The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-02-18
THE ENDING OF A FEUD.

The feud between the Kentucky
families of Reynolds and Garth had its
origin some time previous to the great
civil war; but that strife of section
against section, State against State, and
brother against brother, added fuel to
its fire and Intensity of its bitterness.
When the war broke out the Reynolds
family ranged themselves on the side of
the Rebels, and the Garths, probably for
no better reason than opposition to their
old enemies, espOused tie Union cause.
1t Is not to be supposed that either of
the families cared much, if anything,
for the principals involved in the con-
test, the Reynolds tribe seeing in the
struggle pretext for devoting them
selves to the destruction of the Garths,
and the Garth tribe finding in the war
an-exeuse for the determination of the
Reynolds. Thus it happened that no
member of either family was regularly
enrolled in any army, but all the Rey-
nOlds and all the Garths preferred to
serve their personal ends by engaging in
q style of warfare which was generally
regarded as Legitimate They called
themselves guerrillas and partisans, but
other people gave them the designation
of bushwhackers.
They carried on the business of BUSH
whackipg to their mutual determination,
If not to their entire satisfaction. So
thoroughly was the work Of the bullet
and the rope done, that there were left
of the two tribes at the close of the war
only Phil Reynolds on the one side, and
John Garth and his daughter I.ottie on
the other.
1t was then supposed that one or the
other of the two male survivors would
terminate the feud by completing the
determination of one family or the
other, but the general expectation was
disappointed.
John Garth, finding himself obnox-
.ious in be neigh5orhOod because Of his
9 alleged Onion sentiments, quilted Ken
lucky, and crossed the river to take up
his abode in Indiana.
John Garth made an end of his exile
within a year. His property was going
10 waste, his old neighbOrhood had set
tied down to a cOnd ton of reasonable
quietude and toleration, and he re-
turned to his farm, accompanied by his
daughter LOttie, then tall and hand
some girl of eighteen.
It was then believed that the feud
would be ct last fought out to a fatal
termination, but no immediate conflict
occurred between the survivors of the
hostile families.
=. Phil REYNOLDS and John Garth both
went armed. but that was the custom
of tie country, and the care with which
they avoided each other exceeded the
eageTness with which they had sought
meeting during their bushwhacking
days. re
At last, as Reynolds was returning
from the mill, he met Garth in a narrow
path on the side of hill, and glance
at their faces was enough to show that
the fatal hour had come.
Neither was willing to make way for
the other, and the first words that broke
from their lips were those of abuse and
recriminatiOn After a little of this
wordy warfare they drew their pistols
and opened fire.
When all the chambers of their re-
volvers had been discharged, the result
of the action thus far was seen to have
been fatal to Reynolds mule and Garth's
horse, while the two men were slightly
yTfn They renewed the fight on foot,
clinching and wrestling for the mastery
Then 3arth slipped and fell, mis-
antagonist falling upon him.
With a yell of triumph Reynolds
drew his knife, and prepared to wipe
out all scores with death stroke.
AT that moment Lottie Garth came
riding up the hill, and with one glance
she took in the details of the scene, and
realized her father danger.
:. Without pausing to dismount, she i'm
plored Reynolds to spare the life OF the
PROSTATE man.
Her fearful eyes, her outstretched
arms, and her agonizing accents, might
have melted heart of stone, but they
could not change Phil Reynolds heart
of FIRE.
lie only saw in her appearance another
cause for triumph, chance to infict
another pang upon his hated adversary.