The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-02-18

ana 1t seemed as II she would fall from
her horse; but she recovered herself,
and fiercely faced the murderer as he
rose from his bloody work.
/ Phil Reynolds" she said, and her
voice rang out on the mountain sif SIS
clear as silver bell, "yod have mur-
dered my father, though / begged you
TO spare his life. AS sure as God lets
me live | will kill you for this deed"
Reynolds was fairly cowed for a
moment. Perhaps he felt the enormity
OF his crime; perhaps the words and
4one of the orphan girl ess him to the
quick.
He made no reply, but picked up his
| pistol, and hastily began to load it, as if
he meant to complete the work Of exter-
minating the Garths, and at the same
time TO get rid of witness. But Lcttis
turned and galloped away, and was soon
out of his reach or sight.
LOttie Garth did not expect that the
slayer of her father would be punished
by law, and he was not. He was ar
rested and held to bail, but was never
brought to trial,
The feeling was that such feud must
have such an ending, and that it was a
matter of little consequence whether
Reynolds killed Garth or Garth killed
Reynolds, though there was more
sympathy with the latter than the
former, on political grounds.
The girl gave her testimony at the
inquest, saw that her father was properly
buried, and then bade farewell to her
few friends in the neigborhood, after
putting the Garth farm in the hands Of
an agent to be disposed Of. It was un-
derstood that she had returned to
Indiana.
1t was some six months after the death
John Garth that stranger mad e his
appearance in the settlement. He was
boy, beardless and with curling locks,
but active, intelligent, and able bodied.
He said that his name was Ben SelieW,
that ne was from Barren County, that
his father had been killed in the war,
aud that the recent death of his mother
had left him an orphan, with his own
way to make in the world. just then
he wanted farm work, and he easily
found it in the settlement, as he was
neither afraid nor ashamed to work.
He proved to be a good harvest hand,
and made himself useful in thatspecialty
to several farmers, but finally accepted
the offer of Phil Reynolds, who proposed
to give him home for the winter and
small allowance of money, in return for
his services.
Phil Reynolds was overjoYed at the
acquisition OF his new farm hand. The
ex-bushwhacker was lonely man, and
he lived alone, with the exception Of
such chance negro servants as he could
pick up, and they had peculiar ideas of
independence since their emancipation.
Ben Sellew professed and proved him
self to be capable not only of doing field
work, but Of preparing the meals and
keeping the household in order. As he
offered to make himself generally useful
for a small stipend, he was a god-send to
Reynolds.
The stranger from Barren County did
his work well He was active and will
ing. To use a word peculiar to that
region, it would be hard to find more
!" biddable" boy. Phil Reynolds had
not been so comfortable and so we'll
cared for in years, and he regarded Ben
1eiioT not only &c treasure hut rs
absolutely necessary TO his existence
Thus affairs proceeded smoOUnIy on
the Reynolds farm, until the owner was
taken sick, about month after Ben
SelIew mad accepted his employment.
|
bOrhood doctor could make nothing of
it. The sick man complained of unac>
countable pains, and became so weak
that he was obliged to take to his bed.
The physician, unable to make salts
factory diagnosis of the case, dosed his
patient with various drugs, by way Of
experimenting upon their effect, and
the symptoms became aggravated, until
D. ,oT Il , Tv,Ao ]
less decline.
Ben Senew attended him with the
utmost faithfulness, preparing 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 break
ing 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"
"I have been a hard case" replied
Reynolds, "but there is only one thing
that really bothers me. l killed John
Garth when his darter was beggin' for
his life"
al have heard of that, and l think |
you might have showed 8 little mercy
there"
did he show any mercy when he shot
my brother? 2" asked Reynolds.
Did you show any mercy when Won
hanged his sonP answered Ben SeIlew.
We'll, it's all done and gone. That
gal of Garth's swOre that she would kill |
me, and l 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
mantle only person then on the place |
besides himself and Reynolds-to send |
him to the nearest 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 expected 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 the
glass to Reynolds lips. "It viii be the
last dose you will need"
I" Have / got to go off so soon as thatP'
asked the terrified patient, when he had
swallowed the draught.
$50 the doctors say"
" Send for parson, then-any kind
fo'a parson."
" Can't do it. Jake has gone away.
| will be your parson, and you shall
have as good chance as you gave John
Garth. His daughter swore that she
would kill you, Phil Reynolds, and she
has done it.
What do you meanW
am Lottie Garth"
" Then you have poisoned mel I ana
burning upl"
When the negro man returned, he
found Reynolds dead in his bed. He
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