The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-02

from getting slow. The principals would have
been glad to drop the quarrel and ask each
other what it was all about, but they were
not permitted to. 1t had to go on.
There had been more trouble over the heni
than anything else. farmers mems are NOT
only given to wandering where they please
without reference to line fences but they
refuse to enter into family quarreis or look
at the legal side OF the question When Misa
StanselI began throwing hot water on the
Tracy chickens, which came about the kitchen
door In a neighborly way. the Tracy hired
man began shooting the Stanseil chickens
which scratched up the flower beds in the
I front yard. Such was the industry on both
sides that in few months only few scare
crow fowls were left. When man or woman
feels that his or her pride or dignity and legal
rights at stake, it is hard to give in and
take a sensible view of things.
s 1t was the widow who finally paved the
way to peace, but in SO doing she aroused
all Of Jake's defiance and came near losing
her life. She was not only lonesome with
| out her chickens, but she was tired OF buy
ing eggs of her neighbors. Therefore, after
the lapse Of few months, she purchased a
| dozen hens and gave the sister opportunity
to say:
| Jake, you see how it is. That woman de-
| ies you She has bought more chickens to
| trespass on our land, and If you don't get out
the shotgun and kill EN- off you haven't the
| backbone of fshworm.
1 30, I'll kill 'em off fast enough" he re-
1 piled as he began hunting for powder. and
shot Just let one of her chickens cross the
/ line, and he's dead bird.
And yet Jacob Stansell felt mean as he
| shculdered the loaded gun and went out TO
prowl around in hopes to get shot at one
| of the widows chickens. The whole quarrel
| was mistake. 1t was only that Mary seemed
| to be defying him that kept him from throw
ing his gun into the currant bushes.
~
| to give up a foot of ground If necessary, but
next minute hes a sight which drove
away all good intentions. All the widows
new flock of hens, led by sage-looking old
rooster, were trespassing on his land. zHs
lowered the gun and aimed to kill them all
at once and when he fired the air was full
/ of feathers, the old rooster jumped high and
fell dead, and there scream from
woman in fright and pain. The Widow Ira
/ cy had come ont to look for her chickens,
! and a bush had hidden her from Jacobs
sight He rushed forward to stumble over
his lost wallet as first discovery, and to
find Mary lying the ground as second,
and between the two he was so overcoms
that he had to lean up against the fence.
Jake, jake why did you shoot me-" walled
the widow as she tried to sit UP and fell
! back.
God forgive me, Mary. but I didn't see
| you''
+ you've killed me, but 1 don't want them
to hang you for it. don't believe you meant
to do it,
You shan't die. If you do, I'll shoot my
self. Here, let carry you into the house
and send for doctor. The gun was only
i loaded with bird shot, and mebbe you won't
die
She didn't. In fact, she didn't come any
where near it, though doctor was busy all
4 the rest of the day picking out the little pei
4 lets OF lead. When the last one had been
extracted and Jake had been told that she
would continue to live, he asked
{ MARY, where's the lawyer?''
4 why, 1 sent him about his business three
weeks ago. she answered. 20, Jake, the
lawyer and your sister and the chickens and
the line fence have-haye-'
Have made fools of us! he finished.
Ten minutes later he appeared at his OWE
door to say to his sister:
81 Hammer, can you pack up your buds in
81 about fifteen minutes?' .szs--
II For why?'' she asked
Because I'm going to drive you to town
to catch the train, and after I've nopped that
lawyer all over Grafton 1 m coming back to
ask Mary if she wont be well enough to get
married in month :