The Princeton union., 1892-05-26
HE WAS A BRONSON.

existed deadly feud. and though I
could not even after hearing my
fathers declaration. comprehend the
full significance of the threat. yet
went to bed in an uneasy state of
mind that night and upon awakening
early the next morning I asked my
mother if father had killed Sam Olney.
She babe me hush can see her
pale face now.
Il am afraid something awful is
going to happen. she said. ''but you
mustn't say a 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 |
asked my father and. without show
ing the least sign of fear he told me
that the Olneys were wolves, and that
God made them to be killed, and
when l asked him why God did not
kill them he laughed. tossed me up.
and answered.
because he wanted to give the
Bronsons that pleasure"
There had been. soon learned.
several conflicts between the Bronsons
and the Olneys, and my grandfather
and two Of my uncles had been killed
by them. Sam Olney. one of the most
desperate of the gang. and indeed the
only surviving one, had left the COM
munity Immediately after the last
fight and his sudden temperance
had again opened up the feud
A long time must have passed since
I had heard my fathers threat and
Olney must have left the neighbor-
hood again, for l had grown to be
quite a large boy. when. one 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" he
said. when he had reached the stable,
Il am going out to-day to kill Sam
Olney.'
Il wish 1 could kill him." l re.
member to have answered.
Brave boy" he said, STOPPING
down and kissing me. brave boy!
Oh. you are a true Bronson. and /
know that if Olney should kill me
you would, after awhile. kill him and
all his accursed race. God has made
a great difference between those people
and u.s. my son. and it is not a sin to
kill them. Your mother is afraid
that | shall get hurt and if she
should ask you if you know where
I am. tell her no..
II will"
He rode away. carrying a gun with
hi a. ~
grieving because I was not large
enough to 60 with him.
Milton, where is your father?"
my mother asked
Il don't know"
Didn't you go to the stable with
him this morning?"
NO"
'Milton-." She took me in her
arms and wept. Night came. Hour
after hour mother stood in the door,
holding a light. She bade me go to
bed; would not but stood near her.
Sometimes we would walk down to the
gate. and then, coming back disap-
pointed, would resume our weary
watch. mother holding the light.
What noise is that?''
Its wagon" l answered. The
wagon came down the hill and passed.
Suddenly she broke away and ran.
l soon knew the cause; the wagon had
passed through our gate. I heard
mother scream, and when I reached
the gate the two men were helping
father out Of the wagon.
Don't be scared. now," he said.
<Im not much hurt. Be all right
In day or two"
They took him into the house
'Lay me on Millions lounge" he said.
'Oh. no. Emmett, " mother pleaded.
'let us put you on the bed. Lay him
here" she said. beginning to ar
range the pillows. The men were
about to obey. when in strong
voice. he demanded
put me on Millions lounge!"
They did so. Mother sank on her
knees beside him. One of the men, a
doctor, drew her aside and. said some.
thing to her. ..
Milton, take this knife" father
said. and wear it. and never &c
away from home without that gun,
and Whenever you see an Olney shoot
him.
Il will" "
Swear it-wait. Bring me per
and ink and some paper
Emmett" mother began to plead,
but he demanded obedience Nov
prop me up in bed. =" said he. They
obeyed, and. placing the paper on a
school atlas he wrote the following:
Il. M lton Bronson do to my dying
father swear and hope to God that
may forever burn in hell If do not
kill or try to kill Sam Olney whenever
find him. and that if ever find any
Nof his relatives l will kill them
You can write your name, cant
you, Milton?" he asked.
.Yes. SIR
Then sign this
Emmett, read it please mothe,
asked. He read the words and signed
the paper. Mother stood sobbing. with
her face hidden in her hands. *~ !
Mother grew weaker day by day
and when the weather wa. pleasan