Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-06-08
KILLING AN ENEMY.

''That man will be the death of me yet
said Paul lowering.
lie looked worried, but not angry,
':Thec means Dick Hardy"
"Ycs."
"What has he been doing to thee now?"
The qucstioner was Friend named Isaac
Martina neighbor. ..
Giles always doing something, friend Mar
tin. Scarcely day passes that don't have
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
in the head" .
"That's very bad, friend Levcring. Does
thee know why he did this? Was thy Dur
ham trcspassing on his grounds?'
"No, she was only looking over his fence
He has spite against me and mine, and does
all he can to injurc me. You know the fine
Bartlett pear tree, that stands in the corner
of my lot adjoining his property?"
"Ycs."
"rwo large limbs, full of fruit, stretched
over on his side. You hardly believe it, but
it's true. Twas out there just now, and dis
covered that he had sawed off these two fine
limbs that hung over on his side They lay
down upon tho ground, and his pigs were cat
ing the fruit"
"Why is Dick so spitcful to thee, friend
Lcvoring? lie doesn't annoy me. What has
thee done to him?"
Nothing of any consequence"
''Thec must have done something. Try
and remember"
81 know what first set him out I kicked
an ugly dog of his once. The beast, hnlf-starv-
ed at home, | suppose, was all the while
prowling about here, and snatching up every
thing that came in his way. One day l came
upon him suddenly, and gave him trcmend-
GUS kick that sent him bowling through the
gate. Unfortunately. as it has turned out,
the dogs master happened to be passing along
the road. The way he sworc at me was dread
full. / never saw more vindictive face. On
the next morning, splendid Newfoundland,
that | had raised from pup, met me shivcr-
ing at the door, with his tail cut off! / don't
know when l have felt so badly Poor fellow.
his piteous look haunts me now. 1 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"
"Thcc was hasty in that, Friend Levoring,"
said the Quaker. ..a. ...
''Perhaps was, though I have never re-
pcnted the act. met Dick few days after
wards. The grin Of satisfaction on his face |
accepted as an acknowledgment of his mean
and cruel revenge. Within a week from that
time one Of my cows had horn knocked off. -
"What did thee dos"
81 went to Dick Hardy and gave him
piece of my mind" rs a.a. ss
"That is, thee scolded, and called hard
names, and threatened"
"Yes-just SO, friend Martini" u
"Did any good come of it,"
"About as much good as if had whistlod
to the wind" H-E -s
SLOW has it been sncc?" aa.
"No change for the bitter. 1t grows, if
worse and worse. Dick never gets
weary ofannoying me-" .a l,.e D..
"Has thee over tried the law with him
friend Levering? The law should protect thee"
80 yes, I've tried the law. Once he ran
his heavy wagon against my carriage. pur-
poscly, and upset me in the road. made q
narrow escape ofmy life. The carriage was
SO badly broken that it cost me fifty dollars
for repairs. \ ncighbor saw the whole thing