The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-12-06
the angels, .on earth peace, good will
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the angels, .on earth peace, good vii
among men.
All knew for whom these last word
were specially intended, for the feud be
tween my uncle, Richard Polwhele, anC
the only other large landowner in tn,
parish, Sir Philip Trefusis, was mattel
almost of country history. 1t had orig
lnated many years back, when both wert
young men fresh from Oxford. Atschoo
and college they had been bosom friends
nay, almost brothers, but $50 the story
RAM both young men had been fascinated
by the wiles of the same village beauty
Neither would yield to the other. A
violent quarrel arose and in a moment Of
passionate excitement on both sides
Trefusis struck Polwhele with his riding
whip across the face. Polwhele raised
his hand to return the blow, but checked
himself, or it would have gone hard
with Trefusis, for he was slight and un-
dersized, while Polwhele's strength and
daring were proverbial throughout the
countryside.
If you value your ife," he said,
controlling himself by mighty effort,
"get out of my sight"
Trefusis read Alright the warning of the
white face and flashing eyes, and already
dreading the consequences of his rash
act, fed away. Richard Polwhele spent
the rest of that day alone in the woods,
and four-and-twenty hours afterwards
was stricken with brain fever. Ere he
had completely recovered his rival had
left the country, and the coquettish
cause Of their quarrel had married a
rustic swain whom she secretly much pre-
ferred to either of her aEistocratic ad-
mirers. Thirty years had since passed
by, during the greater part of which
Trefusis had remained abroad, visiting
his native place only at rare intervals.
Three years back, however, he had
finally returned, a widower with one
daughter, now aged nineteen, and had
taken up his abode once more at the
family mansion, Trecarra Park. Rich
ard Polwhele had also married, and was
left a widower, with five children
Howard, Mary, Alice, Percy and Doro-
thy, of ages, ranging downwards from
twenty-five to seven. Uncle Dick would
readily have let bygones be bygones,
but he waited for Trefusis to make the
first overture. Possibly Sir Philip had
similar feeling. At any rate neither
would make the first advance, and the
result was that the two 'Squires," as
they were called, met, and remained, on
terms of naughty GOODNESS. No commu-
nication took place between the two
houses, though it was whispered that
cousin Howard and pretty Edith
Trefusis, who had met more than once
on neutral ground, were not disposed to
keep up the family feud for another
generation.
Such being the state of things, the
early appeal of our good old vicar was
not difficult of application; and many
eyes were turned upon the two Squires
to see in what spirit they received this
public admonition. There was touch
of heightened color upon Uncle Dicks
handsome face as he stepped forth into
the churchyard, the very model of gal
liant English gentleman, dispensing
hearty hand-shakes and kindly Christ
mas greetings to friend and neighbor.
Close behind him came Sir Phillip Ire
fusis, his daughter hanging on his arm.
At the lych-gate Uncle Dick stepped
aside to let them pass. With kindly
eyes he looked straight atSir Philip, and
we felt instinctiyely that with him, at
least, Mr.. Pentreath's appeal had not
missed its mark, and that at the slight
est answering sign his hand would have
been outstretched with generous cordi-
ality. Whether Sir Philip saw the lock,
/ know not; but his daughter did, and
an expression of pain came into her
sweet eyes as he strobe ON, proud and
silent, and the opportunity for recon
ciliation had once more passed away