The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-03
ENDING THE FEUD.


steal my Betty. an run off and marry
her, III I'LL your hide as full of holes as
a meal sieVei'
Thus spoke old Ben Pitchford TO
young Fred Peterson as the two stood
in the road on Kinniconnick creek, Ken
lucky, one May morning three years
ago.
s+Oh, shucksi Maj. Pitchford, know
you are a bad man with a gun. know
you've got a quick temper, a cool nerve,
a quick eyes, and a perfect marksman-
ship. You've got an Icy heart IN fronL
of a foe, but mighty warm one to
those who have claims on your affection,
and in short-ha, hai-you would split
the brain box of an enemy with great
suddenness, but you would never, never
shoot your son!-your son-ln-laW-er
ha, ha, ha!''
You can't laugh me down, sub, I've
Swore it, and nobody ever hearn ola
Ben Pitchford ever tellin' a lie, much
less swearin' one. I'll kill you if you
steal my gal!''
I'D like to know" returned the young
man, seriously now, but with no re-
sentiment in look or tone; I'D like to
know Maj. Pitchford, what you've got
against me? I won't say 1 am good
enough for your daughter. I don't think
any man is. But I think 1 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, tell me-give me one intelli-
gent reason for your opposition to me"
You don't know. eh, that there has
been a Pitchford-Peterson feud for SO
years or more?" returned the old fell
low, with a grin OF mockery.
Yes said Fred. Il knew of the feud,
but that is not an Intelligent reason for
your opposition
Your father, what of him?"
He's in the same boat with you, II
he wants to continue this abominable
feud. Both of you are good enough, IN
that fit you more for the black forest
than for the sun plains of the nine
teenth century The next generation
will find the claw and fang extinct in
both families
Your great grandfather killed mine. -
''An uncle of yours killed my brother "
"A brother of yours killed my uncle. -
Forty corpses lay along the track OF
that feud.''
Yes, 40"
Now, what do you think of that?"
Il think it's high time to stop it. 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 just what Betty
and I propose to do. We decided. long
ago, before we graduated, that we'd
close the book at the bloody chapter
forever"
You can't get my consent, subj"
81 shan't ask it,
"And if you steal her, by heaven-re-
member my oath-I will kill you"
The two men separated, each going
his opposite way.
Fred peterson was moving along the
road with a. long, graceful stride. His
vision was turned inward, where a great
conflict was raging.
Il will have her; I will have her be-
fore another month"; he calculated.
s'Of course you will!'' cried a sweet,
merry voice from the side of the road.
''Of course you will, or I'll sue you for
breach of prOmiSe!"
why, Betty, what are you doing
there?" laughed the handsome man,
moving toward her.
Listening to your vows. But why do
you want to be telling the winds? Don't
you know they run everywhere?'
well, I want to call all nature to
witness, you see. But your papa begs
leave to differ with me. He says L shall
never marry you-that he will never
give his consent
But I've given NINE
HE says he will kill me if I steal
you"
''And he would keep his word if he
said it!''
Then, what are we to do?"
That night, as Fred Peterson lay in
his bedroom, tossing to and fro-fever-
ish, unable to sleep, striving with all his
glowing faculties to formulate a plan
by which he could obtain his hearts
treasure and at the same time live to
enjoy it, he was startled by a light tap
on the window.
He listened intent1y and the tap was
repeated-thiS time quite loud. He rose
up to a sitting position and listened
again. Some time elapsed; then came
a short rap on the pane. He arose, pro-
cured his revolver, and slipped cautious
~ to the window.
He raised his head and cautiously
thrust out his head.
He couldn't see a face, but two soft,
warm lips accidentally ran against his
own. And two arms that he thought he
recognized, went around his neck-aIl
by accident
Get on your things, darling!'' said
a voice in tone affectedly masculine.
Come quick, dear, before your stern
old father hears us. The coast is clear,
darling, but-ha, ha, there is no time
to lose. Two gallant steeds await inn
patiently our coming
Fred hesitated no longer, but hastily
dressed and had soon crawled through
the window, landing in the embrace of
his nocturnal visitor
A few seconds later Major Tom Peter
son, suddenly Weakening, heard a muf-
fed volley of hoofs on the road, Won
dering what it could mean, and then
went back to sleep again.
At about 10 o'clock of the morning of
the above strange episode Major Tom
Peterson was sitting out on his veranda,
cleaning his truSty old rife. He hadn't
found out yet that his son, Fred, was
not in his room. The latter of late kept
no regular hours, and the father didn't
even know whether his son had slept at
home.
While quietly engaged wiping the last
vestige of dirt from barrel and hammer
he casually cast his eye down the road
ing toward his house at a furious stride.
He now rose up and assumed a question
from Major Pitchford. He saw the lat
ter white from some awful passion.
ford and commanded his enemy to step
out"
tapping his gun.