Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-03-13

was neither afraid nor ashamed t
work.
| He proved to be a good harves
hand, and made himself useful il
that speciality to several farmers
/ but finally accepted the offer of Phi
Reynolds, who proposed to Civ,
him a home for the winter and ;
small amount of money, in return
for his services.
Phil Reynolds was overjoyed a
the acquisition of his new farm
hand. The ex-bushWhaker was {
lonely man, and he lived alone
with the exception of such chance
Niger servants as he could pick up
and they had peculiar ideas of indie
! pendence since their emancipation
Ben SelleW prOfessed and proved
himself to be capable of not only
doing field work, but of preparing
the meals and keeping the house.
| hold in order. As he offered to
make himself generally useful for a
small stipend, he was god-send to
Reynolds.
The stranger from Barren county
did his work well. He was active
and willing. Touse word peculiar
to that region, it would be hard to
find a more "bidable' boy. Phil
Reynolds had not been so comfort
able and so well cared for in years,
and he regarded Ben Sellew not
only as a treasure but as absolutely
necessary to his existence.
Thus affairs proceeded smoothly
on the Reynolds farm, until the
owner was taken sick. about a
month after Ben Sellew had accepted
his employment. 1t was strange
illness, and the neighborhood doctor
could make nothing of it. The sick
man complained OF unaecOuntable
pains, and became so week that he
was obliged TO take to his bed
The physician, unable TO make
satisfactory diagnosis of the case,
dosed his patient with various
drugs, by way of experimenting
upon their effect, and the symptoms
became aggravated, until Reynolds
sank into an apparently hopeless
decline. Ben SelleW attended him
with the utmost faithfulnes, prepar-
ing all his food and giving him all
his medicine, and he showed the
deepest concern when a medical
consultation had decided that there
was no hope for Phil Reynolds.
Ben was charged with the duty of
breaking this sad news to the sick
man, and he did it tenderly.
"If there is anything on your
mind" said the boy, "perhaps you
had better clear it off. T"
81 have been hard ease" re-
piled Reynolds, "but there is only |
one thing that really bothers me. / |
killed John Garth when his darter |
was beggin' for his life"
81 have heard of that, and think
you might have showed little |
mercy there"
'Did he show any mercy when
he shot my brother?" asked Reyn-
olds.
"Did you show any mercy when
you hanged his son ?" answered
Ben SelleW.
"Well, it's all done and gone.
That gal of Garth's swOre that she
would kill me, and / know she
meant it. I've been lookin' for her
ever since, but l reckon she will
miss her chance"
"Don't be too sure of that" said
the boy, as he left the room.
Ben Sellew went out to find the
negro man-the only person then
on the place besides himself and
send him to the near
est town for some wine which the
doctor had ordered. The messenger
was soon jogging along upon his
favorite mule. As the nearest town
was some ten miles away, and the
roads were bad, he could not be ex-
Dected to return under four hours.
1t was dark when the boy. went
back to the sick mans chamber,
where he lighted a lamp, and mixed
| dose of medicine.
"Take this" said he, as he put
he glass to Reynolds lips. at
will be the last dose you will need"
"Have l got TO go off SO soon as
hat?" asked the terrified patient,
when he had swallowed the draught.
$50 the doctors say"
'sSend for parson, then-any
zind of parson."
Cant do it. Jake has gone
away. / will be your parson, and
you shall have as good chance as
you gave John Garth. His daughter
wore that she would kill you, Phil
and she has done it."
"What do you mean?"
81 am Lottie Garth"
'Then you have poisoned me! |
I'M burning up !"
When the negro man returned,
he found Reynolds dead in his bed.
He called in the neighbors, and
hey discovered a paper pinned to
he dead mans breast on which
hese words were written:
This man killed John Garth, and
Iohn Gdrth'S daughter has killed
iina."
The boy from Barren county had
and it was not thought
worth while to pursue him, or to
earch for Lottie Garth. The feud
lad at last burned out for lack Of
uel.