Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-02-24
A TRIAL IN LONELY GULCH.

The weird light OF a campfire Redeemed
the sky and made still blacker the sliad-
ows Of the rocks which threw back the
rays from their massive fronts, and re-
tlected the light over the forms of Gozen
miners who were gathered round it.
The well deserved name of Lone Gulch
was applied to the place, and the proceed
ings which occupied the attention of the
men that night seemed in keeping with
its character.
The country had been overrun with deS-
peradoes; camps had been robbed, horses
stolen, and occasionally man murdered,
until the law-abiding portion Of the popu-
lation had determined to execute summa-
ry vengeance upon every marauder who
should fall into their hands.
That day, youth, apparently not more
than eighteen years Of age, had been taken
in the act of riding away on horse be-
longing to one of the company. Only his
youthful appearance saved him from be-
ing shot down at once, but the men who
had captured him brought him to camp 10
await the return Of the whole party, when
his fate might be determined by the gen
cral will.
He stood leaning against tree TO which
he had been tied, with his broad brimmed
hat slouched down, almost concealing his
features, while he listened to the discus
sion which was Of so much Importance to
him.
Some were in favor of giving him n
chance on account OF his youth, but they
had suffered so much from lawless desper-
ADDE'S, that others were inclined to execute
him forthwith.
They were pretty evenly divided, when
one who had not yet spoken came forward.
His usual demesnor had given him the
cognomen of singular BILL" He Was
stern and reserved, never speaking Of his
own affairs, and never joining in the
smusements of his comrades, but sitting
quietly, during the long evenings in
which the others whiled away the hours
in games Of cards, as II brooding over
some deep wrong, which time had failed
to efface from his memory.
His comrades respected him in spite Of
his peculiarities, for he never wronged
any man out Of dollar, and had most
strict and conscientious regard for the
rights of others. As they expressed 1t,
all his dealings were fair and square, open
and above board, but this he claimed was
only right, and he demanded the same
open-handed dealing from every other
man. Ii will be readily understood that
such man had but little charity for evil
doers.
His comrades knew nothing Of his form
or history, but the truth was that in his
early years he had married beautiful
woman, whom he had loved with all the
strength OF his ardent nature, and while
ho was as strong, true anu earnest As IL Is
possible for man 70 be, she was weak,
frivolous, and unprincipled. Being un-
willing to conform TO his strict idea Of
right and wrong, and perhaps finding an
uncongenial companion in the man who
would not encourage her unwomanly con-
duet, she took advantage or his brief alb
sence upon business and fed from him,
taking their only child, boy Of fonr years.
For a while he had searched for her, for
his heart was bound up in the boy, but
after the lapse of few weeks he received
a letter purporting to come from physi-
clan in distant city, which stated that
the child had died from contagious dis
ease, to which he had been exposed
through the mothers carelessness.
The fathers spirit vas completely Sro-
ken, and cursing not only the woman who
had brought this sorrow and trouble upon
him, but all others who trampied upon the
right, he left his native State and tried TO
forget his grief in the excitement Of hunt
ing gold. Taking = position where the
light shone full upon his stern, unyield-
ing features, he said:
"Comrades, claim that no man has any
right 10 do wrong. IL Ia this evii-doins,
this following ones own inclination, re-
gardless of the sacred rights Of another,
that blights mems lives and brings desc
latiop to homes and fresides.
"As long as wrong Is allowed to 60 un-
punished, so long will people commit acts
which leave the hearts Of their fellow be-
ings SCARED and scathed with wrongs that
cannot be wiped out.
"If evil doers were visited with prompt
and certain punishment wrong would
no, flourish and grow rich at the expenses