The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-01
The BeEinninr nud the End.

II is hamlet OF twenty houses-eighty peo-
pl" Nesting against the side OF n mountain
whose trce-covered crest is almost hidden
from sight by the dark blue vapor which has
hung there for centuries To the ratings OH
the north and east side OF the humble inn are
htchcd Il score Of horses and mules About
the inn are twelve or fifteen men: on the steps
of the general store opposite arc rs many
more non-residents OF tho town. but living In
the county A stranger would find himself
wondering II the two crowds were strangers to
each other. and II so. why the majority OF the
men should mutter and scowl rs they looked
across the narrow street.
At o'clock +. NJ. the crowd at the inn moves
mp the street to the schoolhouse. Ten minutes
later it is followed by the other. Now We know
what has brought these men from their homes
five ten. or fifteen miles away. Hore are the
suit. Tho Justice of the Peace TAX es his seat
with becoming dignity. though his counte-
1t is the case OF ltives VS.. White. both small
farmers, Each has secured the best legal
are pretty evenly divided.
Here are two of the oldest and strongest
ior three generations They have borrowed and
lent. sat nj each others tables. attended the
snme eEurcm ooE ys upon eaSn o.hes tra s rsa
brings W, among Farmer Whites corn; It lisa
large field. and the corn i scarcely worth haul
is not worth monti oninG; Farmer Rives comes
and demands his mule. Both men, wer"
nature has has its on days. Farmer White
is nettled and asks Tor damages and
each other cpowd if bound for town rides np
and blows are struck; and the law Is appealed
to. A family friendship which runs bac5 Tor
and White fought side by side at Stone, River,
Chickamnuga. franklin. and on other fields OF
and Kings Mountain and Yorktown. Their
Grandmothers fed the troopers OF Marion. the
opencd and tho witnesses take the stand
less fN wses that there her that the
responsibility mirht be shifted from his
to TS ha st
issue is Xho struck the fret boW., There so IL
snH 4s w!s ns
decision. To an outsider carefully following
the case it seems Just and legal. Farmer
assault and battery and fined nominal sum.
He is chagrined and indignant that the case
pleased thai he was let off SO easily. Men IN utter
and glare at each other across the room me
onciliation eirected but their words are
wasteh. There IL notice OF appeal and angry
talk. and the serious look on the faee Of me
The factions do not mix as they go out. The
avoid each other and look suIlen and yindic.
tive. One crowd rides away. and after half an
hour the other takes the same road. The
storekeeper has sold shotgun. two reviewers.
Thus begins the Rives-white fend.
Twenty pss aT IVA Of s Ses
are white haired and wrnkled The one limps
but little use Of his left arm because OF a spin-
ambush and meant to kill. There have been
other shots fired from behind trees and rocks.
ness Tor Kives,s, He was ambushed aud killed
during the ilrst three months THATCHER hatcher w was
Filled a week after the death Of bingham.
Stebbins. Carson. Parsloe. Williams brown;
Bebee- all Witnesses and AL dend. llyss had
v WORK s'n in tho tho field. White had son and
daughter The con disapPen n% one e aa a ana
ter was shot Off her horse while riding home
Twenty years have not added dozen houses
to the hamlet Tho inn stands here lust the
same. and across the street is the same store:
TWO or hss mns "H Tsefa
either place. It is peaceful summer day.
and the nG rde IS OF al
site directions and meet in front OF the Inn.
tits an unexpected meetina. Both seem
= 1t lis disp"lnt and have It out"
cruz" kn 1ss NJ %hch SaV" been
Tor yenrS. lhefo Is no waiting lHeJ att w
sooner on the ground than they eagerly ad.
vince upon each other Ant 6egIn, to cut and
out ms tho others knife drinks blooh 1t is
over before any one knows that it had begun.
When the alarm Is given the Villagers rus to
old gray haired men. cut and slashed. and
lying dead In pool Of blood,
1T l. Kives and White. and this ia the end OF
their feud!" whisper half dozen men as they
look down upon the bodies
Yes, this II the end. 1t could not 20 further
Murder or disease has wiped out the Justice.
the lawyers. the nrncpals. and the witnesses.
no one left to 90 into am bush; no one to come
riding along and toppe Off his horsea corpse
at tho report OF the shotgun loaded with sluGs