The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-19
g And No Thanks to Them .

fceDyrisAs 1903 XIX " a Us National Press
After the auction at old Peter
hrIslroya, enniity prevailed between
the houses OF Dockrell ana Walsh. It
was not declared feud for they still
remained on speaking terms. but a kind
8of smouldering ill-will, which might
4 at any moment blaze UP Into open war.
Tho cause of ut was that field OF old
Peters which projected wedge-llkc be-
ings. a rather atony and swanapy
tongue OF land It was, abounding In
furze-shagsed hillocks and s rush
Hfledged hoilows: but near the tip OF 1t
lay q small pond, and this made It
desirable in Its neighbors' eyes. because
both Of them wero badly OFF for means
OF watering their cattle. Old Peter.
who was "just a quaro ou1d oddity,"'
had possessed II for nearer seventy
years than sixty, and IN oil that time
I had made no use OF It whatever, so
TINT man nor beast had been the bet
ter for 1t within anybodys recouec-
ton Accordingly, when this state Ct
chance OF acquiring field and pond was
eagerly anticipated. But on the very
morning OF the auction what did
= Fergus Dockrel do but go behind
eyerybody's backs and make q private
treaty for that field with James Sulli,
van. Peter M'Elroy.s heir7 All the
parish were Of the opinion that tho
proceeding was a mean trick. tnexcus-
able except on the principle which ad-
mits such sharp practice to be almost
more natural IN the buying and selling
OF land than Of horses. However, It
was only natural, too. on the part of
+ the forestalled Murtagh Walsh fhat he
4sI,< - {~er rff y - "a
this dubious apology for his success
sfnI rival. And the latter was, OF
course. bound. in self defense. to think
MS badly as possible OF the man whom
& he had outwitted. Hence arose tightly
strained relations between the two
families.
Tho Dockrel1 household consisted OF
elderly Fergus himself with his wife.
and their son. Sylvester. Alurtagh
Walsh was n widower, and for him his
unmarried sister and daughter. Kate
and Teresa. were keeping house. A
few workpe oplc also on either farm
adopted. with more or less ZEAL the
views Of their respective employers.
Teresa Walsh was certainly angrier
than anybody else about the tfans-
action. Her fathers wrath was chiefly
concentrated on "th.a fould schemer'.;
her aunt'n burnt with tho mfldness
appropriate to pacific temper: but
Teresa's Indignation kncwfno bounds.
and angulfed the Dockrells and all
their belongings, from the guilty own
er downto his innocent chickens. which
she nov shooed away furiously II they
trespassed in from an adjoining field.
AS for the son, Sylvester. "she wouldn't
take the side .of the road he wns.n In
deed. tho first time she met him after
the sale her chin went up so high
in the mir as he passed that her new
II n 49,
gust OF wind took the opportunity
To ,yhisk 1t away outright. When he
handed 1t to her. You might have
Judged by her ntcn that It had tust
dropped down from the clouds. to which
no ono need think OF saying Thank
YOU
Murtael, Walsh did not so soon ind
m occasion FOR effectively demonstrat-
ing his sentiments. To toss his head.
or pretend that he saw and heard no.
hody-. could never have relieved his
feelings in the same way by any man
ner Of means.
But every morning when he super
intended the troublesome filing OF his
beasts drinking troughs. he would
Z glover essentially In the direction OF
s the coveted pool. grimly saying: TIL
yet a hold of itfyet. before I'm done.
Bsdad Wilt. and no thanks to them"
He emphasized the "and no thanks
to them ar Il he meant to express
something more than merely the abb
ssenco OF gratitude.
The pond field was separated from
the WalshPs land by a tall swarded
bank. highe> on their side than on the
other, their level being slightly lower.
Therefore, the pond was not visible to
them, unless they climbed up. which
none OF the Washes assuredly would
denean themselves to do. now that I'll
had become the ill-gotten properly of
the pockrells. soms OF their retain
ers. however, had less dignity to stand
upon, Mick Grove, the herd boy, for