The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1907-02-12
A Mountain
joan
BY ATcia Carr
Copyright, 1906. by P. c. EASEMENT

!ainS of Kentucky from Virginia while
he clans of the Doanes and the Hack
etts were at peace. Not a man on
either side had been killed or wounded
Tor five long years. They passed each
other on the highway, they met each
other in the village, and they sat al
most side by side in the log church ON
4 Sunday. They did this with knives
N their belts and rifles at hand. At
any moment there might be bloodshed.
The girl was not stranger to feuds,
out she was not Halter. She had the
sentiment of one born amid peaceful
surroundings. She had gentlenesS
about her that awed the grim noun
saineers who had sent for her to teach
the school at Chestnut Cove. The
Doanes and the Hacketts were agreed
De that. They had met at the school
house, half dozen on each side, each
nan with his Winchester across his
arm. and talked 1t over. When they
rode slowly away in different direc-
tons they had looked back at each
other. but not shout of defiance had
! been uttered or shot fired. Schooling
was part Of patriotism.
In a week the schoolmistress had
heard the story of the feud, but she
had refused to become a partisan.
When month had gone past and she
was INDUCING in the hope that she
might be the humble instrument of
! 11ls fh<2
she precipitated the very calamity she
was praying might be avoided. The
| children OF the Doanes and the Hack
.tts were in the same classes. but they
mingled no more than oil and water.
Down to the five-year-Old child they
1ad heard the story of the feud. and
each was q self constituted champion.
One of the Hackett boys finally re-
serted q word from one of the Doanes,
| drew q pOcketknife and made an at
tack. The teachers screams called in
lanes Doane, who happened to be
passing, and he disarmed the Hackett
BOY Doane had been away IN North
! Carolina, and this was his first meet
ng with the schoolmistress. He was
! lie Kentucky mOuntaineer in size and
strength and lithesomeness and fear
lessness, but he had face in which
here were good nature and gentleness.
He had grown from youth to manhood
during the truce. He had neither
sought to make peace nor provoke
nostilities. Having disarmed the boy,
ne stood staring at the girl, blushing
and unable to say q word.
! Next day there were mutterings from
he Hacketts and chuckles from the
DoaEes. There were those who sought
C enlarge upon the incident. Three
| lays later, as young Doane rode to
Town, he passed two of the Hacketts.
ind they crowded him off the narrow
highway. There would have been an
( outbreak but for the gentleness of the
?eacher. Her mingled tears and smiles
! :urned the knives and bullets aside for
| he time. Then foe crept in against
which she could not guard.
James Doane was just past his
| :wenty-frSt birthday. 1t was the same
| With David Hackett. Both young men
| came to call upon her with that free
dom from restraint found among the
primitive. Each fell in love with her
| ere she was aware Of having created
any feeling at all. When she found
| that the demon of jealousy had been
; aroused in young Hackett'S breast she
wanted to return TO her home and let
The feeling die out, but the people
would not hear OF It. They were TAX
ne sides again TO renew the feud, yet
hey insisted on regarding her as a
aeutIal figure and also on her remain
ng.
Do~n III her heart Tilda was just a
bit glad of this. While she would not
admit It to herself, she was learning
o love the young man with the mild
Jlue eyes and gentle face.
The dozen families at Chestnut Cove
lad already taken sides. The partisan
;hip soon extended to others miles
away. In a family feud you are for
9r against. For man there can be
no neutrality. Next came arming and
nntterings and threats. All knew that
.hese were the preface to deeds of
| Fiolence. II needed an overt act and
he Killings would begin.
As the excitement intensified young
DOane ceased his visits to the school
mistress. She had not seen him for a
week when one gray afternoon as she
walked alone UP the mountain side to
gather the ripening chestnuts she saw
Aim hiding behind a bowlder. Even as
The stood there looking and wondering
se aimed, fred his rifle and quickly
disappeared among the laurels. Tween
| s. minutes later she knew that horse
ddden by one OF the Hackett partisans
, ssd been killed in its tracks.
The girl could have told. but she
lidn't. Even when the HaclSetts
charged her lover with the crime and
la0 him arrested and confined In jail
.or examination she spoke no word ex-
sept 30 him. From that hour she was
thinking and planning. Her face was
IT'LL gentle, but her scholars noticed
| 11af II had taken on q now iooly Of slc-