Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-06-10
The Last Shot
In a Feud
BY F. A. Mitchell

cameo dress. SunDunnel ana coNni0t
boots, was walking through wood in
Kentucky on her way TO spring for
water when, making short cut in q
bend in the path, she came upon a
man asleep. He was young. but there
was hunted look on his face that
made him look older.
There was a feud of long standing
between the Griggses and the Backus.
es, and few days before Abel Griggs
had been shot and killed by Josh Back
US. Since the killing all the Griggses
had been looking for Josh In order to
cut another notch on their rifles to
make up for the latest Backus notch.
said notches denoting the number
killed.
The girl was Mahulda Griggs. and
she looked down on Josh Backus. He,
had been driven by a Gordon of Griggs'
men, who were Closing in on him, to
the wood near Mahulda's home. He
knew there was no escape for him and
had thrown himself on the grass in
despair. Having been long without
food or sleep he had fallen into a
slumber.
He awoke with start and saw Ma
hulda looking down on him. Each
knew who the other was, though they
had never met before. Josh sat up
and, handing his gun stock foremost to
Mahuda. said huskily:
You're Griggs, l reckon. and l
might as well own up that I'm Josh
Backus as killed Abel Griggs. I'm
sure to be taken and shot. I'd ruther
Griggs men. and I'll be obieeged to
you If you'll put bullet into me where
it viii kill me quickest"
The girl took the gun.
"Reekon l ort to kill you." she said.
"seein' you killed one O. the best OF
us Griggs people,
''Put the ball thar" said the other,
rising to his feet and tapping his heart
with his finger.
"What did yo' kill Abel fog"
ITO match the KILN of Jim
Backus"
Reckon you'll be killed to match the
KILN O. Abel, and then another
Griggs II be killed to match the KILN
O yo'"
That's the way of it. Come. do the
shootin'. Like enough, some one'E
come along"
Il don't want to kill yo'." said the
girl. bringing the gun to her shoulder.
ITS the best thing yo' kin do TO
me-"
She aimed at him. then lowered the
gun"
81 mought hide yo'"
Hide me. You, Griggs. hide q
Backusw
Reckon"
EFF your people would find it out
they'd kill 20 TO dom of it,
"Sartin.''
well, what yo' goin' to dor
"Hide 20, / reckon"
He stepped up to her. took her hand
in his and looked intently into her eyes.
where he saw struggle between pity
and self sacrifice on the one hand and
revenge and possible death for herself
on the other. And he saw. too. the
moment when the decision came
She took off her sunbonnet and hand
ed it to him. then Invested herself of
her dress. which she also gave to him
He understood and put them on. When
he was in her outer garments she put
on his wooden shirt. trousers and hat
"Yo' go down the path to the spring"
she said. ITS on the edge o. the
clearin' what 20 kin see across. Eff
yo' don't see nary one go over. Eff
yo're in danger I'll show myself till
70 git c'ar of 'em."
but they'll shoot yo' TO me-"
Reckon not. IF they do they'll have
to hit me-"
"Mayn't / have kiss befo' | goy"'
he asked with trembling voice.
Reckon"
She received the kiss passiyely; then
they parted to go in different direc-
tons, the man taking the bucket. the
girl the gun. When he reached the
spring he filled the bucket. at the same
time casting his eye over the clearing
He knew that one of the Gordon of
Griggses was not far away; but. seeing
no one, he started across. He hadn't
gone far before he heard voice:
Hello thar. 70 Mahuldy. Whar
yo' goin'?'
He kept on without replying. Pres.
emily he heard the same voice say.
"Mahuldy, eff that's 20, 20 come yere
or I'll shoot at yo'r'
Backus kept,on without reply. Then
| suddenly he saw a sun fash on a rifle
barrel. and for moment he hesitated.
Then came the rifles crack, but no bull
let came near him. He shuddered, for
he believed that Mahulda had shown
herself and had received the fire.
Hearing no further sound, he ran to
the wood beyond the clearing.
The Griggses. who had fired suppos.
| eddy at Backus and seen him fall. ran
| up to him. There lay Mahulda, pale
| and bleeding