Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-14

Mr.. WeltoI entered MS k1tcnen, ana
stood the empty gun up behind the
door.
"What's the matter, John 2" his wife
asked, as she saw his troubled face.
Sim afraid I've done bad thing"
he replied, regretfully. ST fear have
shot Brackett's dog"
"Ch, John |"
"But didn't know whose dog it was.
1 saw him coming out from the shed-it
was too dark to see more than that it
was dog. only thought of the sheep
I had lost and 1 fred"
81 am sorry, John. Oh, how Mrs.
Bracket and the children will feel.
They set everything by old Carlo. But
you can explain it.
eyes, can explain it. !"
= Half an hour later Mr.. Welton was
going to his barn with lighted lantern
in his hand. He was thinking of the
recent unfortunate occurrence, and
was sorely worried and perplexed.
What would his neighbor say? He
hoped there might be no trouble. He
was rejecting thus when Mr.. Bracket
appeared before him, coming up quick
ly and stopping with an angry stamp of
the foot.
Now, there maybe avolume of electric
influence even in the stamp of foot,
and there was such an influence in the
stamp which Bracket gave; and Welton
felt it, and braced himself against it.
There was, moreover, an atmosphere ex-
haling from the presence Of the irate
man at once repellant and aggravating.
"John Welton, you have shot my
dog The words were missed forth
hotly.
eyes" said Welton, icily.
Chow dared you do it 2"
81 dare shoot any dog that comes
prowling about my buildings, especially
when / have had my sheep killed by
| them"
"But my dog never troubled your
sheep, and you know it -
4" How should I know it ?"
"You know that he never did harm to
sheep. 1t wasn't in his nature. 1t was
a mean, cowardly act, and you shall suf-
fer for it."
Brackett, you don't know to whom
you are talking"
"Oho Well find out. Don't put
on airs, John Welton. You amt saint.
I'll have satisfaction if l have to take it
out of your hides"
"Peter, you'd better go home and
cool off. You are making yourself ridlcu-
lous. +"
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 in his com
mand into it.
Brackett broke forth into torrent of
invectives, and then turned away.
Half an hour slater 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-tha he had
shot the dog by mistake: that he was
sorry, and that he was willing to do any
thing in his power to make amends
had he done this his neighbor would
probably have softened at once. But it
vas too late now. The blow had been
struck; he had been grossly insulted,
and he would not back dawn.
Mr.. Brackett was not SO reflective.
He only felt his wrath, which he nursed
to keep it warm. That night he hitched
his horse to a job wagon, and went to
the village or barrel of flour. Having
transacted, his store business, he called
upon Laban Pepper, lawyer, to whom
he narrated the facts of the shooting OF
his dog.
Pepper was q man anxious for fees.
He had no sympathy or soul above that,
You say your dog was in company
with two of your children2"
eyes"
"And this passage over Mr.. Welton's
land and through his shed had been
freely yield:d by him as right of way
to his neighborss"
"Yes, sir, ever since I can remem
ber."
"Then, my dear sir, Welton is clearly
liable. II you will come with me We
will step into Mr.. Garfield s and have 6
suit commenced at once.
Mr.. Garfield was the trial justice.
ALI this happened on Friday evening
On Saturday it had become noisec
abroad in the farming district thai
there was not only serious trouble be-
tween the neighbors Welton and Brack
ett, but that they were going to Law
about it.
On Sunday morning John Weltor
told his wife he should not attend
, church. She had no need to ask hel
husband why he should not go out. She
! knew he was unhappy, and that ht
! could not bear to meet his old neighbol
in the house of God while the darl
, cloud was upon him. Nor did she wisl
to meet either Mr.. or Mrs. Brackett
so they both stayed at home.
Peter Brackett was even more miser
able than John Welton, though perhaps
he did not know it. He held in clost
! companionship the very worst demor
O man can embrace-the demon o.
wrathful vengeance-and in order tt
: maintain himself at the strain to which
he had set his feelings, he was obliged
] to nurse the monster. He did not at
: tend church on that day, nor did his
/ wife. Two or three times during thu
/ calm, beautiful Sabbath, as he glanced
over toward his neighbours dwelling, h,
> found himself beginning to wish tina
he had not gone to see John Welton il
: such heat of anger but he put th,
t wish away, and nursed back his wrath
On Monday, toward noon, the consta
| BILE came in from the village and reat
J to John Welton an imposing legal docu
r ment. It was summons issued b,
VIM. Garfield, ESQ.,, a justice of tn
| peace and quorum, ordering the sal,
t John Welton to appear before him a
two of the clock on Wednesday, at hi
/ Office, then and there to answer the com
plant of Peter Bracket, etc. The off
Ger read the summons, and left with th