Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-06-04
THE DUEL.
Two Rivals of 'Possum Branch
on the Field of Honor.


Ananias Picket (yellow) lived on one
side Of the branch and Jerusalem john
son (black). commonly called "Ju,"
lived on the other side. Miss Sophy
Giggles, the color of an undcrdone
buckwheat cake. lived about five miles
from the branch. and was the cause OF
an undue secretion Of lille in both
MAS" and "Ju.n
Tho branch itself is not of sufficient
Importance TO be indicated in red colors
on any map of these blessed United
States, and yet its local coloring is en-
tcriaining enough to warrant its being
taken from the somewhat moldy cup
board Of obsourity and placed on the
inviting centcr-iable of the present day
The dark and bloody ground of Ken
lucky, with its expiations on the field
Of honor; Blcnnerhassett's Island. with
It's tragic tale of love and dlshonor, have
both been embalmed in song and story:
why not 'Possum Branch, with its Iliad
of woman's caprice, mans devotion
and the fearless heroism OF fascinated
hearts? The branch itself Is a dull,
sluggish stream about ten or twelve
feet wide, running through the southern
portion OF Linn County. In the East
Il might be called n creek. In the
West II might be dignifed by the name
OF river. In Florida IL is simply a
Z" branch" A branch of what, / am
not at this moment prepared to state.
IL is lined with live oak, water oak,
cypress. persimmon aud some few 9TH
er varieties of trees. The county road
goes over il dry-shod, on n rustic
bridge, shaky and dccrepit. the nucleus
Vt any amount of possible and probable
accidents The water IS about ten feet
deep and very dark. No one but a
coroner could possibly hnt any enjoy
ment looking at It. The bridge also
serves AS a short cut for predatory foxes
seeking through highways and byways
for the succulent chicken, the philo-
sophie turkey and the disciple of GER
tain school OF medicinc-the duck.
AT times the trees that line this bank
take on vivid beauty. The bamboo
climbs TO The tops of the tallest ones
and filings n graceful crown over their
swaying beauty. Scarlet coronals OF
unknown flowers emphasize the fra
grant green, through which the birds
peep out and watch with wide-eyed
wonder the ceaking vehicles and
SIR nge figures that pass slowly by.
Outbursts Of rarest song can be heard
there through the soft languorous DAYS.
and swift-darting fins, like errant rays
Of light. ripple the waters below.
On the east side are halfdozen or
80 through log cabins, keeping guard
over a few acres Of broken soil; cotton
and potato patches. the garden Of long
collards and turnips, The parterre Of
sunilowers and oleanders. Each
demesne has its dilapdated chicken
house, its rheumatic shed for the
reflective mule, and its boudOir for
playful swine. The owners and inhab-
tiants Of these freebOlds are happy and
careless negroes, raising enough 10 eat
and little to sell. ba king in the sun
shine. and obeying implicitly the
Scrlptnral injunction to take no heed TO
the morrow.
In little log house, standing on the
very banks Of the branch. in a crouch.
ing attitude, as IL just about leaping
into the waters for bath, both cl ans.
ing and sanitary. lived at the time of
which l write, Ananias, one of NV
heroes. On the west side of the branch
the scene wa almost literally repeated.
with the exception that one of the
houses was OF frame, with two rooms
and lean TO. and had forty acres OF
land attached 10 il. There lived with
his parents, Jerusalem. my other hero,
until the iiend Of Jealousy entered his
otherwise placid bosom, and left wreck
and ruin there.
Five miles OF was ano.herlitile settle
mont OF the same genus, aud here Miss
Sophy,my bcro' ne, helped bake the hoe
cake IN the ancestral mansion, and by
washing for the neighbOring planters
families, earned the shokels thai went
to purchase articles of feminine adorn-
mcnt, articles 50 dear 10 the average
fem nine heart.
Ananias was tall aud thin, elaborate
ly so as to legs, and the suns Of twenty.
ave years had enhanced the dingy vel |
low OF his complexion. His eyes were
oi the vintage known as pop. and the |
premhtured removal Of three front teeth
had not gwen him a weirdly poetical !
appearance. Among the intensely black |
surroundings, the fairness Of his skin !
was a drawback, more especially as his |
parents, by some strange oversight are !
both oi the same orthodox color. In |
temperament he was somewhat naughty |
aud passionate, and by his demeanor |
keemet TO be continually PROTESTING |
against ibis environment. Although en-. |
urely ignorant of bellesletters, or. In |
TACT. OF any letters, he was shrewd and |
InrohuncIa1 81.
become something of capitalist, when
the unlucky collapse Of the Freedman's
BANK swept away the bulk OF his gar
nered boards This made him moody |
and irritable at times. but did not impair
his ability as cotton picker, which was
something wonderful to behold.
Jerusalem or ''Ju''wa short and fat.
and, like my old fsiend. Hamlet. some
what scant Of breath. His skin was SO
black that SCOT would have made a
white mark upon Il. His eyes were
small and twlnkl'ng. iud ices OF the good
liumor that animated his being. HIS
lips were large and luscious, like slices
of a ripe mango. and anumber fourteen
Moe gave HIM a dignity otherwise i'm
possible TO obtain. His sneech was slow
and deliberate, ind cltiye Of mind much
given % Inward thoughts, and his ears
Ncre large aud wayward. restless with
pFcry emotion that fitted across his ex.
pans'fe face. As an only son and pre-
J mpthe heir 10 much land and some
ilock, his pre- enee was alwa.s d 81
.ble one Il the little 80 lal z thering.
hAt enliFcned rach sid, oflhe% ranch.
ine woman IN SIC case. Miss Soph,
a'k8les. was wlngome crcatur OF
ONE nlpctcon years poluptl Gus as .
Ad.pp and tasty 10 70 dress, II