Cañon City record., 1899-02-16
The Divorce Of a Feud
By J. Ao.l yohnson.
II EMME say it to ye in big letters

to see the whole meanin' at one peep.
| Eff you steal my Bet.y. an run on and
marry her, Ill fill your hide ~ full OF
holes as a musical sieve!"
Thus spoke old Ben Pitchford TO
young Fred Peterson as the two stood
| in the road, on Kinniconnick creek,
KY, one May morning three years ago.
The young man. tall and broad, grace
full as the pine that, on the hill above
them, swayed to and fro at the touch
of the winds. met the blazing eyes of old
Ben with a look of fearless mirthful-
ness. There was no defiance or i'm
pudence in his face. II was sunshine
confronting a black cloud-hght not
afraid TO meet the blackness-
"oh, shucks! Maj. Pitchford, / know
you are bad man with gun I know
you've got quick temper cool nerve,
aquick eye and a perfect marksmanship.
know you have got skiilfui hand and
a long bowie You've got an icy heart
in front of d foe. but mighty warm
one to those that have claims on your
affection, and in short-ha, ha.-you
would split the brain box of an enemy
with great suddenness, but you would
never, never shoot your son!-your
son-in-lawi er ha, ha. ha,
.You can't laugh me down, sub. I've
swore it. and nobody ever hearn of old
Ben Pitchford ever tellin' lie, much
less swearin' one. I'll kill you If you
steal my gall"
The lines of decision were stretched
tightly in that grim old face His
black eyes glittered like new dirks-
I'D 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 me? In what way
have l ever offended you? | won't say
am good enough for your daughter.
1 don't think any man is. But think
| can say, without being egotisIical,
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-give me one
intelligent reason for your opposition
to me"
-You know without me teilin' you"
spake the old fellow. in low tones. en-
phasizing with his eyes.
-Indeed. do not." protested the
young man.
-You don't know. eh. that there has
been a Pitchford-Peterson feud for 50
years or more?" returned the old fel-
low. with a grin of mockery-
Yes said Fred. Il knew of the
ieud. but that is not an intelligent -ea-
son for your opposition"
1T hain't. eh?"
NO. sir: it might be good enough
for sayages or beasts. but-beg your
pardon-not for civilized people,
Then am savage-a beast?"
mot altogether. by any means. sir:
but you show the traits of one, If you
are eternally disposed TO keep alive
savage. beastiy practices"
Your rather. what of bim?''
Hes in the same boat with YOU IL he
wants TO continue this abominable
feud. Both of ynu 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 n secret fang.
your Hkin' for my gal alone keeps it
out? Answer that,-
THE answer is easy. sir: am grad
uate of the Transylvania university "
-Edication only wraps the fang with
silk
1T plucks out the fang
Your great-grandfather killed
mime
Your 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. 4O.-
Vow what do you think of that -
II 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 ipropose to do We de-
cided. long ago, before we graduated.
that we'd close the book at the bloody
chapter forever"
You can't get my consent, sub"
Il shan't ask it"
And II you steal her. by heaven-rs-
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 long. graceful stride. The
birds strove to catch him with love
sonrS- the hrock lean<5 nm and shouted
with merriment; the butterflies be-
sprinkied the brown road ahead with
many vivid colors, but he heard moth
ing. saw nothing. His vision was
turned inward. where great conflict
was raging.
Il win have her, will have her be-
fore another month"; he calculated
"Of course you will" cried a sweet.
merry voice from the side of the road.
''of course you will. or III sue you for
breach of promisel-
The young man started from his
reverie ms if aroused from sleep by a
pistol shot. He looked in the direction
of the voice with startled eyes. and be-
held wood nymph, calico clad. stand
ing laughing at his confusion.
why, Betty. what are you doing
there?" laughed the handsome man.
moving toward her.
LISTENING to your vows. But why do
you want 40 be telling the winds? Don't
you know they run everywhere?"
We'll. want to call all nature to wit
ness, you sec. But your papa bcgs
leave TO differ with me, He says shall
never marry you-thRt he will never