o 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 infuriate the old
man.

"Pack up your traps