The state herald., 1892-06-03
HE WAS A BRONSON.


tween our family and the Olneys there
existed n deadly feud, and though
could not even after hearing my
fathers declaration. comprehend the
; full significance OF the threat, yet
went to bed In an uneasy state oil
mind that night and upon awakening
early the next morning ] asked my
mother II father had killed Sam Olney.
She bade me hush. I can SEQ her
palo fnce now.
Il am afraid something awful is
going to happen. shc said 'but you
mustn't say word about It. For a
long time deadly hatred-but you
cannot understand it."
l urged her to tell me more but
she would not After breakfast l
asked my father and. without show
ing the least sign Of fear. he told me
that the Olneys wero wolves. and that
God made them to be killed, and
whom l asked him why God did not
kill them. he laughed tossed me up
ind answered.
because ho wanted to give the
BronsOns that pleasure"
There had been. 1 soon learned,
several conflicts between the Bronsons
and tho Olneys, and my grandfather
and two OF my uncles had been killed
by them. Sam Olney. one OF tho most
desperate OF tho gang. and indeed the
only surviving one, had left the COM
munity Immediately after tho last
fight and his sudden reappoarance
had again opened up the feud.
A long time must have passed since
had heard my fathers threat and
Olney must have left the neighbor-
hood again. for l had grown TO be
quito II large boy. when. ono day.
my father called me and said:
Milton. / want to talk to you.
Come out to the stable. don't want
your mother TO hear me. Now" ho
said, when he had reached the stable,
Il am going out to-day to kill Sam
Olney."
Il wish / could kill him." l re.
member TO have answered.
Brave boy" he said, STOPPING
down and kissing me. brave boy,
Oh. you are true Bronson. md
know that If Olney should kill mo
you would. after awhile. kill him and
all his accurscd race. God has made
n great difference between those people
and US my son, and it is not u sin to
kill them Your mother is afraid
that ! shalt got hurt and II she
should ask you II you know where
am tell her nc" Nr ...r..
IL will"
lie rode away. carrying gun with
him, and went back TO The house.
grieving because was not large
enough to go with him.
Milton. where is your fathcr?"
my mother asked.
Il don't know"
Didn't you 60 to the stable with
him this morningP"
No"
"Milton-." She took mo in her
arms and wept Night cama Hour
after hour motAer stood in tho door.
holding light She bado mo 60 to
bod; I would not but stood near hcr.
Sometimes We would walk down TO tho
gate, and then coming back disap.
pointed would resume our weary
watch. mother holding tho light
What noise is that3" ......
ITS a wagon" l answered. Tho
wagon camo down the hill and passed.
Suddenly she broke away and ran.
l'soon knew tho cause; the wagon had
passed through our gate. l heard
mother scream. md when / reached
the gate the two men were helping
father out OF tho wagon.
Don't be scared. now." ho said.
I'm not much hurt 30 all right
In day or two"
They took him Into tho house.
LAY mo on Millions lounge" he said.
.Oh. no. Emmett" mother pleaded
'let Us put you on tho bod. Lay him
hcrc" sho said. beginning to ar
range the pillowa Tho mon were
about TO obey. whom. In II strong
voice he demandod-
Put mo on Millions loungo!"
Thoy did 80. Mother sank on her
knees beside him. Ono OF tho men. n
doctor. drew her aside and said some
thing 10 her
Milton. tako this knife" father
said. 'nnd wear It. and never go
Ausv trens hnns without that nun.
tsAl AlleGpp0.t 0.to4,sss N Olnsy shoot
= .,nf
.swcnr n-wnit. Bring mo a pen
and ink and some paper"
Emmett" mother began TO pload.
but no demanded obedience. Now
prop mo up In bod. said no. They
obeycd. and, placing tho paper on u
school atlas he wrote tho following;
u. Milton Bronson. do 10 my dying
father swsar md hope 70 God that
may forever burn Ia hcll II do not
kill or try to kill Sam 0lnoy whenover
] And him. and that II over find my
OF his relatives / will kill thom."
You cnn write your name. can't
you. Miltonp" ho nskcd.
''Ycs sir"
Then sign this'
'Emmcit read II plonsc." mother
nskcd. Hc road tho words and signed
the paper Mother stood sobbing. with
hcr fnco hidden In hor hands.
Mother grow wcakor day by dny.
mud whom tho weather was picnsnnt
sho nnd would sit together nt tho
grave.
All how vivid IL tho memory Of our
last visit 10 tho treo that sheltered the
gravel Tho night was black; and
now. whom such n night comes fancy
that II IL tho dcspairing and damned
soul OF n onco bright dny.
We were sitting by tho FIRE. mother
and !. Tho day had been wild. and
tho fow showers OF ruin that had failon
seemed ma toars wrunR In agony from
tho clouds could sec that sho was
oven weaker than sho had boon tho
| ,iav haf,ra