Evening journal., 1891-05-28
MOUNTAIN RIVALS.

/ oTlSlilhl cause ntbQ Dtcn lDob TO NlRbbt vet
seven or eight Of the differsnt members OF
| the two families had from time to time
bitten the DUST in futile attempt at
settling old scores.
AT the opening Of my story the feud was
in as unsettled state as for years previ.
GUS, although the difficulties in the way Of
final adjustment seemed less formidable,
/ in that one sole male representative of
| each house was left to maintain its honor
and uphold its reputation for bravery.
The two young men were Of almost the
same age, and were well matched in phys
| ical proportions, being athletic and hardy.
There seemed to be excellent grounds
/ for apprehension when the two young men
began to pay attentions to the same girl--a
rivalry that is apt to produce discord, even
between friends With a woman's subtle
art, even though untutored, Miss Betsy
| Scruggs managed to lead each victim a
merry dance of it, and to besiege each
bosom with hopes and fears alternately
IL was a harmless coquetry, however, and
she did not mean that any trouble should
result from it, 50 she gave both sutors TO
understand that any breach of the peace
would at once be visited with her lasting
and severe displeasure.
Miss Betsy strove to avoid favoritism
If she went to singing school with Steve
Trower on one occasion, she was apt to at
tend meeting with Grove Hacket on the
next. The rivals had reached tacit under
standing regarding Sunday courting, so
that one did not intrude upon the other
There was not entire idleness on these
Sunday afternoons, for when milking time
came Miss Betsy took her piggin and ac-
corded gracious privilege to her attendant
fn af no hu al har.
perhaps to keep hungry calf at bay while
she milked. Miss Betsy was coquette
enough to throw charm over even this
prosaic occupation, so that it became one
of the enjoyable features Of the day On
one occasion, as she sat and MIXED her
little COW with the crumpled horn,n such
as these mountainous regions develop
Grove Hacket leaned against the bars
"rhar's goin ter be great times down ten
Dry Crick settlement, nex' week come a
Chuesday," observed Grove.
"Hez big meetin' begund down thar
a'readyS' inquired Miss Betsy, glancing
over her shoulder.
"Shuckinsl no. Big meetin' don't come
of till mex month. Hits big show a-com
in, ," answered Grove.
''Shet up, nowl ! know better" cried
his interested auditor, pausing for a mo
ment in her occupation, and thereby cut
ting off the two streams Of milk that
flowed into the pail with sound most tan
tahzing TO the hungry calf.
"Yes, street. continued her adnirer To-
quaciously Isl Parker war down thar
t'other day an seed ther big picters hisse'f,
a-telin' all bout hit"
II s'pose yer air a-goin'Y Miss Betsy re-
marked, after few moments silence.
III ! kin git good company | mout, "
said Grove, with subtle meaning.
81 low ef yer look round NUT, 'twon't
be no powerful hard thing ter do. Folks
is plentiful bout yere."
Anybody hain't company" said Grove,
with artful emphasis.
Folks is folks though - remarked Miss
Betsy zone gal can go on weth foolish
ness an sech bout ez well ez t'other."
"Well, low to 60 weth ther purtiest
gal in all these yere hills ef she'll go weth
me, continued Grove seductively
Thar IL them ez says Malviny Peeyler
is right peart lookin', though hit never
struck me powerful" said Miss Betsy in
audible soliloquy, apparently unmindful
of her beau's presence.
Il warrent thinkin o. no Malviny Peev-
Ter" retorted Grove.
ISIS Rice hain't no rale homely gal, ef
her hair Is red an her nose turns up some, F"
continued Miss Betsy rehectively. "Sawl
Piney, sawl" she added soothingly to her
restless COW.
"Tain't no Sis Rice, nuther, "interposed
Grove with faint touch of reproach in
his tone. 'rd just make beeline fer yer
Miss Betsy, an yer knows hit"
''La, Mr. Hacketr' exclaimed Miss Betsy
with toss of her head, aud stopping long
enough to send a disturbing glance in the
direction of her admirer, "whoever did
hear o. sech foolishnessY
Before the milking was over, however,
Miss Betsy had consented to accompany
Mr. Hacket to the circus at Dry Greek
settlement on Tuesday Of the following
week.
In consequence Of this engagement Steve
Trower found his plans sadly shattered
when he presented himself the next Sun
day and asked for Miss Betsy's company
to the circus. His disappointment was 50
evident that Miss Betsy's heart was
touched, and she advanced the soothing
suggestion that "big meetin' warn't a hun
dred miles off, an she s'posed folks would
want to 80 TO hit too"
Added to Steve's sense Of great disap-
pointment was the feeling that his rival
had taken undue advantage Of him. Grove
\ Hacket had gone with Miss Betsy to the
/ circus the year before, and this should have
been his own opportunity, and his heart
was filed with a deep resentment.
Now Steve was something Of a schemeT
by nature, and, melted by jealousy and an.
l ger, he began to cast about for some plan
I whereby he might circumvent his rival
and accomplish his own ends His Gun
/ ming at once suggested for attack the weak
est spot in his adversary's character. lie
knew Groves fondness for "moonshine, y
and his propensity TO get on a spree now
and then, and rs he had now been sober
| for quite while he was probably in fil
condition TO be tempted successfully.
Early Monday morning Steve rode over
4 TO Billy Warmers carrying with him q
[ brown jug Of innocent appearance but dis.
reputable contents. Bill was harmless,
! good for nothing creature fond of his
dram and of sweet idloness He lived near
Hacket's, and had frequently joined him
on his sprees When Steve rode away
from Bill Warmers he left the jug behind
and his hosts parting words were;
I'm fix him fer ye, sartain an sho'."
By O'Clock on Tuesday morning Miss
Betsy had bestirred herself and the rest OF
! the household ia her preparations for an
early departure, rs the road was a long
and rough one and start by daylight was
necessary
After breakfast Miss Betsy arrayed her
self in her most bewitching toilet in honor
Of the occasion. Then she got out her
riding skirt aud sat down TO await her es-
I cOrt, who was alreadv mast due