The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-11-11

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the farmer saw what had happened.
"Who did this 2" he asked, groan-
ingly.
John Welton did it, said Tom
Frost, coming up at that moment.
Hes been losin sheep, and l guess
he's got kind of wrathy."
L" But my dog never killed n sheep
never! He's been reared to care for
sheep. How came he down there?"
:" lie went over to the mill with Sis
and me. said the younger boy, sobbing
as he smoke: and he was running on
ahead of us toward home. | heard a
gun Just before we got to Mr.. Welton's,
but oh! [ did not think he could have
shot poor Carlo.
Mr.. Bracket was fairly beside him
self. 70 say he was angry would not
express it. He had loved that dOg-it
had been the chief pet of his household
for wears. He was not Il man in the
habit of using profane language. but
on the present occasion a fierce oath es-
capped him; and in that frame OF mind
literally boiling with hot wrath and
indignation-he started for Welton's.
John Welton and Peter Bracket had
been neighbors from their earliest days,
and they had been friends, too. Be-
tween the two families there had been a
bond of love and good will, and spirit
of fraternal kindness and regard had
marked their intercourse. Both the
farmers were hard working men, with
strong feelings and positive character
istics. They belonged to the same re-
ligious society, and sympathized III pol
tiles. They had warm discussions, but
never yet direct falling out. OF the
two. Welton was the more intellectual,
and perhaps little more tinged with
pride than was his neighbor. But they
were both hearty men, enjoying life for
the good it gave them.
Mr.. Welton entered his kitchen, and
stood the empty gun up behind the
door.
What's the matter, John?' his wife
asked, as she saw his troubled face.
"I'm afraid I've done Il bad thing, y
he replied, regretfully. . | fear | have
shot Brackets dog"
oh, john
I" But didn't know whose dog it was.
saw him coming ont from the she'd
it was too dark to see more than that it
was dog. | only thought of the sheep
/ had lost, and fired.
" am sorry, John. Oh, how Mrs.
Bracket and the children will feel
They set everything by old Carlo. But
You can explain it,.
"Yes, can explain it.
Half an hour later, Mr. Welton was
going to his barn, with a lighted lantern
in his hand. He was thinking of the re-
cent unfortunate occurrence, and was
sorely worried and perplexed. What
would his neighbors say? He hoped
there might be no trouble. He was re-
flecting thus when Mr.. Bracket APP
peared before him, coming mp quickly,
and stopping with an angry stamp of
the foot.
Now, there may be volume of cleo
tric influence even in the stamp of n
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 at
mosphere exhaling from the presence of
the irate man, at once repellant and ag-
gravating.
John Welton, you have shot my
dog," The words We're Missed forth
holly.
Yes" said Wclton, Jelly.
How dare you do it 2"
81 dare shoot any dog that comes
providing about my buildings, especially
when l have had my sheep killed by
them"
But my dog never troubled your
sheep, and you know it"
" How should / know it?'
You know that he never did harm
to a sheep. 1t wasn't his nature. 1t was
neal, cowartlly act, and ian OATH you
shall suffer for it"
Bracket, you don't know to whom
you are talking"
Ohio! Well find out tanother OATH &.
Don't put on airs, John Welton. You
amt saint. I'll have satisfaction, if l
have to take it out of your hide?'
Peter, you'd better go home and
cool off. You are making yourself ride
ulous.'
Now. really, this was the unkindest
cut of all. Not all the mad words of
Bracket put together were so hard as
this single sentence, and John Welton
put all the bitter sarcasm in his COM
mand into it.
Bracket broke forth into torrent of
invectives, and then turned away.
Half an hour later John Wclton ac-
knowledged to himself that he had not
done exactly right. Had he, in theSout-
set. III answer to Brackets first out
burst told the simple truth-that he
had shot the dog by mistake; that he
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