The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-11-20

|
wroth. He told himself that be would
| fight it TO the bitter end And now he
tried to nurse his wrath, and became more
unhappy than before.
| On Tuesday evening, Pars0n Surely
called upon Mr.. Welton. The good man
BAD heard of tho trouble, and was exceed
mgly exercised in spirit. Both the men
we're OF his flock, and lie loved and re-
specled them both. He sat hown alone
| With Welton, and asked him what it
| meant
| ''Tcll me calmly and candidly all about
| it" he said.
iAfter little reflection. Mr. Wclton
told the story. EIc knew the old clergy
man for Il true man and wholc-heartcd
| friend, and he told everything just as he
| understood it.
"And 'ncighbor Bracket thinks even
now, that you shot the dog knowing it
was hs?"
."Isuppose So"
EIf. you had told him the exact facts
in the beginning, do you thing he would
have, held his angcr?''
| Thiswas Il hard question for John Wei
ton, but lie answered it manfully.
"Iruly, parson, | do not think he
"Wcrc you ever more unhappy in
your life than you have been since this
trouble cameo"
.'I think not"
eAnd, if possible, neighbor Bracket is
more unhappy than you"
itDO yon think so?'
eyes. He is the most angry and
vengcful."
A brief pause and then the parson re-
sumed:
'fBrothcr Welton, with you are
needed but few words. You are a stronger
man than brother Brackett. DO YOU
not believe he has Il good hcart?"
Yes"
wish you could show him how true
and good your heart is" a.,
| HParson F."
II wish you could show him that you
possess true Christian courage"
'SParson, what do you mean?"
wish you had the courage to meet
him and conquer him."
'ilIow would you have me do it 2"
g.. First, conquer yourself You are not
oftllded ?" -. .s,. -,
Ono, Go on. = >5:-s4 -s4,S
| Aid thereupon the good old clergy
man drew up his arm chair and laid his
hang u pom his friends arm, and told him
justSyhat he would have him do. lie
;, sps .!''fnestly, and with teary in il his
'S Brother Welton, have you the heart
and courage to do this?"
The farmer arose and took two or
three turns across the floor; and finally
he said:
81 will do it,!
:: ;: ::
On the following day, towards the
middle of the forenoon, Peter Brackett
stood III his door-vard with his head
bent. He was thinking whether he
shoull harness his horse and be off be-
fore dinner, or whether he would wait
until afternoon. He could not work he
could not even put his mind to ordinary
chores.
WONDER" he said to himself, :. how
the trial will come out! s'posc Wclton
II hire old Whitman toftakc his case.
Of course the Office III be crowded. Tom
Frost says it's noised everywhere, and
that every body III be there Plague take
it! wish"
His mcdtations were interrupted b,
approaching steps, and on looking up he
beheld neighbor Wclton.
GOOD morning, Peter"
Brackctt gasped. and finally answered.
"Good morning." though rather crustily.
Felton went on, frankly and pleas
antly:
You will 60 to the village to-day?"
II s'posc So"
have been summoned by Justice
Garfield to be there, also; but really,
Peter, | don't want to go. One of us
will be enough. Garfield is fair man
and when he knows the facts he will do
what is right. Now, you can state them
rs well as can, and whatever his decis-
ion is ] will abide by it. You can tell
him that | shot your dog, and that your
dog had dOnetmc no HARM"
Do you acknowledge that old Carlo
mover harmed you-that he never troub-
led your shccp?" inquired Bracket,
with startled surprise.
" 1t was not his nature to do harm to
anything. | am sure he would have
sooner saved one of my sheep than have
killed it,"
"Then what did You shoot him for?"
That is what | was Just coming at.
Peter. You will tell the Justice that
lhad lost several of my best shecp--killcd
by. dogs-that had just been taking the
skin from fat, valuable wether that had
been so killed and manglcd- that I was
on my way from my barn to my house,
with my gun in my hand, when saw a
dog come out from my shed. My first
thought was that he. had come from nv
sheep-fold. 1t was almost dark and I
could not sec plainly. Tell the Justice
! had no idea it was your dog I never
dreamed that had fired that cruel shot
at old Carlo until Tom Frost told me-"
How? You didn't know it was NV
dnnW