The news and herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1876-1881, 1876-11-09
@qle(ted STORY.
THE BETTER WAY.


coming out of his shed. It was not
his dog, for his was of light color,
while this was surely black.
The shed alluded to was open in
front, with double doors, for the
passage of carts; and the shed was
part ofa continuous structure con.
Meeting the barn with the house.
Around back of this shed was the
sheepfold. ...
There had been trouble upon
Farmer Welton's place. Dogs had
been killing his sheep-and some of
the very best at that. He had de-
clarcd, in his wrath, that he would
shoot the first stray dog lie found
prowling about his premises. On
this evening, by chance, he had been
carrying his gun from tho house
to the barn whom thu canine in
truder appeared. Aye. and in the
barn he had boen taking the skin
from valuable sheep that had been
killed and mangled with tigerish
ferocity.
So when he saw the strange dog
coming through his shed, he
brought his gun to his shoulder, and
with a quick, sure aim, fired. The
dog save a leap and howl, and
whirling around in circle two or
three times, he bounded off in a
tangent, yelping painfully, and was
soon lost to sight
"Hallo! WHAT'S to pay now, Wei
toni"
";Ah-is that you, Frost? 2"
"Ies. Ye been shooting some
thing, haven't ye I"
GIVE shot dog, think"
Yes. I seed him scootin' off.
1t was Brackets, reckon"
Before the farmer could make any
further remark, his wife called to
him from the porch, and he won't
in,
Very shortly afterward boy and
n girl came out through the shed as
the dog had come. Down back Of
Welton's farm, distant half a mile or
80, was grist mill, with quite
settlement around it, md tho people
having occasion to go on foot from
that section to the farms on the hills
could cut off long distance by
crossing Welton's lot. The boy and
girl were children of Mr. Bracket.
When they reached home they were
mot by scene of dire confusion.
Cd Carlo, the grand old Newfounl-
land dog-the loving and the loved
the true and the faithful-had
como home shot through the head,
ana was dying. The children threw
themselves on their shaggy mate
and wept and moaned in agony.
MIR. Bracket arrived Just rs the
dog breathed his last. One of the
older boys stood by with lighted
lantern, for it had grown quite d;uk
now. and the farmer saw what had
happened.
''Who did thiss" he asked, groan-
ingly.
John Welton did it," said Tom
Frost, coming up ut that moment.
Hes been lcsin' sheep, and I guess
he's got kind of wrathy."
But my dog never killed n sheep
never He's been reared to care
for + sheep. How came he down
''He went over to the mill with Sis
and me" said the younger boy,
sobbing as he spoke ".:nd he was
running on ahead Of us toward home.
I heard n gun just before we got to
Mr.. Welton's, but, oh i! I did net
think he could have shot Door
Carlo"
MIR. Bracket was fairly beside him
self TO say he was angry would
not express it. He had loved that
do8-it had been the chief pet of his
household for years Literally boil
ing with hot wrath and Indignation,
he started for Waltton's.
John Welton and Peter Brackott
had been neighbors from their Cur
liest days, and they had been friends,
too. Between the two families thero
had been bond of love and good
will, and spirit of fraternal kind
ness and regard had marked their
into: course. Both the farmers were
hard working men, with strong feel
ings and positive characteristics.
They belonged to tho same religious
society and sympathized in politics.
They had warm discussions, LuS
never yet direct falling out. Of
tho two Welton was tho more intel
lectual, and perhaps n little more
tinged with pride than was his neigh
Dor. But they were both hearty
men. enjoying life for the good it
gave them.
Mr.. Wolton entered his kitchen,
and stood the empty gun up behind
the door.
"What's tho matter, John 2" his
wife asked, as she saw his troubled
face.
I'm afraid I've done bad thing"
he replied, regretfully. II fear
have shot Brackett's dog"
ooh, John !"
"But I don't know whose dog it
was. I saw him coming out from
the shed--it was too dark to see
more than that it was dog. + only