La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-10-05
A FEUD ENDED.

...Lcmme say 1t to you in big letter.. Fred
Peterson. SOC YOU can't fail to sce the
whole mcanin at one peep; II you steal
my Betty an run of nm marry her, III III
your hide ms full OF holes as n meal sievcr
Thus spoke old Ben Pitchfors, to young
Fred Peterson as the two stood on tho road
on Kinniconnick creek. Kentucky. one
May morning three years ago
''Oh. shucks, Major pitchford, know
you ure bad man with gum ! know
you vc got quick temper. cool nerve.
quick eye and perfect Workmanship
I know you have got skillful hand and
long bowie You've got nm Icy heart In
front Of foe, hut mighty warm one to
those that have claims on your affection
and In shorf-ha. hA--you would split tho
brain box 0f an enemy with great SUD
denness, but you would never. never shoot
your son-your son-in law-er ha. ha, hal
While Fred was delivering this long.
mocking, brt good natured speech tbc old
mans thin lips kept working He could
not restrain grim smile at the conclu
sion. but he collected his stern force,
again and ID:
'.You cnn laugh me down, sub I've
sworn II, an nobody ever hcarn Of old
Ben Pitchford ever tellin lie, much loss
swenrin ono IN kill you II you steal my
GALL
"1'd like 70 know, = returned the young
man seriously now, but with no rBseI
mens in look or tone, I'D like TO knos
Major pitchford. what you've got sssaanss
ma. ssSE d. 6
"You know withnus ME scilin you,'
enid the old fellow In low tones. emphs
sizing with his cycs
.'Indeed. do not. +" protested the young
man.
..You don't know, eh, that there has
been a Pitcbfnrd Peterson fcud for 81
ycars or moref'' returned the old fellow
with grin Of mockery
"Yes." said Fred, ~ knew Of the fcud
but that Is not an Intelligent reason fo'
your opposition.
.'lt bain't, chr
.No, sir IL might be good enough for
mvagcs or beasts; but-bcg your pardon
mot for civilized people
'.Then am q "a avage-a beastf
''Not altogether. by any means. sir, but
Jon show the traits Of one II you are cts
nally disposed TO keep alive savage. bcastiy
practices. s~
Your father. what of himI'
Hes In the eame boat with you II he
wants to continue this afoMinable feud
''Do you mean to tell me, Fred Peter
son, that you haven I q secret fanK. eager
to get into my flesh. and that your Iikin
for my gal alone keeps It outf Answer
thatr'
'.Thc answer Is easy. sir am grad
uatc Of the I IransyIvania university -
..Edication only wraps the fang with
silk.'
'.lt piucks out the fang"
'sYour gre.it-grandfather killed mfno.'
a. l. It<.<l,
IAN uncle of yours killed my brother
"A broth, OF yours killed my uncle
Forty corpses lay along the trnck Of
that feud.'
"Yes, 40.'
Now. what do you think of that3"
II think it's high time 10 stop IL. Yes
think IT'S time to cut down tho old tree
that's borne 80 much fruit Of blood and
death and make wedding bonfire Of the
branches. That's just what Betty and
pfoposs 70 do"
"You and Betty made it up 70 get
ashAned Of your rough old parents among
that smooth crowd down to the Blue
Srasi'' spoke the old man. bis upper lip
curling.
I've decided that your fsudai laws were
. utsle bit obsolete-that they bud bcen
all repealed by the Legislature Of civilixa
t50n. Wo love our parents--ws pity ~ we'll
- reverence our fors:fathers. who wcre
loyal subjects Of besastiy code. but we
don't love their mistakes We refuse 70
shut our eyes TO obtain their blindness
sYou can't gut my consent. sub. !"
II shan't ask IL. ;"
IAN u you steal her. BY heayen-ro-
membe9 my 0ath-l will XIII youi''
Tho two mon instantly separated. sach
going his opposits way.
Rnnr7 pxfTrnn0 fFlrvfnR etHn