The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-01-08

self, old Hatfield? | am .4ehn Willard S son
and, by heavens, I'll make you remember him
to your dying day. | have been scoring
against you this many year, NOW WE will
have final settlement my daddy"
AT last thorougly exhausted with his Wig
orous exertions, AL dropped the avenging
goal beside the PROSTATE man, for the writh-
ing Hatfield had, in his fright or rage, fallen
at the very feet of the angrily-panting boy,
who scornlully threw at him the pail and
stool, smashing the one and demolished the
other clapping his hands in token of victory.
Initiating the crow Of triumphant rooster
he placed his thumb to his nose, twirling it
significantly in the direction of his step-sire,
shouting in a loud assuring voice to his sis
ter 'Hurrahl | an fieew Coming closer,
he added tenderly: Goodbye, Aggie;
dear, little sister; wish you were not girl
or that you had a mother. But keep up
brave heart, sis; our time MUST COME
Now kiss me and say Goodbye, AL, for l
am of.
She ran up to him, sobbing out: "Dont
go, AL; don't leave me alone; it will be so
lonesome with you away-more dreary than
ever. No. forget, you must 90. He will
kill you after what you have done, she cried,
pointing towards her stepfather, suddenly
er to remain, into an urgent prayer for him
to fly.
''Run, AL; get away; | shall die if you,
fight again. He is getting up; run AL! oh
do run somewhere" she pleaded excitedly,
kissing Ais flushed bronzed cheek, while
she whispered under her breath: 'Do not
forget me, be good man, and God bless
you"
She pushed him towards the gate, in ner-
vous, anxious haste, begging him to 90.
Lovingly the boy kissed the pale, tremu-
lous lips lifted sorrowfully to his and scorn-
ing to open the gate, jumped briskly over
it into the road.
"Brayo!' said an approving voice on the
other side. "Well done, AL l was about
to scold Pomp for his untmely intrusion,
but, on the whole, 1 think he has done you
good turn, and deserves praise instead of
censure. After such drubbing, you will
have to cut the governor to certainty"
''Y GU are right, Bob; / am going to up
and dust, replied the rebellious Al, look
ing augingly over the fence at his step-pa's
dripping garments and comically angry face.
mot SO fast; mean to give you lift, "
said the owner of Pomp in low tone.-
Glide in the Walnut Grove; I'll meet y,u
there in an hour" And young Robert
Stewart whistled carelessly to his dog, cast
ing meanwhile all admiring glance at the
trembling Agnes, and slowly continuing his
morning walk, with his handsome face all
aglow with health and exercise.
The audicious rebel of the house of Hat
field gave another parting yell of defiance,
and brayely took to his heels his bare feet
doing their duty well in his dire emergency
diappearing with race-horse speed in the di-
rection Of the Walnut Grove, making a bold
! plunge out into pushing life, while the fallen
stepsire was busy cleaning the dirt and bits
of straw from his mouth and eyes, uttering
groans Of pain and curses of wrath against
the intrepid rebel, tenderly rubbing his bruis
ed shoulders and smarting face with his two
big, rough hands.
John stared with astonishment as he came
into the yard with his yoked oxen at his pur-
| pie, bleeding cOuntenance, and milk-drip
ping rament and hair. The battered pal
and reversed, legless stool told of seriou:
conflict Evidently there had been a san.
guine battle fought, but where was the enc.
my? The hero of the carnage-had be beer
desperately wounded and fed the field
John trembled with inconcealed alarm.
cal done it, and he has run away" gasp
ed Agnes in a frightened tone; and, and
without more explanation, she sped away tC
the house, thinking the snappish tongue o
her mother far more preferable than the in
sane wrath of her conquered stepfather.
"Ill kill him!" jelled Hatfield LITERAL,
foaming with passion, seizing the goad, stag
gering to his feet. 'I'll kill him if l la,
hands on him; I'll pound him to jelly, an,
break every bone in his beggarly body. Ill
shall rue this mornings work. as sure as m
name is Peter Hatfield.
John saw at once how it was, and discreet
y remained silent, glad at heart, however
that his dauGtless brother had foored hi
mutual tyrant so trinity. He could not SUP
press the smile which hovered about his lip
as he demurely contemplated the dancing
figure Of his step-father who, noting hi
mirthful phiz, roared out:
What are you grinning at? Go to work
you rascal, or I'll give you. a taste of th'
whip. I'll skin you alive if you help th
murderous scoundrel to escape"
The prudent John obeyed and energetica
ly occupied himself about the cattle.
With muttered howls of dark import
Peter Hatfield limped away, whereupon Joh
indulged in a sde-splitting laugh, critical
surveying the field of action.
Apparently Mrs. Hatfield mourned u
waste of SO much milk more than she di
the loss of her son, or the farewell beating |
had given her husband, whose grievances 81
did not in the least attempt to soothe, remar
, ing grimly: 'What is the use of making
I fuss, Pete? All there is about it, John an
Ag must do his work." making no furth,
$ comments regarding the affair, which s
materially altered the dull routine of Il
monotonous farm, as Aggie and her broth
g soon realized for they DID have to do A
work.
3 But who can tell what the mother though
e AS baby, she always loved and favored Il
runaway most. OF all her children she too
Q him most to her heart Fostering the ide
4 tial courage that had eliminated in the flo
e ging her second paitner, she scolded al
= snubbed him less than any one, often shiel
q ing him from her gusbaud's violence. To
sure, Al was no stranger to her cuffs a
e crossness, and possessed but faint filial 10
i for his parent, giving her obedience and
{ spect, but not sons affection. How cou
,. he when he had never received a mothe
nof;ant ,,rouarfnl Laval