, assumed a more guarded tone as M
watched the old man with interest. TEL III
of the White Wolfp was the request of the
company, urged in the most deferentlal man
ner
The night was we'll advanced, the sky drap
ed in heavy rain-clouds, and the increas
ing winds sweeping 6tfully and mourntully
through the forest. The waning campfire
sent its Pickering glare family out into the
surrounding darkness; the tall pine trunks
standing out from the inky blackness beyond
like CHASTITY forms.
"Punch up the fire." said the Trapper
still gazing motionless into the embers. Ihe
wood was tossed on until the sparks and
flame shot upwards in a rnddy glare and
shivered cheerily upon the faces of the circle
Just then howl, clear, long.drawn, and
fearfully dismal in its tone, came swelling up
from the valley, upon the winds. There was
slight movement in the Trsppers muscles
and paler shadow crept over the wrlnkled
and swarthy features. -,
1T alters comes on such nights as this =
murmured the old man, his gaze still looking
into the fire. Even among these brave men
there was an involuntary movement towards
the fire, at the sound from the forest, and the
young man, who had laughed at the old mans
superstitions, paled about the lips, and cast
hurried glance over his shoulder, into the
forest.
1.-TWO and thirty year ago, next Christmas,
slowly commenced the Trapper, 81 came into
these woods, and nobody with me, 'cept jed
Williams and his sister"
The trapper hesitated moment, as some
sad memories seemed to come upon him and
his voice grew as tender and tremulous as
woman's.
"Jed was as true boy as ever drew a
sight, and uncommon skilled he was, in all
kinds of wood.craft. The IDgin himself,
could not sarkumvent Jed Williams, and the
crack of his rifle was sartin' death to every
critter. Jed Williams sister-wal boys,
said the Trapper, half deprecatingly, as If
ashamed of his emotion, 81 cant help it, but
these things take dreadful deep hold on me
at times, though may be you young men will
wonder why Old Dave, as they call him,
should grow tender at the mention OF wo-
man. But I was young then, and by the
gods, boys" continued he, with tremulous en-
ergy, as if struggling to choke down rising
feeling "a fairer, or more beautiful crltter
never bloomed in the woods" The hunter
hesitated a moment, unclenched his hard
hand, and hastily and slyly brushed large
drop from the roug cheek, and continued ::
"Yes, she was lovable gal, as trim as pine,
and as lightfooted as fawn. Her eye was
mild, and yet it would kinder look through
one, and her voice was sweet as the dancing
waters. Well, boys, to tell the truth, for |
feel kind O. like talking tonight, | thought
an uncommon sight Of Mary Williams.
'Twan't often in hunters lifetime, that such
a strip of sunshine streaked his trail. felt,
I did, as though 1 owned the whole Norwest,
and hadn't care for the future.
"The first Ingin summer came, and Mary
and 1, and Jed, used to tramp up and down
the river and over the hills, for Mary loved
the flowers, and used to watch the forest as
the leaves were streaked like, with pretty col
ors. The next spring, was to have had Ma
ry Williams, and take her to my own cabin,
over the river" More than one tear now
glistened a moment in the freight and drop.
ped fast from the cheek, ss the Trapper gazed
silently again into the flames.
Coming back from hunt one night, We
that's Jed and found stranger in the
cabin. He was one of your city fellers, and
yet he suas handsome as a picter. He was
richly dressed. His eye was the blackest
and the piercingest ever seed, and seemed to
90 right through one, every time he looked
at 'em. alters felt kind O chilly like, every
time he looked at me, and I amt apt to care
for any critters looks. His voice was like lie,
and crept right into one, some how. didn't
like the looks of the feller at all, and it mag
be was little jealous.
jed never turned stranger away from
his cabin, and this one stayed and stayed.
We wasn't awful thick with each other, and
the more see of him the worse | liked him.
He seemed to know it, too, but never said
nothing, only in his smooth kind O way. |
didn't really want to pick fuss with him,
but felt all the time as though there was a
devil in his eye, when he catched me watch
ing him.
"One day-I remember it as we'll as tho
twas yesterday-I came back from over the
river, and found no one in the cabin. | felt
uneasy and lonesome like, and walked slow
" down to a bend in the river where We
used to hitch our boats. As got near, l
heard voices, and l knew that the stranger
and Mary Williams we're there. They were
talking low, but prairie on fire in a gale,
wasn't nothin' to what went on in my breast.
shut my hand on my rifle till it seemed
that the barrel would give way. But was
COOL awfully cool, and began to creep nearer
didn't want to eavesdrop, but | was deter
mined that the stranger shouldn't come any
of his fassynations over Mary Williams, if |
could help it. They stood upon 1.-The bank,
and he seemed to be trying to coax her to 60
into his boat, and she kind O half hesitatln
like, as if afraid. Iknowed she was charmed
Some would laugh, but no critter ever had
such eyes and such voice, who could not
charm. I've seen birds charmed by rattle
snakes, and know that some men, cuss em
have the same natur. Well, as l was say.
ing, Mary was charmed, and stood trembling
her mouth partly open, and her face as pale
as ashes. She would lean towards the stran'
-. tbop hac and