Connecticut western news., 1878-02-07
Our Two Squires.
IT .-IFD
 CHAPTER I.
The Story of . Long Feud.

ana The Story of a Long Fend. 4f p s4 aE ia.la ;.7-7TJ --i.. t=s .#5-l a -5 TIA
 CHAPTzR l. ..., -.., | It was Christmas morning 8 genuine old dzfashioned, Christmas, sharp andelearf and cold. The meadows were covered, far and wide, with crisp white snow, and the hedge7rows sparkled with crystal frostwork. 4fo The. rustic monuments in the village churchyard assumed forms of quaint indebtedness under their, heecy covering, and the ancient yew trees, dark and gloomy in summer when all else was gay, seemed now like fairy fountains sprlnging upward in the winter sunshine. Within the church was gathered we'll nigh the whole population of our Cornish chapel, and with tender eloquence our good old vicar, bowed with age and in- firmity, but still earnest, still eloquent, once more preached the message of peace and goodwill. I, Not an eye wandered among the earnest upturned faces not a sound broke the quiet hush of wrapt at- tention as he, spoke his concluding words.
 And now, my brethren may, 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 labored among you, and the time is at hand whenI, too, shall rest, and when you will hear my voice no moro. It 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 gift more, one only, would I ask of Him, that, ere I go to my home, every soul in this my little flock shall have plotted out all memory of former feud or ancient grievances and shall with love and fel- lowship 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 those last words were especially intended, for the feud between my uncle, Richard Polwhele, and the only other large landowner in the parish, Sir Philip Trafuais, was a matter almost of county history. It had originated many years back, when both were young men fresh from Oxford. At school and college they had been bosom friends, ends, nay, almost brothers, but (so the story ran) both young. men had been fascinated by the wiles of the same vil- lage beauty. A violent quarrel arose. and in; q noment of passionate excitement on both sides Trefusis struck Polwhele with his riding whip across the face. Polwhele raised his hand to return the bloy, but checked himself or it would have gone hard with Trefnsis, for he was slight and undersized, while Powhell's s strength and daring were proverbial throughout the country s1de. .. ...
 If you value your life, " he said, con- trolling himself by mighty effort, "get out of my sight, z g5zB1s
 Trefusis read aright the warning of the white face and flashing eyes, and, already dreading the consequences of the rash act, fled away. Richard Pol whele spent the rest of that day alone in the woods, and four and twenty hours afterward was stricken with brain fever. Ere he had completely recovered his rival had left the country, and the Eco- quettish cause of Their trouble had mar ned rustic swain whom she secretly much preferred to either of her aristo- cratic admirers. Thirty years had since passed by, during the greater part of winch frefusis had remained abroad. visiting his native place only, at rare in- teryals, 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. Richard Poiwhele had also married, and was left a widower, with five chiIdren-Howard Mary, Alice, Percy and Dorothy, of aget ranging downward from twenty-two tc seven. E Uncle Dick would readily have let bygones be bygones, but he waited Tor Iretusls to make the first overture Possibly Sir Philip had similar feel mg- At any rate neither would make the nrst advance, and the result was tha " the two squires, as they were called met and remained on terms of ,haught, coolness. No communication took plac, between the two houses, though it wa, whispered that Cousin Howard and pret
 
 ty EditR Trefusis, who had met nor than once on neutral ground, were no disposed to keep up the family feud fo another generation. ---s s,
 Such being the state of things, tn earnest appeal of our good old vicar wa not difficult of application and man eyes were turned upon the two Squire to see in what e{,;rs& Af,<s,- .5 IL: public admonition. There was a touc of heightened color upon Uncle Dick handsome face as he stepped forth int the churchyard,1 the very model of
 gallant Engl1shman, dispensing heart hand7shakes 3, and kindly Christnas greet lngsha friend and neighbor. Close be hind him came Sir Philip Trefusis, hi daughter hanging on his arm. At th Lych-gate Uncle Dick stepped aside {