Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-08-05
END OF. FEUD.

and teatlngS OF his WluOWcu nOtncr.
She ld not taught him the lesson of
hatred She had told him OF his impet-
r uous theirs death-that she hoped to
NJ see more tragedies-and admonlshed
NJ him although he might never like the
NJ Mojans, to cherish no thought of re-
NJ veEe.
he Morgans were four in number
Fnry, desperate and revengeful man,
N whose hands old Mr.. Hazen had fall
n; his two sons, James and Ephraim,
Nj huch like him, and his daughter Esther,
who was not like him, but who, with a
i, lovely face, possessed the sweet and gen.
tie nature of her mother whom sorrow
had years before hurried to the grave.
| The two families lived in the same
community. Martin and Esther frequent
ly met in the village, at church and at
social parties, and notwithstanding the
feud that had cast shadow on both
homes, they loved each other; and, to
the mbounded rage of Henry Morgan
and his sons, who hated Martin for his
fathers sake, they deliberately went and
got married.
Esther and Martin well knew that she
must not dare to visit her old home again
after that; so she went with him to the
house of the Hazens, and they did not
see any of the Morgans for months.
But Martin was warned that he was in
danger, and he knew the Morgans too
well to doubt it. While he desired to
live at peace with them, he determined
not to fall as his father had fallen, if he
could help it. Like most people in that
section, and ut that time, he went armed
when away from home and besides be-
ing one of that class of persons scarcely
susceptible of fear, he was one of the
best shots with rifle or pistol in that
community.
One evening in autumn, just at dusk,
few months after the marriage, he was
riding home from the village on spir
tied horse, when the Morgan's suddenly
came into his mind. He thought ovel
the strange history of the two families
and began talking to himself as he rode
Isl leisurely along:
= ..How unfortunate-howf foolish it is,
!. ae emused, s'that this enmity should exis
u through whole generations, merely be
cause remote ancestors quarreled over {
line of fence, or the ownership of a tru
ant pig. They hate me l do not fea
t them; yet I'd like to be reconciled.
: think | shall see them and talk it over
l believe | could reason them into fair
ness. How to approach them, though
q He was then riding by little grow
), of timber, from which three men spran
into the road. One grasped the bride
s rein, while two stood with rifles levele
: upon him. 1t was not yet so dark bu
n that he recognized his assailants. The
were the Morgans. 1t was Ephrai1
J who held the bridle-rein, while his fail
o er and James menaced him with the
rifles.
ooh, Hazen!" said the old man wit
Il an air of triumph, ''we've got you. Yo
IS won't see the sun rise tomorrow, yO
ef Independent young dog. You'll be wit
a., your father before that. What's NOR
. you'll steal no more daughters of min
8 Stop that. Don't offer to reach for th
N shooter" he said, as Martins har
N moved toward his breast pocket. 81
Il best, you've but minute to live, while
tell ynn why I am going to shoot W
" and how glad am to wipe out the Ia
a. Hazen; but none of your tricks, or yc
lie won't live second"
Martin Hazen, sitting in the saddl
with the calmAess of the tall trees by Il
at roadside that looked, in the gatherir
ly darkness, like grim specters irownir
re upon the terrible scene-felt that it w
al no time now to reason with his e
- emies, and he dismissed the though
X He waited, motionless, for Henry Nc
S gan to speak again, for he knew tn
it the revengel'ul man would love to glo
lie over him before destroying him, and til
his sons would wait his command. He
ry Morgan, with rifle still levelcd, we
on:
'.Yes, young Hazen, the last OF yo
of race-"
e, Quick as flash, Martin snatched
G. revolver from his pocket, and droppil
70 his face upon his horses name to confu
of the aim OF Henry and James Morgan.
ed fired at Ephraim, who fell to the cart
H. and the horse, startled by the crack
n the revolver ut his ear, dashed away
S, full speed.
,st Almost simultaneously, Henry Morg
to fired at Martin head, missing him a.
e. Il moment later, james, much confus
C. by the sudden turn of affairs, fired
most at random, and the bullet pierc
Martins lett thigh. He had not go
far before he discovered that the sh
had broken the bone, and he began
is suffer such cXcruciating pain that or
81 the danger which he knew was still
,is hind him and his realization of how il
%. portant it was to reach home prevent
in him from rceling from the saddle in
ais swOOn.
he He succeeded in reaching home, to
he met ut the gate by his mother, who tt
in him that during his absence Esther h
en- been forcibly carried away by her iatf
set and brothers. Martin fell rather tn
to dismountcd from his horse. dragg
,nt himself into the lawn, and with t
NJ words: 1.-The Morgans have shot me
tie, fell fainting upon the grass.
sts Mrs. Hazen hurried to a neighbo
house for assistance. A surgeon W
in summoned. Martin was carried in a
IN laid upon a bed. He revived, and
of wound was properly attended to, W
ut appliances of splints and bandages a
es, the good doctor finally left him d
in night in great pain, with the consoli
m; remark that he would keep his bed TO
M good three months ut least.
Sc. For many days several armed frier
of Martin Iiazen remained constan
1T the house. to defend him from L D
sible attack of the Morgans. He beg
to recover from his wound. but his III
icty for Esther tormented him day q
night. He feared they might murl
he her; but his friends assured him Il
We they would not dare to do that that
ycr was probably merely kept 4, her
, home under strict surveillance, and t
"s in due time she would be rescued
some proc SIS or other. 1t was asc
ent tained, meantime, that Ephraim Mors
the was not killed by the bullet from Nj
IRE tins revolver on the nj ght of the
cb tempted assassination; that the mis-
9TH had only plowed its way through
me scalp of his Uranium, producing sh'
RS, that had merely stunned him for half
wo hour Finally when Martin was able
vas get out Of bed and sit in 4 chair fc
out few minutes at 4 time the Morgans
ut, having made their appearance,
mt, friendly neighbors lett, and Martin
OF alone with Mrs. Hazcn.
ms, 1t was the very next night after
ell vigil ceased that the door suddenly fl
ars. open and Esther brushed into the re
ere occupied by Martin. 1t was Il room
ain- the ground floor, properly Il sitti
tim room, but u bed had been placed il
of tcmporlri V for the wounded young II
Inc, ESTHER" Martin exclaimed iovfl
de- She ran to his bedside, kissed Il
five then said eXctcdly:
to ''Oh. Martin, they are preparing