The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-01-24
OUR TWO SQUIRES.
The story of a Long Feud.
CHAPTER /

CHAPTER /.
1t was Christmas morning; a genuine
Christmas, sharp and clear
and cold. The meadows were covered,
far and wide, with crisp, white snow, and
the hedge rows sparkled with crystal
frost-work. The rustic monuments in
the village churchyaTd assumed forms of
quaint indefniteness under their feecy
covering, and the ancient yew trees, dark
and gloomy in summer when all else was
gay, seemed now like fairy fountains,
springing upward in the winter sunshine
Within the church was gathered we'll
nigh the whole population of our Corn
village. and with tender eloGuence our
good old vicar, bowed with age and in
trinity, but still earnest, still eloquent,
once more preached the message of peace
and good will. Not an eye wandered
among the earnest, upturned faces, not
sound broke the quiet hush of rapt at
tention as he spoke his concluding words:
And now, my brethren-nay, rather
my children, for my journey has been
long, and most of those who started with
me have gone one by one to their rest
for well nigh forty years have l labored
among you, and the time is at hand
when l, too, shall rest, and when you
will hear my voice no more. 1t Is but a
little while, and the silver cord must be
lOosed and the golden bowl be broken.
God has been very good to me; yet one
gilt more, one only, would ask of Him,
that, ere go-to my long home, every
soul IN this my little flock shall have
blotted out all memory of former feud
or ancient grieI ance, and shall, with love
and fellowship to all mankind, be able
to join in the Christmas song of the
angels: On earth peace, good will among
men,
All knew for whom these last words
were especially intended, for the feud
between my uncle, Richard PolwheIe,
and the only other large landowner in
the parish, Sir Philip Trefusis, was a
matter almost of county history Ithad
originated many years back, when both
were young men fresh from Oxford. At
school and college they had been bosom
friends, nay, almost brothers, but $50 the
story ran) both young men had been
fascinated by the wiles of the same vii
lage beauty. Neither would Weld 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. POIWheIe
raised his hand to return the blow, but
checked himself, or it would have gone
hard with Treiusis, for he was slight and
understood, while Polwhele's strength
and daring were proverbial throughout
the country side.
"If you value your life," he said, con.
trolling 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, fled away. Richard Polwhele
spent the rest of that day alone in the
woods, and four-and twenty hours after.
ward was stricken with brain fever. Ere
he had completely recovered his rivaI
had lett the country, and the coquettish
cause of their quarrel had married 8
rustic swain whom she secretly much
preferred to either of her aristocratiC
admirers. 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, Widower with one
daughter, now aged nineteen, and
had taken up his abode once more at
the family mansion, Trecarra Park
Richard Polwhele had also married
and was lett a widower, with five
children-Howard, Mary, Alice, Percy
and Dorothy, of ages ranging downward
from twenty-five to seven. Uncle Dich
would readily have let bygones be by
cones, but he waited for TreIusis to make
the first overture. Possibly Sir Philir
had a similar feeling. At any rate
neither would make the first advances
and the result was that "the two Suuires. ,
as they were called, met and remained OF
terms of naughty GOODNESS. No commu
nication took place between the TIVE
houses, though it was whispered tina
| Cousin Howard and Pretty Edith Ire
J fusis, who mad met more than once OF
neutral ground, were not disposed t.
keep up the family feud for anothe
generation.
Such being the state of things, tn,
earnest appeal of our good cid vicar wa
not difficult of application and many
eyes were turned upon the two squire
to see in what spirit they received thi
public admonitien. There was a toucl
of heightened color upon Uncle Dick
handsome face as he stepped forth int,
the churchyard, the very model of gal
liant Eoglish gentleman, dispensing heart,
hand shakes and kindly Christmas greet
ings to friend and neighbor. Close benin,
him came Sir Philip Trefusis, his daugh
ter hanging on his arm. at the lych
gate Uncle Dick stepped aside to let then
pass. With kindly eyes he locke,
straight aE Sir Philip, and we felt in
stinctively that with him, at least. Nj
Pentreath's appeal had not missed it
mark, and that at the slightest answer
ing sign his hand would have beer out
stretched with generous cordiality
Whether Sir Philip saw the look,
know not, but his daughter did, and a.
expression of pain came into her swee
eyes as he strobe on, proud and silent
and the opportunity for a reconciliation
had ONE more passed away.
CHAPTER II.
W. xuara q marry 1orfu rOnnJ a.