The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-08-29
A KENTUCKY FEUD.
CHAPTER 1.

nanded down rom one generator to another. These feuds always begin by the killing of one man and are never known to end until every male member of the opposing factions is killed.
 Many years ago, one of the Graleys killed one of the Cobsons. Both families were large and both were highly respected in the community. War was declared, and battle soon followed. The fight occurred in a small town and during its progress, business was suspended. Quite a number ot men were killed but the bat tie was not decisive. The local paper the editor of which disappeared soon afterward-stated that the victory was claimed by both sides, but that it was draw fight" The editor was young fellow and had just come from the east. At first, such evidences of vigor greatly amused him, but IS he trudged along a lonely road, carrying rife bullet in his shoulder, he thought that he might have possibly over-estimate the advantages derived from living in such a neighbor- hood.
 Some time elapsed before the Graleys and Cobsons met again, but bloody meeting, every one knew, was only question of time. The next battle oc- cured on election day. Both sides lost heavily-in fact, all but four of the parti- cipants were killed. It was again a "draw fight" but there was no young man from the east to make the announce ment. A few days later, another little brush " occurred, and now only two Jack Graley and Hicks Cobson-were left. They were both brave and the peaceable people of the community anxiously looked forward to the time when the teuds would become extinct.
 One night, while religious revival was in progress, Jack Graley arose, took off his pistol belt approached the mourn ers' bench and knelt down. The good people were astonished and one old fel- low who had never felt at ease in the so- ciety of his war-l like neighbors, stopped singing, so great was his astonishment, and exclaimed:
 "Thank the Lord !" The preacher, wearing the flush of victory, went to Hicks Cobson, who was also present. and said:
 Behold the example which your enemy has set. Are you not as much of a sinner as he and is not your soul just as precious as his? Come, therefore, pray you, and humble yourself"
 "Wall, parson," replied Cobson, am much obleeged to you, but I'd ruther put this thing of long huff to see how it works with that rooster. Twixt me an him it ain't been question O savin' the soul but takin' kere O the body is what's been sorter pesterin' us."
 Brother-for such l must"
 "He'p yourself"
 |" l say, brother, you must not talk that way. Come, give your soul to the Lord and He will see that your body is pre- served. You must admit that you do not want to go to he'll"
 "Wall, kaint say that I'm keen to go thar, but reckon if l do go thar'll be plenty O comp'ny.'
 "Then come with me. We are all your friends. Let this old feud be wiped out with water instead of with blood"
 "Wall, go away an let me study a | while. I reckon thar's a good deal O truth in what you say but feiler has to make up his mind before he ken do any thing"
 The preacher left Cobson and knelt be- side Graley.
 "How do you feel, MT. Graley2"
 "Only tolerable."
 "Are you sorry for the sins you have committedP"
 "Wall, I ain't exactly proud of 'em."
 "You want your soul to be saved, do you not2"
 "That's about it, I reckon"
 "Do you know that Cobson is in this house2 ?"
 "Yas, seed him when he come iu."
 "How do you feel toward. him?" "Wall reckon ifl had him on my hip would sorter shake him little an then git religion if could"
 @You must not talk that way. You can never get religion if you encourage such thoughts"
 sWall, won't think about 1t no morn lken he'p."