Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-10-27
KILLING An ENEMY,


YETI said Paul Levcring.
He looked worried, but not angry.
+" Thee means Dick Hardy"
"Yes.n
"What has he been doing to thee
now?r
The guestioner was friend named
James Martina neighbor. IS. ...a
He's always doing something, friend
Martin. Scarcely day passes that |
don't have cause for complaint of him.
Yesterday one of the boys came and told
me that he saw him throw stone at my
new Durham COW and strike her i'm the
head"
That's very bad, friend lowering.
Does thee know why he did this? was
thy Durham trespassing on his ground?'
3" No, she was only looking over his
fence. He has spite against me and
mine, and does all he can TO iniure me.
You know the fine Bartlett pear tree
that stands in the corner of my lot ad-
joining his property"
" Yes"
"Two large limbs, full offruit, stretch
ed over on his side. | was out there just
now and discovered that he had sawed
off those two fine limbs that hung over
on his side. They lay down upon the
ground, and his pigs were eating the
fruit.p
"Why is Dick so spitcful to thee
friend Levcring? lie doesn't annoy me.
What has thee done to him?"
" \ othing of any consequence
"Thec must have done something
Try and remember
81 know what first set him out.
kicked an ugly dog of his once. The
beast, starved at home, | suppose, was
all the while prowiing about here, and
snatching up everything that came in
his way. One day ! came upon him
suddenly, and gave him a tremendous
kick that sent him bowling through the
gate. Unfortunately, as it turned out,
the dogs master happened to be passing
along the road. The way he swore at
me was dreadful. / never saw more
vindictive face. On the next morning,
a splendid Newfoundland, that j had
raised from q pup, met me shivering ut
the door, with his tail cut Off! l don't
know when / have felt so badly. Poor
fellow! his piteous looks haunt me now
| had no proof against Dick, but have
never doubted as to his agency in the
matter. IN my grief and indignation
shot the dog, and so put him out of my
sight"
"Thee was hasty in that, friend Lev
erlng,' said the Quaker.
"Perhaps was, though have never
repented the act. met Dick few days
afterwards. The grin Of satisfaction on
his face | accepted as an acknowledge
mcnt of his mean and cruel revenge
Within week from that time one of
my cows had horn knocked off,
"What did thee do?n
I" 1 went to Dick Hardy and gave him
a piece of my mind.n
"That is, thee scolded and called
hard names, and threatened"
" Ies--just so, friend Martin"
Did any good come of it,"
"Abo%: rs much. good as if had
whistled to the wind"
How has it been since?"
No change for the better. Itgrows,
If anything, worse and worse. Dick
never gets weary of annoying me-"
Has thee ever tried the law with
him, friend Levering? the law should
protect thec.' ~
80, yes, I've tried the law. Once he
ran his heavy wagon against my carri-
age. purposely, and upset me in the
road. / made n narrow escape Of my
life. The carriage was so badly broken
that it cost me fifty dollars for repairs.
A neighbor saw the whole thing, aud
Sttlt' ~ lHiSflhtt ny bith.-
So | sent him the carriage-maker's bill,
at which he got into a towering passion.
Then L threatened him with prosecu-
ton, and he laughed i'm my face malig-
nantly. | felt that the time he'd come
to act decisively, and sued him, relying
on the evidence of my neighbor, who
had seen the affair. But my neighbor
was afraid of Dick, and 50 worded his
testimony that the jury saw only an ac-
cident instead of Il purpose to injurc,
and gave a verdict accordingly. After
that Dick Hardy was worse than ever.
He took an evil delight in annoying
and injuring me. am satisfied that i'm
more than one instance he left gaps i'm
his fence in order to entice my cattle
into his fields, that he might set his
savage dogs on them, and hurt them
with stones. 1t is more than child Of
mine dares to do to cross his premises.
Only last week he tried to put his dog
on my little Florence, who strayed into
one of his fields after buttercups. The
dog was less cruel than his master, or
she would have been torn by his teeth,
instead of being only frightened by his
BARK
"Irs hard case, truly, friend Lever,
ing. Our neighbor Hardy seems pos
sessed of an evil spirit"
The very spirit of the dcsil,n was
answered with feeling. essa
He's thy enemy, assurediy; and if
thee doesn't get rid Of him, will do thee
greater harm"
wish j could get rid of him."
Thee must, If thee would dwell in
safety, friend Leyering.n
The Quaker's face was growing seri-
Gus. He spoke in a lowered voice, and
bent towards his neighbor in conf
Dental manner.
Thee must put him out of the way"
Friend Martini The surprise Of
Paul sLevering was unfeigned.
"Thee must kill himw
The countenance Of Levering grew
blank with astonishment.
Kill him!" he calculated.