Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-08
The Gamblers Girl.


The Gamblers Girl.
In the shadow of the peak he stood with
a weary look on his handsome face. Here
of old he used to meet Carita, here he
had played at love a whole summer
| through. On the day of parting he told
her of the bride that waited his coming in
the city beyond. 1t was a terrible shock
to poor Carita, but without a bitter word
she babe him God-speed
So he went away to seek his bride, and
she returned to her wild mountain life.
But the impression on Roy's heart was
greater than he imagined. Carita's face
was ever fresh in his memory; he could
not forget her, and so he broke with the
lady to whom he was engaged and came
back to the mountains.
AS he stood at the old trysting-pIace he
saw a tall hunter coming toward him.
'You are Handsome Roy, the gam
bler?" said the stranger.
Il am
"Well, have come here to kill you
Bill you as you killed Carita.''
81 killed -Carita--'
''Oh, you didn't shoot her, as I shall
you You just broke her heart with your
fair face-but swore to shoot you when |
took my last look at her dead face"
Her dead facet" The words grated
out from between his pallid lips, and
Handsome Roy reeed against the tree as
if he had been struck, and looked at his
enemy with such mute inquiry in his
agonized eyes that the hunter replied as if
answering a spoken question.
Eyes, she is dead. She walked to
A, to get one more look at your cursed
face. Then she came home again raging
with fever, raved and talked only of you
curse you! Just before she died she made
US promise to lay her here, and
The hus ky voice grew tremuIous and
stopped. He pointed to a little mound
that was behind Roy, who had not seen
it in his rapid walk to the tree The two
men stood side by side looking down on
the earth that covered the form Of the
girl they both loved. Roy WIS the first to
speak.
You'd better keep your oath and be
quick about it, else [ will take your re-
venge from you
you take it pretty cool. Take out
your pistol man. can't shoot you like a
dog. You are to have as good show for
your life DIS | have
"AII right. I'm ready and he stood
close to the little grave The hunter gave
the word and they both fred at once, with
this difference, one revolver was aimed at
the man heart, the other was fired in the
air. AS the sound of the shots echoed on
the frightened air. Roy fell with his head
near the little mound. The hunter bent
over him.
dead! Well, he was true grit. But
he fired In the air; he did not care for
chance to save himself Poor fell
low, he loved Carita after all. I'll leave
him here TIL morning" And after
looking down on the still form at his
feet moment, he walked away into the
woods.
a long, long hour of silence, then the
form near the mound moved, and the fair
head was slightly raised.
Left for dead All! not much of
mistake, either. And already
dead-the kisses did not last her long
All, God! why did not some plying angel
whisper to her that | was coming? But
little darling-l am not far-behind.
Why did | not listen to my heart that
night in A? | might have known that
Carita's eyes could only be IN her face
A low moan of pain, and the golden head
was low again, and the white lids fell
over The blue eyes that had forever lost
their Brightness. But still the low voice
murmured brokenly: She said she
would think of me in her grave. All,
Carita, do you know that am lying
dying here beside you? | am dying
Gibbs the icrimson life blood fast'-Fred
used to rant something like that. [
wonder if that could be called poetic
justice? If Fred but knew of this-what
a grand thing it would be for his next
play-grand tabIeau-the favored lover
shot by a jealous rival, dies on the grave
OF the beloved one-curtain falls to slow
music. If there is God wonder if he
will let me near Carita? Death holds
the winning hand. I-Carita, - And
life in a low sigh left him. The pines
moan and sob, and the moon, which had
so often peep2d mischievousv into that
dark nook to watch the tender love scenes
there, draws back in terror and hides be-
hind cloud, as her hale Silvery light
CLEANS on the white, upturned face living
on that little mound of dark earth Even
the wind creeps softly and shudderingly
by, and Carita is once more alone with her
lover, in the dewy darkness and silentness
Of the summer night.