Ralph Grangers Fortunes | Page 3

witnessed this action in astonishment.
"Now," shouted old Granger, "reckon I'll get even for the loss of my son. Here's at ye!"
"Grandpa!" cried Ralph, springing between the old man and his intended victim. "You shall not shoot, I say!"
"Out of my way, you renegade," retorted the other leveling his gun.
As the cap snapped, Ralph struck up the barrel, and was rewarded by a furious imprecation from the aged but relentless relative.
CHAPTER II
Ralph and His Grandfather.
Meanwhile Jase Vaughn sat on his mule looking quietly on, as if he were entirely unconcerned in the result of the struggle between Ralph and his grandfather.
Old Granger, finding himself baffled, flung down the rifle upon the ground and strode off up the road, muttering wildly to himself like one demented.
"Hold on, grandpa!" shouted Ralph, picking up the gun. "I'll be with you in a minute."
But the old man heeded not, and soon disappeared round a bend of the road in the direction of his home.
"He's too old to change," said Jase. "But I really don't see any reason why you and me should keep up this foolishness. If my father shot yourn, thar was a cousin of your father's fought a duel with my dad 'way down in Georgy. Both on 'em were hurt so bad they never walked again."
"We heard of it," returned Ralph, "and I couldn't help thinking at the time what fools our families were to keep up a feud started, I reckon, by our great grandfathers."
"Right, you are, young feller. Hit all come of doggin' hogs outn a sweet tater patch; so I've heard."
"Then there was a row, I reckon."
"Yes. One word brought on another, till at last some one got hurt, then the shootin' begun. I never did take much to the business myself, but somehow I didn't have the energy to set the thing straight. I'm powerful glad ye done what ye have done today, and I passes you my word that Jase Vaughn has done with the feud as well as you."
This time it was Ralph's turn to offer his hand. After another hearty shake little Clell threw himself upon the lad's neck with childish abandon.
"I like 'oo!" he cried again.
"Well, I swow!" exclaimed Jase. "He's takin' a plum likin' to you. But we must be gettin' on. If ever I can do anything for you, don't 'low my bein' a Vaughn keep you from lettin' me know."
Then Jase clucked to his mule and rode away, with little Clell craning his neck to catch a last glimpse of Ralph, who, shouldering his rifle, began to retrace his steps towards home.
As he proceeded his face grew grave. How would his incensed relative receive him?
Since the grandmother's and his father's death Ralph and the old man had lived principally by themselves. The boy's own mother had died when he was a baby. Now and then some woman would be hired to do some house-work, usually the wife or daughter of some tenant to whom Bras Granger rented a portion of his land. But they seldom remained long, and Ralph had, perforce, to take their place from time to time.
He grew as expert at cooking and other simple household duties as he was at shooting, trapping, and similar mountain accomplishments. Thus the two had lived on together, with little outside society, relying mainly on themselves for diversion as well as support.
The maintenance of the feud was the old man's greatest wish. It was as meat and drink to his soul.
When Ralph showed the indifference he often felt on that subject, his grandfather always flew into a rage.
"To think that my only living descendant should go back on the family, is too much to bear," he said. "There's only nephews and cousins 'sides you, Ralph. They are scattered here and yonder; they ain't a carin' much about the family honor. Hit all depends on you, boy. I wonder your pap's ghost ain't a haantin' you for bein' so careless."
Then Ralph would vaguely promise to do better, and the subject would be dropped, only to crop up again whenever the old man felt more savagely inclined than usual. Today, however, was the first time that the two had come to an open and violent rupture.
When the boy came in sight of the cabin he beheld his grandparent seated in the doorway absorbed, apparently in deep reflection.
Ralph crossed the foot log, opened the gate and walked up to the door.
"I am sorry I displeased you today," he began, "but I just couldn't do what you wanted me to do----"
"Shet your mouth!" interrupted Granger harshly. "You are a disgrace to your kin. I never would a believed it if my eyes hadn't a seen and my ears a heard. You are no longer a grandson of mine. D'ye hear?"
Ralph's perplexed and distressed look seemed to again