Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-02-09
The Divorce of a Feud
By ]. Noel Johnson
HI EMNlE say it to ye in big letters,

marry her, III I'LL your niue "s i"'' VI
holes as a musical sieye!"
Thus spoke old Ben Pitchford 20
Young Fred Peterson as the two stood
in the road, on Kinnieonniek creek
Ky, one May morning three years ago
The Young man, tall and broad, grace
full as the pine that, on the hiii ABOVE
them swayed to and fro at the touch
of the winds, met the blazing eyes OF ola
Ben with a look Of fearless mirthiuI-
ness. There was no defiance o. I'M
pudence in his face. 1t was sunshine
confronting a black eloud-light not
afraid 10 meet the blackness.
ooh. shucks! Maj. Pitchford, know
YOU are bad man with gun. know
you've got a quick temper, cool nerve,
quick eye and perfect craftsmanship
/ know you have got skillful hand ana
a long bowie You've got an icy heart
in front of a foe, but mighty warm
one to those that have claims on youi
affection. and in short-ha, hal-you
would split the brain box of an enemy
with great suddenness, but you would
never, never shoot your son!-your
son-in-lawl er ha, ha, ha!'
you can't laugh me down, sun. I've
swore it, and nobody ever hearn OF OLD
Ren Pitchford ever tellin' lie, much
les swearin' one. I'll kill you If you
steal my gal!
The lines of decision were stretched
tightly in that grim old face. MS
black eyes glittered like new dirks'
"Fd like to know" returned the
Young man, seriously now, but with
no resentment in his look or tone, I'd
like to know, Maj. Pitchford, what
you've got against me2 In what way
have l ever offended you? | won I say
l am good enough for your daughter.
| don't think any man is, But ! think
can say, without being egotistical,
that am as good, in any light you want
TO look at me. as any other young man
in these hills. Now, you know what |
say is true. Now, tell me-giye me one
intelligent reason for your opposition
10 me-"
you know without me tellin' you"
spake the old fellow, in low tones, en-
phasizing with his eyes.
"Indeed, | do mott" protested the
young man.
"You don't know, eh, that there has
been Pitchford-Peterson feud for 80
years or more?" returned the old fell
low, with grin OF moekery.
"Yes." said Fred, II knew of the
feud, but that is not an intelligent rea-
son for your opposition"
at hain't, eh?"
"No, sir; ii might be good enough
Cor savages or beasts, but-beg your
pardon-not for civilized people"
"Then am savage beastp'
"Not altogether by any means, sir;
but you show the traits of one, il you
are eternally disposed to keep alive
savage beastly practices.
"Your father, what Of him?"
Hes in the same boat with you, il he
wants to continue this abominabe
feud. Both Of you are good enough, in
your way-but you have some ways
that fit you more for the Black Forest
than for the sun plains Of the nine
teenth century. There is too much OF
the claw and fang about both Of you.
The next generation will find the claw
and fang extinct in both families.
DO you mean TO tell me, Fred Peter
son, that you haven't a secret fang,
eager to get into my flesh, and that
your lilSin' for my gal alone keeps it
out? Answer that"
"The answer is easy, sir; l am a grad
uate OF the Pennsylvania university"
"Edichtion only wraps the fang with
silk"
1T plucks out the fang"
your great-grandfathcr killed
mine"
your grandfather killed mine"
IAN uncle Of yours killed my
brother"
"A brother Of yours killed my uncle.
Forty corpses lay along the track
of that feud."
Eyes. 4O."
wow, what do you think of that?"
Il think it's high time to stop IL.
Yes, ! think it's time to cut down the
old tree that's borne so much fruit Of
blood and death, and make a wedding
bonfire Of the branches, That's lust
vhat Betty and Ipropose to do. We de-
cided, long ago, before we graduated.
that we'd close the bool, at the bloody
rharter forever
"lou cant get my consent. sub"
Il shan't ask IT,"
And II you steal her, by heaven-re
member my oath-I will Kill you!"
The two men instantly separated.
each going his opposite way.
Fred Peterson was moving along the
road with a long. graceful stride. The
birds strove TO catch him with love
songs; the brook leaped Up and shouted
with merriment; the butterflies be-
Eprinkled the brown road ahead with
many vivid colors. but he heard moth
ing saw nothing His vision was
turned inward. where a great conflict
was raging.
Il viii have her. ! will have her be-
fore another MONTH" he calculated.
'Of course you wilt" cried a sweet.
merry voice from the side Of the road.