The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1882-09-07
HOW HE LOST HIS LOVE.
ATRAPPER'S STORY.
BY CARL RAYMOND.

Bill, I say" observed one trapper
to another, as the two sat smoking
their pipes before their campfire,
away out beyond the Rocky Noun
tains Bill, | say, old hoss, arter
all, this here's rayther q lonely life
for a man as has material incline
for women, and I'm derned ef | dom t
think I'll tie up to so'thing and quit,
ef it's only a mjun squaw-ves-sir-
ee -
"Augh !" grunted Bill.
Let me see!' pursued the other,
taking out his pipe and putting out Il
cloud of smoke with AZ air of serious
reflection sit is now jest about ton
year sence | begun my tramp over
these here mountains, and am
thirty year old and what's the use ?
what better am | fort now? Eve
made q heap o. money in my time
but whar is it? Gone-some for
bad whiskey, and q good deal more
ont at cuche"e and monte, ana SIGH
like. Now, ef [ goes on ten year
more, afore gltting rubbed out, it'll
be all the same, 'cept I'll be ten
yeal older, with rleumatics enough
maybe to make broken-down,
worthless old boss Of a feller as war
some punks in his time. Yes, sir
But ef | ooes and bitches teams with
some female woman, it'll alter the
case amazing-for then FL hev
so thing to live for and work for, and
at forty I'll be a fat beaver, and a
ornament to socierty. But what s
the use of talking to you, Bill, what
don't know what q woman ar aud
s'pose never saw one higher q
hundred yards eff you could help
yourself. Come, now, s'pose you
tell a feller what's the reason you're
so skeery of the critters Ar you
really afeard of 'em? or does it come
from having had the sack in your
time from some screamer of gal
what showed your ngly rival a blazed
path to Ler affections ?''
''Nyther, Jim," replied Bill, will
q long g-drawn sigh II ar'nt afeerd
of the animals, and l never got the
sack ; but the sweetest lass that eve,
livei come to q horrible end, ano
sence then Eve summed every hing
that made me think Of her ALI, jim
you've touched me in tender place
you hev, and it arn't the easiest
thing in the world to keep the water
out Of my eyes this minute
"Won't you tell me the story
Bill o.
"Wall, sence we've got Or the sub
ject. | 'spect it wont make matters
no woss to go over it, though its
more'n ten wear sence Eve mentioned
it to a living soul.''
He knocked the ashes FROM his
pipe with trembling hand. and sa
some minutes gazing at the fire
during which time his eyes filled witt
tears, and q few briny drops course6
slowly down his bronzed, weather
beaten features which, at thirty
years Of age, with the look Of forty
were still far from being uncomely.
1--we tranped with you a goot
deal, Jim," he at length resumed
drawing the back Of his rough hant
across his eyes ''we'ye bin together
off and on, for four or five year; anC
though you've thought me a woman
hater, and seen me keep c'ar of th.
sex, yet it warn't afays SO, and tha
war a time when [ war mixing W
with 'em in the tallest kind Of style
"fwelve year ago, down to tht
State Of Missouri, l sot my affections
on to a gal called Phoebe Lukcns.
loved her in the widest kind Of ;
way, and she thought heap Of me
She war seventeen, jest yea
younger'n me, and so purity that tn,
birds afays sung whar she travell ed
When / war with her, and that wa
afays when I could be, [ though
this here 'arth war heaven enough
and we talked and romped, walked
rid and sung and danced exceeding
Eff thar war, a frolic within ten mile
we war sure to be thar, and thar wa
nothing in them parts that coulc
head us off; and as happy as Bill
| Withers and Phoebe Lukens, war al
the best of 'em could say.
wall, one awful cold winter
night, we had an invite to a corn
husking, twelve mile away; and we
rid over hoss-back, cutting through
the woods and over the freeaa snow