ng with Dan'l boone nigh onter a hundred years ago； and sence then them an' ther descendents hev fit Injuns； Brittishers an' Mexikins evr'y time an inimy raised a sword agin the country。〃
〃Many of them lose their lives？〃
〃Yes； ev'ry war hez cost the families some member。 Gran'fathes Brill an' Fortner war both on 'em killed at the Injun ambush at Blue Licks。 I wuz on'y a baby when my father wuz killed at the massacre of Winchester's men at the River Raisin。 My brother…〃
〃father of the man I was with yesterday？〃
〃No； HIS father wuz my oldest brother。 My youngest brotherthe 'baby' o' the familywuz mortally wounded by a copper ball in the charge on the Bishop's Palace at the takin' o' Monterey。〃
〃And your husbandhe went through the war safely； did he？〃
The pleasant； mobile lines upon the woman's face congealed into stony hardness。 At the moment of Harry's question she was beginning to count the stitches in her work for some feminine mystery of 〃narrowing〃 or 〃turning。〃 She stopped； and hands and knittng dropped into her lap。
〃My husband；〃 she said slowly and bitterly； 〃wuz spared by the Mexikins thet he fit； but not by his own countrymen an' neighbors； amongst whom he wuz brung up。 His blood wuz not poured out on the soil he invaded； but wuz drunk by the land his forefathers an' kinsmen hed died fur。 The godless Greasers on the River Grande war kinder ter him nor the CHRISTIAN gentlemen on the Rockassel。〃
The intensity and bitterness of the utterance revealed a long conning of the expression of bitter truths。
〃He lost his life； then；〃 said Harry； partially comprehending； 〃in some of the troubles around here？〃
〃He wuz killed； bekase he wouldn't help brek down what hit hed cost so much ter build up。 He wuz killed； bekase he thot a pore man's life wuth mo'en a rich man's nigger。 He wuz killed； bekase he b'lieved this whole country belonged ter the men who'd fit fur hit an' made hit what hit is； an' thet hit wuzn't a plantation fur a passel o' slave…drivers ter boss an' divide up jess ez hit suited 'em。〃
〃Why； I thought all you Kentuckians were strongly in favor of keeping the negores in slavery；〃 said Harry in amazement。
〃Keepin the niggers ez slaves ain't the question at all。 We folks air ez fur from bein' Abolitionists ez ennybody。 Hit's a battle now with a lot uv 'ristocrats who'd take our rights away。〃
〃I don't quite understand your position；〃 said Harry。
〃Hit's bekase ye don't understand the country。 The people down heah air divided into three classes。 Fust thar's the few very rich fam'lies that hev big farms over in the Blue Grass with lots o' niggers ter work 'em。 Then thar's the middle classlike the Fortners an' the Brillsthet hev small farms in the creek vallies； an' wharever thar's good land on the mounting sides； who hev no niggers； an' who try ter lead God…fearin'； hard…workin' lives； an' support ther fam'lies decently。 Lastly thar's the pore white trash； thet lives 'way up in the hollers an' on the wuthless lands about the headwaters。 They've little patches o' corn ter make ther breadstuff； an' depend on huntin'； fishin'； an' stealin' fur the rest o' their vittles。 They've half…a…dozen guns in every cabin； but nary a hoe； they've more yaller dogs then the rest o' us hev sheep； an they find hit a good deal handier ter kill other folks's hogs than ter raise ther own pork。〃
〃Hardly desirable neighbors； I should think；〃 ventured Harry。
〃Hit's war all the time between our kind o' people； and them other kinds。 Both on 'em hates us like pizen； an' on our sidewell； we air Christians； but we recken thet when Christ tole us ter love our inimies； an' do good ter them ez despitefully used us； he couldn't hev hed no idee how mean people would git ter be long arter he left the airth。〃
Harry could not help smiling at this new adaptation of Scriptural mandate。
〃The low…down white hates us bekase we ain't mean an' ornery ez they air； an' hold ourselves above 'em。 The big…bugs hates us bekase we won't knuckle down ter 'em； ez ther niggers an' the pore whites do。 So hit's cat…an'…dog all the time。 We don't belong ter the same parties； we don't jine the same churches； an' thar's more or less trouble a…gwine on batween us an' them continnerly。〃
〃Then when the war broke out you took different sides as usual？〃
〃Of course！ of course！ The big nigger…owners an' the ornery whites who air just ez much ther slaves ez ef they'd been bot an' paid fur with ther own money； became red…hot Secessioners； while our people stuck ter the Union。 The very old Satan hisself seemed ter take possession ov 'em； and stir 'em up ter do all manner o' cruelty ter conquer us inter jinin' in with 'em。 The Brills an' Fortners hed allers been leaders agin the other people；an' now the Rebels hissed their white slaves onter our men； ez one sets dogs onter steers in the corn。 The chief man among 'em wuz Kunnel Bill Pennington。〃
Harry looked up with a start。
〃Yes； the same one who got his reward yesterd；〃 she continued； interpreting the expression of his eyes。 〃The Penningtons air the richest family this side o' Danville。 They an' the Brills an' Fortners hev allers been mortal enemies。 Thar's bin blood shed in ev'ry gineration。 Kunnel Bill's father limpt ter his grae on 'count of a bullet in his hip； which wuz lodged thar soon arter I'd flung on the floor a ten dollar gold piece he'd crowded inter my hand at a dance； where he'd come 'ithout ary invite。 The bullet wuz from teh rifle ov a young man named David Brill； thet I married the next day； jest ez he wuz startin' fur Mexico。 He volunteered a little airlier then he'd intended； fur his father's wheat wuz not nearly all harvested； but hit wuz thot best ter git himself out o' the way o' the Penningtons； who wuz a mouty revengeful family； an' besides they then hed the law on ther side。 Ez soon ez he come back from teh war Ole Kunnel Bill； an' Young Kunnel Bill； an' all the rest o' the Pennington clan an' connection begun watchin' fur a chance ter git even with him。 The Ole Kunnel used ter vow an' swar thet he'd never leave the airth ontil Dave Brill wuz under the clods o' the valley。 But he hed ter go last year； spite o' hisself； an' leave David Brill 'live an' well an' becomin' more an' more lookt up ter ev'ry day by the people； while the Penningtons war gittin' wuss and wuss hated。 We hed a son； too； the very apple of our eyes； who wuz growin' up jest like his father…〃
The quaver of an ill…repressed sob blurred her tones。 She closed her eyes firmly； as if to choke back the brimming tears； and then rising from her seat； busied herself brushing the coals and ashes back into the fire。
〃Thet walnut pops so awfully；〃 she said； 〃thet a body hez to sweep nearly ev'ry minnit ter keep the harth at all clean。〃
〃The death of his father made no change in the younger Col。 Pennington？ He kept up the quarrel the same as ever； did he？〃 asked Harry； deeply interested in teh narrative。
〃Wussen ever！ Wussen ever！ He got bitterer ev'ry day。 He laid his defeat when he wuz runnin' fur the Legislatur at our door。 He hired bullies ter git inter a quarrel with David； at public getherin's； an' kill him in sech a way ez ter have a plea o' self…defense ter cla'r themselves on； but David tuck too good keer o' hisself ter git ketched that a…way； an' he hurt one o' the bullies so bad thet he niver quite got over hit。 He an' Kunnel Pennington leveled ther weepons on each other at a barbecue near London last Fall； but the bystanders interfered； an' prevented bloodshed fur a time。〃
〃When the war broke out； we never believed hit would reach us。 Thar mout be trouble in Louisville and Cincinnatisome even thought hit likely that thar would be fouten' in Lexingtonbut way up in the mountings we'd be peaceable an' safe allers。 Our young men formed theirselves inter a company o' Home Gyards； an' elected my husband their Capting。 Kunnel Pennington gathered together 'bout a hundred o' the poorest； orneriest shakes on the headwaters； an' tuck them off ter jine Sidney Johnson； an' drive the Yankees 'way from Louisville。 Everybody said hit wuz the best riddance o' bad rubbish the country 'd ever knowed； and when they wuz gone our chances fur peace seemed better'n ever。
〃All the flurry made by ther gwine 'way hed died down； an' ez we heered nothin' from 'em； or the war； people's minds got quiet ag'in； an' they sot 'bout hurryin' up their Spring work。
〃One bright； sweet mornin' in May； I wuz at my work in the yard with Fortnerthet wuz my son's namefixin' up the kittles ter dye some yarn fur a coat fur him。 Husband 'd went ter the other side o' the hill； whar the new terbacker ground wuz； ter cut out some trees that shaded the plants。 The skies wuz ez bright an' fa'r ez the good Lord ever made 'em。 I could heah the ringin' o' David's ax； ez he chopped away； an'h hit seemed ter be sayin' ter me cheefully all the time： 'Heah I amhard at work。' The smoke from some brush…piles that he'd sot afire riz up slowly an' gently； fur thar wuz no wind a…stirring。 The birds sung gayly 'bout their work o' nest…buildin'； an' I couldn't help singin' about mine。 I left the kittles fur a minnit ter run down the gyardin walk； ter see how my bed o' pinks wuz comin' out； an' I sung ez I run。
〃Jest then a passel o' men come stringin' up the road ter the bars。 They looked like some o' them that Kunnel Pennington tuck 'way with him； but they rid better critters then any o' them ever hed； an' they were dressed in a sorter soljer…cloze； an' all o' 'em toted guns。
〃Something sent a chill ter my very heart the moment I laid eyes on 'em。 Hit a'most stopped beatin' when I see Kunnel Bill Pennington a little ways behind 'em； with a feather in his hat； an' sword an' pistols in his belt。 When they waited at the bars fur him ter come up； I knowed instantly what they were arter。
〃'Fortner；' I said ter my son； tryin' ter speak ez low ez possible； 'Fortner； honey； slip back through the bushes ez quick ez the Lord'll let ye； an tell yer daddy that Bill Pennington an' his gang air heah arter him。 Sneak away； but when ye air out o' sight； run fur yer life； honey。'
〃He turned ter go； but tat that minnit Bill Pennington shouted out：
〃'Stop thar！ Don't ye send thet boy away！