The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-06-27
The Divorce OF a Feud
BY ]. Hoel Johnson
1T EMsfE say it to ye in big letters,

10 see the whole IntA4lln a. CHC 1872
Ell YOU steal my Getty, an run on and
marry her. I'll fill your hide as full OF
holes as a musical sievel"
Thus spoke old len Pitchfond 20
Young Fred Peterson as the two stoco
in the road, on EiEniconnick creek,
XIV, one May morning three years ago.
Tie Young ran. tall and bread grace
fuI as the pine that, on the hill above
them. swayed TO and fro at the toucn
of the winds, met the blazing eyes Of OLD
Rem with a look of fearless mirthfuI-
ress. There was 10 defiance CT I'M
Jucence in his face. II was sunshine
confronting 4 black clcud-Aght not
afraid to meet the blackness.
~Oh. shuczs. Maj. Pitchford, know
YOU are lad nan with gun. know
you've got a quick temper. cool nerve
a quick eyeanda perfect marisrnanshlP-
I know you have got sSiiifui hand and
a long bowie. You've got an icy heart
in front Of q foe, but a mighty warm
one 10 those that have claims On your
affection. and in short-ha, ha.-you
would spIit the brain box Of a enemy
with great suddenness, but YOU would
never. never shoot your son!-your
son-in-iavEi er Ia, ha. hal
"You can't laugh me down. sub I've
swore it. and nobody ever hearn OF old
Pen Pitchford ever tellin' lie, much
less s,rearin' one. I'll kill you if you
steal ny gall''
The lines Of decision were stretched
/ tightly in that grim old face HIS
black eyes gIittered Ike new dirks-
I'D ike 10 know" returned the
Young man, seriously now, but with
no resentment IN his look CT tone, i
Ike 10 know, Maj. Pitchford, what
/ vou've got against me2 In what way
| have 1 ever offended you? won't say
1 am coed enough for your daughter.
( don't think any nan IS But think
j I can say. without being egotistleal-
that I an as good. n any light you want
10 look at me. as any other young mar
in these hills. Now, you know what
say is true. Now. tell ne-glye he o1e
intelligent reason for your opposition
to nc"
You know without me tellin' you.
snake the old fellow, in low tones, en-
phas;ziag with his eyes
Indeed, 1 DO mott" protested the
young nan-
You don't know, eh, that there hal
been Z Pitchford- Peterson feud for 5,
years or Eore?~ returned the old feI
ISs-. with grin CT moekery-
. Yes" said Fred, I knew Of HI
feud. but that Is not an intelligent rea
sen for Yer opposition"
1T haia't, ehE-
..No. sir; It might be coed enough
fer sav=Ses CT beasts, but-beg. yosl
pa-dcn-not icr civilized people"
@TLen IAN I savage beast2''
NO; altogether, by any means. sir
but you show the traits OF one if yoI
are eternSIly disposed TO keep aliv
savage, beasily practices
Your father. what of him?'
Hes il the same boat with yoa. ST h
wants to continue this abominahI
feud. 10th OF you are coed enough, i
. / YOUR way-but you have some way
that III you more for the BLACK Pores
chan fer the sun plains CT the nine
teeath century. There is too much c
the claw aud fang about both OF YOU
The next generation viii find the eia'
and fang extinct in both families
DO you mean 10 tell me, fred Peter
son. that you haven't 4 secret fang
q eager 10 get into my flesh. and tbs
your likia' for my gal alone keeps
Z out2 Answer that"
9 The answer is easy. sir; 7 an graz
uate of the Pennsylvania university
"Edication only wraps the fang Wit
: silk"
1T plucks out the fang"
Your great-grandfather hlie
mine
= Your grandfather killed nine
~Aa uncle OF yours killed N
). brother
g ~ brother of yours killed my uncle
! ~FOrty corpses lay along the trac
u of that feud."
Y "Yes, 10
snow. what do you think of thats-
4 think it's high time to stop
u Yes, think it's time to cut down Il
II old tree that's borne so much fruit
blood and death, and make i wsddir
bonfire of the branches. That's IN
; what BETTY and propose to do. We d
cided. long ago. before we graduate
that We'd close the book at the blood
chapter forever"
'YOu cant get my consent, sub"
Il Shsn't ask il
= And If You steal her. by heaven
member ny OATH viii Kill you."
The two men Instantly separate
each going his opposite wsy.
Fred Peterson was moving along Il
read with long. graceful stride. II
birds strove TO catch him with To-
s songs; the brook leaped upand shouts
/ with merriment; the butterflies b
= sprinkied the brown road ahead wit
many vivid cclors, but he heard not
ing. saw nothing. His vision v;
turned Inward. where great eonfi
was raging.
Il viii have her. viii have her b
fore another MONTH" he ejsculSted.
'Of course you Will" cried swes
- merry voice from the side of the rca
- "0f course you viii. or III sue you 4
40 breach of promiSei"
Tho x-rsirr,r- man started from, n