Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1894-01-19


over to see tho Maior now, or whit un-
til it wns cooler. He had Just decided
in favor of waiting, when he heard Il
trnmpling from the side of the house.
For moment he gave it little at
tention. Then the long-drawn bay of
hound came to his cars. The Colo
nel's feet dropped to the floor and his
head WAS raised. Another howl from
the invisible hound, and he pulled him
self to his feet, picked up his hat and
turned down tho low stone steps in the
direction of the sound.
AS he came around the corner of the
house, there was sudden crunching
OF the gravel on the driveway, bel
low of mingled fear and anger, and
the Colonel WINS knocked fiat by year
ling heifer which, snorting it's sur
prise, trailcd across the erass-pIot.
holly pursued by the Colonel's hound.
The Colonel quickly scrambled TO
his feet and looked about for the cause
of his downfall. He saw the heifer
and the hound. The pursued was
making at top speed for gap in the
stake-and-rider fence, where the
crushed rails showed that its hcad
and feet had been Mt work. AS his
ego fell upon the broken fence, he in
dulged i'll some highly favored re-
marks, and followed them with M On
couraging yell to the hound. Inspired
by this, the dog promptly bit the
heifer i'll the flank, nearly tumbling it
over in the snp of the fence and draw
ing from it bawling cry OF distress
The Colonel dashed forward to urge
ON the hound, hui just MS he
reached the fence, there was shot
from the bushes, and the hound came
scurrying back, it's tail between its
legs. AT almost the same instant n
long-legged man emerged from behind
tree trunk little way of and ran
forward, all the while endeavorins 10
pour powder and shot into the barrel
of the gun which he carried.
AT the fence-gap he confronted Colo
mel Beebe. There was mutual start
as the men recognized each other.
Then the Colonel recovered himself.
"Major Hnwkins!" lie broke out: "I
believe you have shot my hound:"
II have done that very thing! re-
turned the Major with decision. "Anl
let me add, that shall repeat tine per-
Torrance every time that brute of
yours chnses my cattle!"
The Major and he were old croniee.
and, though both were hot-blooded.
they had never had n serious fallino-
out, and the Colonel tried hard to re-
strain his temper. But this was the
third time that the Majors heifer had
broken down the fence separating the
properties and made havoc with the
Oolonels garden. The latter felt that
patience well nigh had ceased to he a
virtue, particular now III view OF the
Majors threats.
Major Hawkins!" he began, and
there was significance in his use OF
the title: ri have no wish to foment
any trouble; but most positively |
shall not allow that cattle of yours
on my place again. See that she il
kept of, please! As to shooting nv
dog, that is matter which ONLY M
apology from you can raconipense INC
for, and trust YOU will render Inc
one Immediately"
81 will do nothing OF the kind
Ihe pest tnlnS yol can do is TO shoot
your whelp and save me the trouble o
doing sol" and the Major tapped
his gun suggestively.
"Then all can sGy," came SLOWLY
from the Colonels lips, sis that yor
ere no gentleman %
The Major started as if lie had beer
stnng. For the instant he did not re
alize the import of the words. The1
dull flush crept into his checks, usu
ally very sallow, and he said concise
| ~: "Yon are liar"
The fatal words were spoken
The color leaped into
the 'Colonel's face, and the Majors
flush grew deeper while his eyes re
turned the flash in those OF the other
The two faced ench other in silence 70,
q moment Each was SO taken abacl
that for the instant the insult Of the
other could find no adequate return
in speech
Then the Colonel drew himself UP
and said Jelly: