The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-02-01
A KENTUCKY EPISODE.

sonul bravery and great determination
of character. Climate and surround
ings have "a tendency to accentuate
their peculiarities, which differ not
only among inviduals but in localities.
On the Western frontier, they are
generally men who enjoy reputation
for deeds OF daring and have been en-
gagged in perhaps more than one
bloody encounter. In the East where
life is held more precious and perils
are not SO frequent they are brave,
but not so reckless, more conserva-
tive and thoughtful of consequences.
The Southern sheriff is unlike any of
his brother officers. He is perhaps as
determined, but slower in his methods
and more disposed to view the situa-
tiOu lenicntly.
While not criminally or unprofes-
sienally careless, he is generous in
spirit aud seldom severe, unless there
be necessity for severity, then he
can be as unrelenting as any OF his fell
lows.
But the Southern sheriff of to-day
differs essentially from his prototype
OF ante-bellum renown. In nOrtheas-
tern Kentucky. long before rival hos
tilities were dreamed of, there lived
ty very acceptably in the capacity of
sheriff. On one occasion he was call
cd upon to escort certain Larkin
Lane to the penitentiary at Frankfort.
Lane had been sentenced for two
years by jury of his fellows for biting
off the lip of one McAvoy. The two
had engaged in some dispute over
their cups, insults were exchanged
and blows ensued. In the tussle Lane
fastened his teeth in the protruding
Under lip of his adversary, and when
l,n fxun oil fN,, Il
that he had borne away the neither
portion of McAvoy's mouth.
The crowd which had gathered to
witness the fight was summarily dis
persed by the explosion of u powder
horn, which some tipsy on-looker, in a
sort Of tiendish fun, had thrown in the
fire.
In due time the case was tried in
tho Circuit Court. The defendants
friends notified him that if he would
leave the State and forfeit his bail the
prosecution would be dismissed. This
he most peremptorilyi declined to do.
So the case proceeded and as the facts
were undeniable Lane was found
guilty of mayhem and sentenced to
hard labor for a term of two years. 1t
then became Uncle Bucks duty to see
the prisoner safe within the walls of
the penitentiary.
When he went to take him in custody
Lane informed him that he could not
possibly accompany him.
why, Uncle Buck" said he, "my
crop amt gathered, my hogs amt
killed and | amt got cord of my
Winters wood cut nor hauled. DO
you suppose I'm gwine ter leave my
family in that fix? ?"
"Well, Larkin," replied Uncle Buck,
1t does look pretty hard. l tell you
what I'll do if you'll give me yer word
of honor as n gentleman to meet me in
Frankfort by the middle Of November.
I'll trust you and let you go home SOS
you can fix your folks mp comfortably.
But mind, you're to be thar, dead GER
your names Lane-you promise ,"
"I'll be thar, Uncle Buck" And
they shook hands over the agreement.
With the aid Of his neighbors, Lane
set to work with might and main and
completed his preparations several
days before the allotted time. His
friends again urged him to flee the
country, but he disdainfully replied:
$50 long as I've got blood in my
veins I'll never go back on my word
nor on Uncle Buck ~
His wife, with tears and entreaties,
appealed to him. " Larkin." said she,
:" "'pears to me yer think mighty little
O. me and the children to go off and
leave us for two years besides the dis
grace o bein' in the pcnitentiary,
when yer can jes' cross the line into
Ohio, or go South fifty miles and hide
yerself in the mountains. NObolyll be
any the worse for it if you do get OF.
and it'll about kill me to see you go to
that place."
Marthy Jane" said Larkin. "do
fnr hnf h.,
children had ruther hev me to tell
pint blank lie and stink around | ke
sheep-killing dog, afearcd ter look
people in the face. hidin' from every
body | know, than to take my punish
ment like man and keep my word ?
S'pose | did chaw the lip OFF o. that
ornery critter and have ter go to the
penitentiary iGr it, that isn't Is bad as
to turn liar and sneak around all the
rest o. my life. | vow, Marthy Jane.
Pm ashamed to think you'd want me
to do it-but women never did have no
sense bout keepin' contract"
Thus rebuked, the wife wept and
counted the days as they passed, and
then the hours, as they went by, so
swiftly and relentlessly. And now
the time had come when the good -byes
must be spoken, for, as he was to
walk across the country, he had to set
out several days in advance Of the one
specified for his arrival in Frankfort.
Larkin Lane was man OF splendid
physique, tall, sturdy mountaineer,
standing six feet two or three inches |
in his stockings: strong and athletic,
in the full vigOr of manhood. Five
counties lay between him and Frank
fort, with hill and dale, forest and |
stream, town and hamlet. The Au-
tumn landscape was in full glory of
color, nature had put on her most gor-
geous attire. a subtle sense OF her |
beauty crept into his uncultured soul, |
and made it conscious in large mea-
sure, OF the loss he was about to incur. |
Heretofore he had looked on green |
fields and wooded hills, winding creeks |
and lovely valleys and had the right |
to wander when and where he would, |
as a matter of course.
But how ali was to be changed. |
These were to be shut out, four walls |
would inclose his world, and he. the |
free mountaineer, must come and go
at the nod and beck OF others. AS he |
strobe steadily onward, leaving be-