The record-union., 1897-08-18

eS, really, ! heard you.
Then why did you say I didn't say
so; You mean TO call me Har?'
''Ah, wait till I get that down.
Charming, assure you
ALL right Well, we succeeded in
killing four men who had nothing to
do with the fight, but still we fought,
for our mission was not yet accom-
plished. 1t looked discouraging, and
my father was heartsick. but about 3
O'Clock in the afternoon we heard
that the Judge had been accidentally
killed, and then we rode away, feeling
that a great work had been accom-
plished. A year passed and not an
other shot was fired. We were wait
ing until another Judge should be
elected. 1t was not good form to pay
any attention to special appointment.
The election came off in due time, ami
a prominent man took his place on the
bench. Then we began to rub up our
guns, and we knew that the Hightow-
ers were similarly engaged This time
we all took to the woods, intending to
fight round toward the county seat.
One day daddy and I were lying behind
rock Suddenly we heard some one
talking. 1t was old Abe Hightower.
He had a habit of talking to himself.
/ wish l had a bite to eat he said.
/ am as hungry as d wolf This placed
daddy in a responsible position. High
tower was on our land at the time,
and daddy as a Kentucky gentleman
couldn't see him go hungry. So he
took out a half of a hoecake, yelled at
old Abe and threw it to him. And this
brought about a lull, for Abe, being a
high-toned gentleman, couldn't shoot
daddy While enjoying his hospitality.
We went home, and the next morning
here came a boy with a half hoecake
and a note which read like this: I
return your bread by the inclosed boy.
We are even now, so far as hospitality
is concerned, and the next thing I send
you viii be more like a pill than
hunk of the staff of life Oh, you
Venomous curt Your pizen ancestor
would cut off the ears of my grand
father, Ell? The scoundrel didn't stop
to think of what disgrace he was
putting upon me- Look out for me-
We'll, the next day we moved on
around toward the county seat. But
court was not to sit until the next day,
so we waited in the woods. This time
the Hightowers We're there first. This
was an insult to US, but we strove TO
overlook it. eW sat about waiting for
the pistol to go off accidentally. One
of the Hightowers threw gun into the
street, but it wouldn't go off. The stu
alton was becoming embarrassing. Just
then the Judge poked a double barreled
gun out of the courthouse window and
turned it loose. 1t was loaded with
horseshoe nails and bits of crushed
ploWpoint. 1t was a great shock, I as
sure you. 1t was out of the range Of our
calculations. 1t was rude. But there
was no appeal from its decision. 1t
killed four Hightowers and three Size
mores. So We all went home, regretting
that the sovereign people of the county
had elected that Judge.
L now decided that il was about time
for me to fall in love, so I slipped off
one night and fell in love with Sue
Hightower"
What" cried the Englishman, with
the daughter of your enemy?"
"Of course. What else was I to do?
What else could a gentleman do? We
might have lived in an out Of the way
place, sir, but we understood good form
To be conventional was one of our
strong points.
And was your love returned?"
What! returned? Don't you sup
pose that Sue understood her busi-
ness? Why, sir, she had been brought
up with the tenderest care; her parents
had taught her to hate me, and what
else was she TO do but to fall in love
with me? And now the next thing
was to let the two families discover
that Sue and I were in love with each
other. But it was some time before
the discovery was made-we We're all
busy boiling wildcat whisky. But one
day old Abe Hightower found me with
Sue in my arms and his suspicious We're
aroused. Still he said nothing; he
wanted proof. Several days later I ran
away with Sue and married her, and
then his suspicious were confirmed.
Then the war broke out in earnest, for
We We're all afraid of the reconciliation
which was in sight. In Kentucky. you
know, a reconciliation is a desperate
thing. Some of our bloodiest fights
take place just after a reconciliation.
Weu we went to the county seat. I
lived apart in a cabin, for my father
had declared that he would shoot me
if I ever brought my wife home But
it was my duty to fight for him, so l
went along We heard that the Judge
had loaded his gun with scrap iron, so
We kept away from the Courthouse. The
fight began early, for the reconciliation
stared us in the face But, sir, that
Judge got the range on us again and
killed everybody but Luke Hightower
and myself"
You don't say sol" the Englishman
exclaimed. But he quickly added: Il
beg your pardon. I heard you say so,
otherwise should know nothing about
it, 1 assure YOU
KILLED every one except Luke and
myself. Well, I rode out of town, and
so did Luke. We took the same road.
They are picking up mighty poor tim
Der for Judges here of late said he.
Yes I replied, it isn't like it used
to be. How do You intend to employ
your time now that this thing is about
settled?'
II was just thinking of that he an
swered AS a starter, suppose we
swap horses
We'll, we got down and looked at
each others horses. And we swapped.
We rode along together, and each felt
that the other was lonesome. Some
thing has TO be done said Luke. You
know that there can't be but one sur
vivor Of a Kentucky feud.' That's a
fact 1 replied. Suppose you let me be
the survivor But he wouldn't agree
TO this. And without any warning he
shot at me-"
And you killed him?" said the Eng
lishman.