The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-14
A SKETCH IN OIL.

The Legend Ofa "Wlldca" Well Somewhere
in the Petroleum Regions,
Below US the brook, swollen by the re-
cent rain, rushed turgidly through the
narrow valley and swept in a long muddy
curve around the distant bend in the road
The oil scout felt like talking and l wa
anxious to hear him. Out OF the sun,
then, and aupine in the soft pine shadows
We lay, while he told me the story OF the
ruined "mystery" over in the rRvine,
When all this region roundabout was as
wild as that hillside, save that the larch
and 6r and white pine were then free tc
grow to their statsliest height when the
deer came fearless to drink from the
brook, and the snake seldom sounded itl
warning rattle-that is to say, only three
years ago-the gnsrled old oak that stands
there in the clearing, whose broad
branches had sheltered the human form
divine in the persou Of the savage Indian,
luttered its leaves in surprise one day
over the venturesome head OF the first oil
scout to traverse these iorssken paths.
A New Highlander, young and supple,
with all the cunning and courage OF q
Yankee, he had been singled out by those
whose interest it was to know the latest
operations in the new territory to watch
aud report the developments at the "mys.
terry" then sinking in the ravine beyond.
lie was fond OF such adventures for the
excltement's sake; he received fixed
wage, and was not prompted, therefore, to
engage in his work by avsriCe or maleyo-
lance, And as he reClined in the grateful
shade Of the oak, painting from the exer'
ton OF scaling the steep hill, that sturdy
old tree, nDbendlng presently from its first
surprise, fell to tanning him with Its long,
lustling arms, and the birds overhead
warbled a tuneful greeting.
II was one Of the early days Of Spring,
aud as everything about him seemed over
come by tho influence OF the indolent air
so9 the scout, forgetiul Of duty, lay out.
stretched beneath the oak dreaming OF
the stately elms Of New Haven. When
he Gwoke 1t was with tha.hot rays Of the
aun burning his upturnod face, while the
lazy wind was wrenChlng adnonitory
Creaks from tho robust branChrs OF the
tree, and leaning against itB trunk stood q
small child gazing compasslonately upon
him through violet eyes.
"0hl you're not dead, are you ?" she
cried, Clasping her hands and her little
bosom palpitating.
"No, indeed. Don't I look aliye?"
"You do now, but you didn't when you
was 80 quiet"
This child was q wonderfully interesting
thing to the scout, He hadn't talked to
one for year,
"How did you know l wasn't playing
'potsum"
He laughed and she chimed In like q
silver bell, the sweetest sound the scout
had heard In y long time.
"Why, to play you're asleep when you
AREN'T" She smiled as though Bhe didn't
understand, and came and sat down by
his aide.
allow could you play that all alone
You didn't know was here, did your
The quaint ConCeit amused them both,
aud they laughed together again, looking
irRnklyinto each others faces.
"Tell me your nRme," he urged, taking
ono Of her small hands into his large
brown one, and handling 1t as tenderly as
he would adelicate piece Of lace.
"My names Daisy; and ! live with
mamma and papa over there"
He dropped the hand and looked at her
eagerly. "Do you know papa? thought
you didn't. No one ever comes to see US
papa won't let anybody, and mamma L
aYiul afraid. ! had little brother once,
but he died last month, and pm all alone
now, and mamma cries whenever / talk
about oSsie, 30 papa won't let me do II
any more. But come here every day
aud play and think Of 0Ssie, and oh !! get
awful lonely sometimes playin' alone"
"Why do you come here, Daisy2"
"Why, don't you knowp 0Ssie's buried
hero. You had your head on his grave.
Now the scout made a sudden and very
peculiar resolve. Perhaps he was mar
lied anyway no must have been remark
ably solt.hearted for scout, He seized
Daisy in his arms and covered her pretty
brown face with kisses. Then he said
very solemnly:
"Daisy, goodbye. Some day I may
come aud see you again, but now must
hurry away. Only Daisy, II your father
gets happy soon-that Is, | mean, II
he"
"strikes oil, do you mean2" asked she
preCociously.
ayes" laughed the scout, kissing hel
again and again, until she wriggled away
Uyes, Daisy, II your father strikes oil and
seems very glad about it you tell him that
you saved him from a scout, will you
but mind, little one, don't say anything
until"
But at this instant, when little DAisy't
violet eyes were wide open with wonder
aud the enthusiastic scout was preparing
to take parting kiss from her cherry
lips two men came from behind the great
oak, and as one snatChed Daisy screaming
10 his breast, the other, pointing q plBto
at the head Of the scout said sternly:
" could shoot you II wished, but I've
no iondness for homicide. advise you
however, to follow that man and my
daughter without resistance"
And then in this Indian Gle, Daisy II
front, turning now and then her sorrow
full eyes around 10 meet the Tranquil
smile Of the scout, they skirted the bill
aud entered the ravlne, passing through
q gate In the high broad FENCE which en-
closed the derrick and rough structures
about the oil we'll,
Here the stern.faced owner Of The "mys
Tory" directing several Of his men TO bint
The ecout-who calmly submitted to thu
indignity, for he saw Daisy looking dowt
upon him from a window In the rudt
Ehanty-thUn had his prisoner thrust int
The wellhousO aud left to tho care OIL thu
workmen. This altered his mood. II
long, Il seemed, az he had remained Ii
reach Of DaiBy's mourniul eyes he hat
nothing but a cheerful ErquiesCenCe 10
lie CsplofB, until tho rough Uil,nen, witt
knew him and had heard 20 inuCl
Of his cunning aud temetty nov
laughed In his face aud tauntet
| him with his craven submission, Hut lei
alone he turned BaYAgely upon them Will
torrent oil oalhg, and shaned anl
IllenCed them. Indeed, % the day de
| Niinnd and nnly the gmoky paB lighted III