The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-11-19

: q h6 J" (another oath) " Wen hnd
QUIT Well see Don't put on airs,
John Welton. You amt saint. I'll
have satisfaction, if have to take it out
of your hide P'
Peter. you'd better go home and cool
off. You are making yourself ridicu-
ious."
Now, really, this was the unkindest
| cut of all. Not all the mad words OF
Brackett put together were so hard as
this single sentence; and John Welton
put all the bitter sarcasm Of the com
mand into it.
Brackett burst forth into torrent Of
ihvectives, and then turned away.
Half an hour later John Welton ac-
knowledged to himself that -he had not
done exactly right. Had he, in the out
set-in answer to Brackets first out
burst-told the simple truth-that he
had shot the dog by mistake that he
was sorry and that lie was willing to do
anything in his power to make amends
had he done this, his neighhor would
| probably have soitcncd at once. But ii
was too late now. The blow had been
struck; he had been grossly insuited
and he would not back down.
Mr.. Bracket was not so much refec-
tive. He only felt his wrath, which he
nursed to keep it warm. That evening
he hitched his horse to a iab-Wag0f and
went Down to the village after a barrel
of -four Having transacted This store
business, he called upon Laban Pepper,
a lawyer, to whom he narrated the facts
of the shooting Of his dog.
Pepper was a man anxious for fees.
To hod no = l, oh hat
You say your dog was in company
with two of your children?"
" Yes"
And this passage over Mr.. Welton's
land, and through his shed, has been
freely yielded by him as a right of way
to his neighbors ?"
" Yes sir, ever since I can remember" 3"
Then, my dear sir, Welton is clearly
liable. IF you will come with me, we
will step into Mr.. Garfeld's and have q
suit commenced at once"
Mr.. Garfield was the trial justice.
All this happened on Friday evening
On Saturday it had become noised
abroad in the farming district that there
was not only serious trouble between
neighbors WeItOn and Rrackett but that
they were going to law about it.
On Sunday morning John Welton
told his swife he would not attend church.
She could go if she liked. She had no
need to ask her husband why he would
not 90 out. She knew he was unhappy,
and that he could not bear to meet his
old neighbor in the house of God while
the dark cloud was upon him. Nor did
she wish to meet either Mr.. or Mrs. Brack-
EFT. So they both stayed at home.
Peter Bracket WAS even more misera-
able than John Welton, though perhaps
he did not know it. He held in close
companionship the very worst demon a
man can embrace-the demon of wrath
ful vengeance; and in order to maintain
himself at the strain to which he had set
his feelings he was Obliged to nurse the
monster. He did not attend church on
that day, nor did his wife. Two or three
times during the calm, beautiful Sab
bath, as he glanced over toward his
neighbor's dwelling, he found himself
beginning to wish that he had not gone to
see John Welton in such a heat of anger;
but he put the wish away, and nursed
back his wrath.
On Monday, toward noOn,' the consta-
bic came up from the village, and read to
John WeltOn an imposing legal document.
1t was a summons issued by VIM. Gar
field Esq, a justice of the peace and
quorum, ordering the said John NNeltOn
to appear before him, at two O'Clock, on
Wednesday, at his office, then and there
to answer to the complaint of Peter
Bracket, etc The officer read the sum-
mons, and left with the defendant
copy.
1t was the first time John Welton had
ever been called upon to face the law. At
first he was aWe-stricken, and then he was
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, Parson Surely
called upon Mr.. Welton. The good man
had heard of the trouble, and was exceed
ingly exercised in spirit. Both the men
were of his flock, and he loved and re-
specled them both. He sat hOwn alone
with Welton, and asked him what it
meant.
'Tell me calmly and candidly all about
it, he said.
After little reflection, Mr.. Welton
told the story. He knew the old clergy
man for a true man and whOle-hearted
friend, and he told everything just as he
understood it.
"And neighbor Bracket thinks even
now, that you shot the dog knowing it
was his?''
81 suppose So"
'If you had told him the exact facts
in the beginning, do you thing he would
have held his anger?"
Thiswas hard question for John Wei
ton, but he answered it manfully.
Truly, parson, L do not think he
would"
"Werc you ever more unhappy in
your life than you have been since this
trouble Cameo"
~ think not"
''And, if possible, neighbor Brackets
more unhappy than you"
''Do yon think sop
Eyes. He is the most angry and
vengeful."
A brief pause and then the parson re-
sumed:
Brother Welton, with you are
needed but few words. You are stronger
man than brother Bracket. Do you
not believe he has a good heart?
''Yes"
81 wish you could show him how true
and good your heart is"
I" "Parson!
'' l wish you could show him that you
possess true Christian courage"
g Parson, what do you mean?"
II wish you had the courage to meet
him and conquer him"
" How would you have me do it 2"
First, conquer yourself. You are not
offended?"
q No % on
And thereupon the good old clergy
man drew up his arm chair and laid his
hand upon his friends arm, and told him
Just what he would have him do. He
spoke earnestly, and with tears in his
eyes.
" 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:
q will do it "
On the following day, towards the
middle of the forenoon, Peter Bracket
stood in his door-yard with his head
bent. He was thinking whether he
should harness his horse and be off be-
fore dinner. or whether he would wait
LII r.z-...~r, He coTIId not work he