The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-11-01
BEGINNINc AND ESD.

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| peo nesting against the side o.
a mountain whose tree covered crest
ia almost hidden from sight by the
dark blue vapor which has hung
there for centuries. Toihe raiiings
On the north and east side of the
humble inn are hitched score ol
horses and mules About the inn
are 12 or Is men, on the steps of the
4 geoeral store opposite are as many
more, nonsresidents of the town, but
living in the county. a stranger
would find himself wondering if the
! ! t'Fo crowds were strangers to each
OF fer, and if SO why the majority OF
tlR men should mutter and scowl
as they looked across the narrow
street.
50 ! o'clack p. m. the crowd at
inn moves up the street to the
school house. Ten minutes later it
| is followed by the other. Now we
know what has brought these men
from their homes 5, 10 or 10 miles
away. Here are the lawyers, prin-
cipals and witnesses in lawsuit.
The justice of the peace takes his
seat with becoming dignity, though
his countenance betrays anxiety,
and court is opened. 1t is the case
of Riyes VS.. White, both small farm
ers. Each has secured the best le-
gal counsel he could and the num-
bar of witnesses are pretty evenly
divided.
Here are two of the oldest and
strongest families in the county.
They have been friends for three
generations. They have borrowed
and lent, sat at each others tables,
attended the same church, looked
upon each other as relatives. Far
mer Rives' mule goes estray and
brings up among Farmer Whites
corn. 1t is large field, and the
corn is scarcely worth hauling away.
to market. The damage, there
fore, is not worth mentioning.
Farmer Rives comes and demands
his mule. Both men were close
friends up to that moment. Human
nature has its .sofF' days. Farmer
White is nettIed and asks for dam
ages, and two minutes later the
men are ready to kill each other.
A crowd bound for town rides up,
and blows are struck and the. law
is appealed to. A family friendship
which runs back for almost a CEN
tury is broken by word. Rfves
and White fought side by side at
Stone River, Chickamauga, Frank
lin and on other fields of battle.
Their grandfathers fought side by
side at Cowpens and Kings Noun
tain and Yorktown. Their grand
mothers fed the troopers of Marion,
the Swamp Fox, aud defed the
rough riders of Tarleton. All this
is forgotten as the case is opened
and the witnesses take tho stand.
There is no jury, though the JUS
tice doubtless fervently wishes that
there was that the responsibility
might be shifted from his shoulders.
The witnesses exhibit bitterness
offeeling to surpriseyou. The ques-
tion at issue is who struck the first
blow. There is rank perjury on
both sides, and it is with consider
able reluctance that the justice
gives his decision. To the outsider
carefully following the case it seems
just and legal. Farmer White is
is adjudged guilty of the charge of
assault and battery and fined a
nominal sum. He is chagrined and
indignant that the case went against
him, while the other faction is dis
pleased that he was let off SO easily.
Men mutter and glare at each other
across the room. The lawyers ad-
wise that the fine be paid and re-
cancellation effected, but their words
are wasted. There is notice of ap-
peal and angry talk, and the serious
look on the face of the justice is
proof that he realizes what his de-
cision may result in.
The factions do not mix as they
gosout. The witnesses feel all the
hatred and animosity firing the
hearts of the principals, and they
avoid each other and look sullen
and yindictive. One crowd rides
away, and after half an hour the
other takes the same road. The
storekeeper has sold shotgun, two
reyolyers and half dozen boxes of
cartridges to-day. This is the be-
ginning of the Rlyes-W White feud.
Twenty years passes away. Farm
ers Rives and White have passed
the age of so. They are white