Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-30
Luke back to hang him. his friends
would have one nnal chance,

would have one hnal chance.
A seeming Of quiet, under which hot
wrath smoldered. settled over hill and
cove. but = new note began to run
through tho cabins Of the McBriar do.
pendents. It was note Of waning
faith and loyalty for their chief.
Old Milt read the signs and felt that
his dominion was now . thing upon
which decay had set its seal, and un.
der his grave face he masked Abreak.
ing heart. His star was setting. and
since he was no longer young and ut.
terly incapable Of bending, no sick.
ened slowly through the wet winter,
and men spoke Of him as an invalid.
With Milt "ailin'." there was>no ono
to take up the reins OF clan govern.
rnent. and those elements that had
been held together only by his iron
dominance began drifting asunder.
One mill day when group OF Nc.
Briars met with their sacks of grist at
q water-min. someone put the ques.
ton: who's a-goin' ter go down thar
an take Luke Thixton away from Their
Iiaveys now thet Old Milt's down an
eut?"
There was a long silence. and at last
voice drawled: Hit haint goin'
ter be me- What's Luke Thixton ter
me, anyhow? He didn't nuver lend
me no money"
Il reckon thar's q heap O. sense In
thet," answered another. Pears
like. when come ter recollect. mos
of ther fightin' an fursin' I've done
in my time hain't been In my own
quarrels nohow." And slowly that
spirit spread.
When Anse Havey went over to the
school one day Juanita took him again
to the rifie.rack. now once more we'll
filled. Have . look. my lord bar
barian." she laughed. Mars is pay
ing me tribute. So shall it ever DO
with tyranny"
Slowly, and one by one, Anse Havey
took up the pieces and examined them.
1t amt only Mars that's paying We
tribute" he thought, but he only said:
that's all right. seem to see more
McBriar guns there than Havey guns.
1t would suit me all right II ye got
the last one of EN-"
Hadn't you as we'll hang yours
there. too" she leased. I'm still
willing to give you the honors of war"
But he only smiled. IN hang mine
up last of all, l reckon. Luke Thix-
ten amt hung yet, and there's ether
clouds brewin' besides that"
There was bunch Of surveyors
through here lately" he replied SLOW
ly. They just sort of locked round
and went away. Some day they'll come
back"
And them"
Anse Havey shrugged his shoulders.
II may need my gun" he said.
Not until it became certain that he
must die did Old Milt send for his son.
or even permit him to be told of his
Illness. But just as the winters siege
was ending Young Milt came home,
and two days later the mountains
heard that the old feudist was dead.
Brother Anse Talbot and Juanita
and doctor who had come from
AcAlu6 WcIo WlLucSSCS W IAdS
leave-taking. They saw the old man
beckon feebly to the boy. Young Milt
came and sat on the edge of the bed.
schooling his features as he waited
the final injunctions which. by his
code would be mandatory for life.
They all waited to hear the old lion
break out in final burst Of vindictive-
ness, to see him lay upon his boys
young shoulders the unfinished or
deals of his hatreds. But it was the
eye of the father, not the feudist, that
gazed up from the pillow. His wasted
fingers lay affectionately on his sons
knee and his voice was gentle.
Son. said the old man. I'D love
ter hev We live at peace eff We kin. I've
done tried Their other way an hits kilt
me. I'd ruther yed let my fights be
buried along with my body. Anse
Havey's goin' ter run things in these
mountings. He's smarter man than
me. l couldn't never make no peace
with Anse Havey, but the things that's
always stood betwixt US lays long
way back Mebby you an him mought
pull together an end Their feud. !