The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-06-01
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them But. Mr.. Babcock, what II
be should refuse to pay the uah-
ages2 1 should hate to go 10 III"
about it."
"He won't refuse; and if he does,
keep the critters till he VIII pay.
As to law, 1 guess he's hau ABOUT
enough of that"
I'm sure l thank you for your
advice" said Miss Letitia, land
mean to act upon it to the very
letter."
Scarcely was he out of sight,
when Miss Letitia sent summons
for Mr.. Small, which he obeyed as
promptly as his neighbor has done.
She made to him precisely the same
statement she had made to Mr..
Babcock, showed him the injured
property, and asked him to fix the
damages.
1t was remarkable that before he
did this he should ask the same
question Mr.. Babcock had asked,
namely: whether she had any
suspicion to whom the animals be-
longed.
"Wen, one of them l observed
had terribly crooked horn"
''Precisely-it's Babcock S heifer;
[ should know her among a thou
sand. She was black and white,
wasn't she?'
swell, now / think of it, she was;
- ,ol1ov, Saac 60 claor a hlack
and white ON cow"
"To be sure, they're Babcock' 5
animals, you may depend. Well,
let me see; what you want is just a
fair estimate, 1 supposer'
Certainly"
"Well, l should say $50 was as
low as he ought to be allowed to get
off with"
"Oh, but L fear SO large a sum
will seem as if 1 meant to take ad-
vantage. Suppose we call it
say 1852"
"Just as you please, of course;
but hanged if I'd let him off for a
cent less than a hundred, if it were
my ease"
.'And if he refuses to payP
"Why, keep the animals until he
comes around, that's all"
"But there's one thing l neglec-
ted to mention-our gate was
standing open; that may alter the
case
Not at all; there's no law against
keeping your gate open; there is
against stray animals"
Every well; thank yon for your
ADVICE" said Miss Letitia; and Mr..
Small departed with as smiling a
countenance as Mr.. Babcock had
worn.
But at milking. time that night
he made a strange discovery-old
brindle was missing!
At about the same hour Mr.. Bah
cock made a similar discovery
the black and-white heifer was no
where to be found!
A horrible suspicion seized them
both-a suspicion they would not
have made known to each other
for the world. They waited till it
was dark, and then Mr.. Babcock
stole around to Miss Letitia's and
meekly asked leave to look at the
animals which had committed the
trespass. He would have done it
without asking leave, on that thrift
ty Miss Letitia always shut her
barn doors at night.
While he stood looking over into
the pens where the cows were con
fined, and trying to negotiate with
Miss Letitia for the release of the
heifer, along came Mr.. Small in
quest of his brindle.
The two men stared at each 9th
er in blank dismay, then their
heads in confusion.
1t was useless to assert that the
damages were too high, for had
they not fixed them themselves?
1t was useless to plead that Miss
Letitia was in manner response
BILE for what had happened, on &C
count of the open gate, for had they
not assured her that that circum
stance did not alter the case? 1t
was useless to say she had no
right to keep the cows in custody,
for had they not counseled her to
do so? AS to going to law about it,
would they not become the sport of
the whole town?
''He that diggeth a pit, he him
self shall fall into it." said Miss
Letitia, who read what was pass
ing in their minds as well as if they
had spoken, for the light from
Isaac's lantern fell full on their
faces. However, on one condition,
L will free the COWS and forgive the
debt"
"What is that" Both thought the
question, but did not ask it.
"The condition is, that you prom
Use to put good new fence in place
of the old one that separates your
dividing the cost between
you, and that henceforth you will
live together peacefully, so far as
in you lies. Do you promise?'
Yes, muttered botn, in Il voice
scarcely audible.
Shake hands upon it, then"
said Miss Letitia.
They did so.
Nov let the cows out, Isaac; it
is time they were MIXED said
she.
And the two men went away,
their COWS before them,
and with a shame-faced air. great
ly in contrast to the look of triumph |
with which they had before quilted
her presence.
The fence was built, and the
strife ceased when the cause was re-
moved: but it was long before Miss
Letitia's part in the affair came to
the public ear; for she herself
maintained a strict silence con
,erning it, and she enjoined the
same upon her man-servant Isaac.
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