Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-09-01
81 tell you, BOYS. y said Seth Plunkett,

turning to the expectant .throng. 8,
an awful night, and anybody that thinks
I'm agoin' to carry this nlail over that
road any longer for two hundred dollars
q year is sold. That's all. Eli be blessed
if / will!n 8 4 = n
"What is he goin' toAdo?'' said the
Judge, as Seth disappeared to ''put out
his team" "He's driv' stage-wal, it
must be nigh onto seventeen year. He
amt used to doin' nothin' else. s'pose,
though he could team it," he added,
thoughtfully.
"No," said Uncle Cephas, who laid
up every word that was uttered by the
great men around him and who was
elated at knowing some news. 81 herd
him say t'other night that he could run
his stage an make ivin' out of pas
sengers an SIGH, an they could get
somebody else to carry their consumed
old MALL
"You didn't" said the Judge, with
an accent of unbelief.
eyes, did," persisted Uncle Cephas.
"Wal! wal! said the solemn Deacon,
whose words were few but weighty
81 didn't think Seth was such a.
fool"
"Jest so,'' said Grandpa Billins,
placidly. He never swore himself; but
he felt, perhaps, that the eternal fitness
of things demanded strong language
from somebody, for he patted his cane
softly, and repeated: 81 say jest so to
that, Deacon, every time. But VINO "
carry the mailp'' e. " =" 49,
"Dunno,'' said Uncle Cephas, the re-
CARDS of the whole company forcing out
the Notifying confession. ST heard
Seth say that; but hain't heard no
mOre.''
But Uncle Cephas, as well as the rest
of the village, knew before the month OF
| December was out that Uncle Sam had
absolutely refused to raise Seth Punk
ett's salary; also that another stage was
about to be put on the road, which
would convey the United States mails
and also carry passengers.
"Can't neither on 'em pay" said the
Judge, in the silence which followed
this announcement, when first made by
Banty at the Post-office. Neither on
'em won't pay; but the teller that takes
the mail will get the best ont, fur he's
got sunthin', sure. An Seth's got his
team to keep, all that. Mark my
words, boys, SethM have to go to the
WALL se -
1t was afterward recalled that at this
| point Pelt Cressy looked uncommonly
sober. The fact was that Pelt was one
| of the best drivers in the section, and
had just had offered him by an
influential friend of his in a neighboring
town-who, however, knew nothing of
the internal complications of Pelt's at
fairs-the chance to run the new stage
between Selborn and Clearpond.
Pelt was trying hard to get money
enough together to marry Hettie Punk
EFT. He had pair of horses, which he
had raised from colts, and he had been
"teaming it, for year back but what
he could make in that way was very
little, compared with the profits OF the
stage. 20.
eth make Seth mad, o. COURSE he
reasoned, as he walked toward the
Post-office, the evening after the fore
going conversation; ssbut," straighten-
ing up defantly, "he can team it. He 8
got a better chance than I have. Some
body's got to take the mail. It might
| as well be ne. III go right over and
| see Hettie about it now," he continued,
| turning toward Seth Plunkett's cottage.
sIt's got to be settled tonight, and she
can settle it, .
Hettie was doubtful and finally tear
| full; but she was at last persuaded by
her lover that Seth, finding it impossi-
BILE to compete with 'sthe Government
would soon retire, more or less good
naturally, feeling that the gain was
coming to the family anyhow, and that
he would make almost as good living
at teaming. ~-.sgf. s.
"Weu,5' said the yielding girl, al
last, wishing sadly that her dead moth
er was near to counsel her, "you decide
| it, Pelt; and, if you take the stage, and
| father is angry and won't let you come
| here, we'll love each other just the
same.''
During the second week in January q
grand sensation shook Clearpond to its
foundations. Pelt Cressy's horses were
| to draw the new stage, and Pelt himself
| was to drive them. 3 :
/ The first night after the new move.
ment was inaugurated Seth Plunkett's
coach reached the Post-office first. He
stopped and settled with Banty for some
triiing errands which he had done al
Selborn, but his dark looks and irritated
manner showed that he was in q savage
mood. The mail was what they were
waiting for there, and the one who
brought it was the man of the hour
Seth Plunkett felt that he was dis
crowned and dishonored, and before hi
went to bed that night he made a solemn
vow that Pelt Greasy should never have
his daughter.
"He's scoundreI!' said Seth Plum
kett, between his set teeth. "He's useG
me mean, and I'll have none of him.
This feeling grew day by day.. as thu
stages passed each other on the road Of
paused at the Halfway House together
Then the feud began to extend. Thu
ladies who went to Selborn to shop rod.
with the one whose cause they happened
to espouse; and, as Seth, though by M
means protesting Christian, nominal.
attended the Methodist Church, while
Pelt's family were Baptists, the line.
between the two congregations marked
pretty definitely the limits of the fac
tons.
Grandma Billin's stopped visiting
Mrs. Perkins (''the Deacon's' wife) be
cause the latter had ridden up the rive
| xx,;%h Stfhot coccv polf CroccvS. tn.