The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-06-17
Evil for Evil.

1t was dark night in January, and
Frazer Balm was the only man abroad
in the whole village. He did not stalk
down the main street, as was his Gus
tom, but, instead, he was cropping his
way along Canlock lane; for no errand
of love or mercy had called him forth.
His heart was filed with hatred, and
the object of his hate was Spence Can
lock. The latter had shot his best
pointer, Grip; and now, in revenge, he
meant to poison the Canlock family
watchdog.
Spence had been annoying him in
numerous ways for a long time, and
now he would be square with him at
last. This thought was an eXultant
one, and he frightened his hold on
package of poisoned meat, which he
had carefully prepared in his own
stable.
AS he neared the house, he saw that
the shutters were all closed for the
night. But Major, the faithful dog
whose life he meant to take, came out to
meet him. And Spence Canlock him
self might be about the barn-yard. 1t
was risky bit of business, but it was
now or never, and he had been plan
ming it for days. He must get even
with Spence somehow, and this would
be the safest and quickest way.
Major licked his hand while he hest
tated. He was good dog and deserved
better fate. But Grip had been his
equal; and yet Canlock had shot him
down like wild beast. 1t was only
tit for tat, and the sooner he got through
with it the better.
So, quickly, he unwrapped the poi
soned meat. He would lay it on the
doorstep, where Ma usually crouchedl
1t was thickly peppered with arsenic,
and could not fail to do its work. The
dog was watching his every movement,
for the moon had come out from behind
a cloud. Major was a noble fellow,
but he would be a dead dog before
morning!
Then Frazer Balm flung the meat
down before him, and hurried away
without backward glance. No one
had seen him come or go, and he was
indeed square with Canlock 1t was
good nights work-one which he would
never regret, and he wondered why he
had put it off so long, There had been
many another dark, rainy night back in
December, equally suitable for the
work he had just done And then he
tried to picture Canlock's dismay and
chagrin when he found his old dog
dead in the morning. He even wished
he could witness it all himself. Rena,
his only sister, was still waiting up for
him when he reached home.
You are late" she said, kindly.
"Mother has gone over to Squire Can
locks. She will sit up tonight with
little Rose. The child fell through the
ice yesterday, and is considerably worse
for her winter bath. She would have
been drowned if it had not been for old
Major. He dived under after her and
then dragged her back to the river bank
Spence says he wouldn't take farm for
the noble fellow"
But what's all that to me?" snarled
Frazer Balm.
True" continued Rena; 81 had
forgotten that you and Spence have
quarreled. He is an obedient son,
loving brother and true friend. Ah,
Frazer, Spence Canlock deserves better
treatment
"YOu don't seem to remember that
he killed Grip"
1t was an accident, Frazer. Spence
explained it all with tears in his eyes"
"Well, accident or no accident, am
square with him at last"
"Why, Frazer Bain What have you
done?"
You'll find out soon enough, Miss
Meddlesome."
81 wish you were more like Spence"
sighed Rena. &" He is the best brother
in the village. No wonder Ada and
Rose are so nrOud Of him -
But Frazer Balm pulled off his wet
boots in silence. The merits of the
Canlock family were anything but safe
subjects. Rena was quick-wtted, and
she might suspect Just what he had
done. His own mother would be among
the first to know it in the morning.
And Frazer Bain's dark cheek flushed
at the thought. He had never been a
gentle lady mother. And as he hurried
up the stair Bible verse which she
had taught him years before began re-
peating itself. Over and over again he
heard the timely words, " Recompense
to no man evil for evil"
But that was just what he had donel
" Evil for evil was the motto of his life.
Spence Canlock had shot Grip, and, in
simple justice TO himself, he had to
poison Major.
But, strangely enough, he now
wished he had left the old dog live.
He deserved long life, because he had
saved little Rose Canlock. Why, he,
Frazer Balm, had actually murdered a
hero! And he was not square with
Spence after all, for the latter must have
shot Grip by accident, as Rena said.
And his late annoyances, when siftcd
down, were only so many overtures. He
simply wanted to be friends again. And
Frazer had been hot-headed donkey.
He saw it all now as plain as primer.
But it was too latel Major was dying
or dead, and no amount of regrets could
make him alive and WELL
And back came the warning text he
had learned in childhood, " Recon-