The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-07-24

should know her among a thousand.
She was black and white, wasn't she?'
Well, now think of it, she was ;
one seldom sees SO clear a black and
white on COW"
"To be sure, they're Babcock's ami
mails fast enough. Well, let me see
what you want Is just about fair esti-
mate, suppose ?"
Certainly"
"Well, should say ninety dollars
was as low as he ought to be allowed to
get off with"
so, but fear that will seem as if I
meant to take advantage. Suppose we
call it-say seventy five ?"
just as you please, of course but
hanged if I'd let him off for less than a
hundred, If twas my case"
And if he refuses to pay ?"
"Why, keep his animals till he comes
round, that's all.
"But there's one thing I neglected to
mention our gate was standing open !;
that may alter the case"
'"Not at all,-there's no law against
your keeping your gate open; there is
against stray animals"
every well, thank you for your ad-
vice." said Miss Letitia and Mr.. Small
departed with as smiling countenance
as Mr.. Babcock had worn.
But at milking time that night he
made strange discovery-old Brindle
was missing
At about the same hour Mr.. Babcock
| made q similar discovery-the black
and white heifer was nowhere to be
found
A horrible suspicion seized them
both,- "a suspicion which they would
not have made know to each other for
the world.
They waited till it was dark, and then
Mr.. Babcock stole round to Miss
Letitia's, and meekly asked leave to
look at the animals which had commit
ted the trespass. He would have done
it without asking leave, only that
thrifty Miss Letitia always locked her
barn doors at night.
While he stood looking over into the
pen where the co rs were confined, and
trying to negotiate with Miss Letitia
for the release of the heifer, along
came Mr.. Small, in quest of Brindle.
The two men stared at each other for an
instant in blank Gismay, and then hung
their heads in confusion.
It was useless to assert that the dam
ages were too high, for had they not fixed
them themselves? 1t was useless to
plead that Miss Letitia was in manner
responsible for what had happened, or
account of the open gate, for had they
not assured her that circumstance did
not affect the case? It was useless tc
say that she had no right to keep the
COWS in custody, for had they not coun
seled her to do so? As to going to Law
about it, would they not thus become
the sport of the whole town?
He that diggeth a pit, he himself
shall fall into it," said Miss Letitia
who read what was passing in theil
minds as well as if they had spoken
or the light of Isaac's lantern fell full
on their faces. However, don't wish
to be hard upon you, and on one condi
ton I will free the COWS and forgive
you the debt"
"What is that ?" Both looked the
question, but did not ask it.
"The condition is that you promise
to put good new fence in place of the
old one that separates your estates, di
viding the costs between you, and thai
henceforth you will live peaceably to
gether as far as in you lies. Do yor
promise ?"
eyes," muttered both, in a voice
scarcely audible.
"Shake hands upon it, then" sale
Miss Letitia.
They did so.
Now let the COWS out, Isaac it,
time they were MIXED" said she. Ant
the two men went away driving thei
animals before them, with shame-faceC
air greatly in contrast to the look o
triumph with which they had last quit
ted her presence.
The fence was built, and the STRIFE
ceased when the cause was removed
but it was long before Miss Letitia'
part of the affair came to the publ,
ear; for she herself maintained stric
silence concerning it, and enioined tn,
same upon her man-servant Isaac.