Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-04-17
TENNESSEE'S PARTNER.

~ Bret Harte.
do mot think that we ever knew his real
nama Our ignorance Of II certainly never
gAvs M any social Inconvenience, for at
Sandy Bar In 1854 most mon were cbristeneo
anew. Sometimes these appellatives were
derived from some distnctiveuess OF dress,
= 10 the cnse OF "Dungsree Jsck"; or from
some pec,rliarity Of habit, ~ shown In "Sala-
rnfus BIllv 10 called from an undue proper
tion of that chemical In his daily bread or
from some unlucky slip, as exhibited IN
uThe from Pirate" mild inoffensive man,
Who earned that baleful title by his unfortu-
nate mispronunciation of the term "irm /
pyritea" Perhaps this may have been the |
beginning Of a rude heraldry; but am |
constrained 10 think that 1t Yves because /
mans real name IN that day rested solely /
upon his own unsupported statement "Call |
yourself Clifford, do you ?" said Boston, 3D. |
dressing q timid newcomer with infinite |
scorn "hell In full of such Cliffords " Ho
then introduced the unfortunate man, WHOSE
name happened to be really Clifford as Jay.
bird Chariey,"--an unhallowed inspiration
Of the moment, that clung TO him ever aftef.
But to return to Tennessees Partner,
whom we never knew by any other than
this relative ttle that he had ever existed
as a separate and distinct individuality We
only learned later. 1t seems that in 1853 he
sibly to procure wife. He never got any
farther than Stockton. At that place he was
attracted by young person who waited
upon the table at the hotel where he took his
meals. One morning he said something to
her which caused her to smile not unkindly,
to somewhat coquettshly break plate Of
toast over his uptutned serious, simple face,
and to retreat to the kitchen. He followed
her, and emerged a few moments later, COW
cred with more toast than victory. That day
week they were married by justice OF the
peace and returned to Porker Flat j am
aware that something more might be made
of this episode, but prefer to tall 1t - 1t was
current at Sandy BARN the gulcheo and
bar-roums,--where all sentiment Yves modi-
fed by strong sense OF humor.
OF their married felicity but little IN known.
perhaps for the reason that Tennessee, then
living with his partner, one day took occasion
to say something to the bride on his own
account, at which, it is said, she smiled not
unkndly and cbastely 1etreated,-t time
as far as Marysville where Tennessee fol-
lowed her, and where they went to house
keeping without the aid of a justice Of the
peace. Tennessee's Partner took the loss OF
his wife simply and seriously, as was his
fashion. But to everybody's surprise, when
Tennessee one day returned from Marys-
Vile, without his partners wife,-she having
smiled and retreated with somebody els,
Tennessee's Partner was the first man tC
shake his hand and greet him with affection
The boys who had gathered in the canon Il
see the shooting were naturally indignant
Their Indignation might have found vent il
sarcasm but for a certain look in Tennessee.
partners eye that indicated lack OF humor
Gus appreciation. In fact, he WAS a grave
man, with steady application to practica
detail which was unpleasant in q difficulty.
Meanwhile popular feeling against Ten
Dessee had grown up on the Bar he wa
known to be a gambler; he was suspected tc
be thief. In these suspicious Tennessee
partner was equally compromised; his con-
tinued intimacy with Tennessee after the
affair above quoted could only be accounted
for the hypothesis of copartnership OF
crime. At last Tennessee's guilt became G
fragrant One day he overlook . stranger
on his way to Red Dog. The stranger after.
ward related that Tennessee beguiled the
time with interesting anecdote and remini
scence, but illogically concluded the inter
view in the following words: "And now,
young man, I'll trouble you for your knife
your pistols and your money. You SEE
your weppings might get you into trouble a,
Red Dog, and your moneys temptation tc
the evilly disposed. think you said your
address was San Francisco. l shall endeavor
to call" 1t may be stated here that Ten,
nessee had a fine flow of humor, which nc
business preoccupatlon could wholly subdue
This exploit Was his last Red Dog and
Sandy Bar made common cause against the
highwayman. Tennessee was hunted in
very much the same fashion as his proto
type, the grizzly. As the tolls closed around
him, he made a desperate dash through the
Bar, emptying his revolver at the crowd
De1Ore tie ATCaue SalOOD, anu so on uI
Grizzly canon ; but at its farther extremity
he was stopped by small man on a gray
horse The men looked at each other a
moment in silence. Both we're fearless, both
selfpossessed and independent; and both
types OF a civilization that in the seventeenth
century would have been called heroic but,
in the nineteenth, simply reckless" " "Whai
have you got there ?-l call, ~ said Tennessee,
quietly. 1.-TWO bowers and an ace," said the
stranger, as quietly, showing two revolvers
and a bowie-kniie. "Tbat takes me-" re-
turned Tennessee; and with this gam blers
epigram, he threw away his useless pistol
and rode back with his Captor.
1t was a warm night The cool brSezs
which usually sprang up with the goln|
down of the sun behind tho chdpdrral
crested mountain was that evening withheld
from Sandy Bar. The little canon was ssif
ling with heated resinous odOrs, and th(
decaying drift-wood on the Bar sent fortt
faint, sickening exhalstions. The feverish
ness OF day, and its fierce passions, still fiied
the camp Lights moved restlessly along
the bank OF the river, striking no answ erinp
reflection from its tawny current. Against
the blackness OF the pines the windows o
the old lott above the eXpress-ofhce stood out
staringly bright; and through their curtain
less pdnes the loungers below could see the
forms OF those who were even then deciding
the fate of Tennessee. And above all this
etched ON the dark armament, rose the
Sierra, remote and passionless, crowned with
remoter passonless stars.
The trial OF Tennessee was conducted as
fairly as was consistent with the Judge and
jury who telt themselves to some extent
obliged to justify, in their verdict the previous
Irregularities OF arrest and indictment The
law Of Sandy Bar was implacable but moi
vengeful. The excitement and personal
feeling OF the chase were over; with Ten
nessee safe In their hands they were ready Il
listen patiently TO any defense which the,
were already satisfied was insufficient
There being no doubt in their own minds
they were willing TO give the prisoner th,
benefit Of any that might exist. Secure IL
the hypothesis that he ought to be hanged
ON general principles, they indulged bin
with more latitude of defence than his reck
less bardihood seemed TO ask. The judg.
appeared TO be more anxious than the pris
oner, VINO, otherwise unconcerned, evidently
took grim pleasure in the responsibility he
had created. don't take any hand In
this yer game" had been his invariable but
good-humored reply to all questions The
Judge-who was also his captor--for a mo
lneDt vaguely regretted that he had not sbo,
him son sight," that morning, but presently v
dismissed this human weakness as unworthy
OF the judicial mind. Nevertheless, when
there WAS tap at the door, and it was said
that Tennessee's Partner was there on he
half OF the prisoner, he was admitted at once
without question. Perhaps the younger
member Of the jury, to whom the proceed.
ines were becoming irksomely thoughtful
hailed him as a relief.
TOT ne was not, certainly, an imposing
hguIe' short and stout with a square face.
suhourhed Into preternatural redness clad
III loose duck "jumper," and trousers
sreaked and splashed with red soil. his
aSoc' uhuer any circumstances would have