Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-21
THE GREWELTHORPE FEUD.

rough "cross country" doctor, rode clatternq
In from the Barford road through drove Of
painting sheep. His lank and faded mare
turned from habit into the yard Of the old inn
and shifted at the few drops of water at the
bottom OF a bucket before the door, while her
entered the dim passage to the bar parlOr. tug.
ging his stiff moustache clear Of bis mouth.
oh, now, be quick, me darlIn! A big
| dIink-l'm as dry as sailed cod.r
me farmers and dealers stopped their talk
and turned on their elbows. He nodded TO
them. TOOK long pull at the ale. and then to Ok
t"Weel. what be news, doctor7r asked Long
hloston; Doctor Mahoney was known to be the
srea he ~ gossip I} on the country side.
sne Deen lang time ABBOTT It."
YES, me old Tom; but not so long as ye
think. She died fortnight ago. Everybody
into town but to the monthly cattle. Faix,
| now, there1l be fine rumpus and pretty bit
O. law about the old lady's will. 1 walked up
the bill wild Greweltnorpe-"
| "Sure, big John o. the mill. We were speak
II ,,, BY me LORD! there ne Is IN the yard
ed his brother, the agent. He's as mad as the
divil Wild him and The WILL"
The white-haired old man In the corner (the
| superannuated la1dlord), who hal been NUT
| teriDg to himself "Big John-big john" now
rose, and shufIied up to Mahoney, and peer1ng
tn hI ae d ssd o5Ier rs Gsargs
Grewelthorpes," continued he, getting warmer
and clutchlpg the breast OF the doctors coat,
what dost thou knaw about them7 They be
as strange to tLee as frummity. Gossip as thoo
| likes aDOot too aud wives an thoo daWg5 but
| leave talk o. Grewelthorpes to them as knaws
| them"
"All right, old cock. know the Grewel-
| thorpe story Is yours-an your own. Don't be
afraid. Won't steal 1t.
.Sh sh b. sounded from this side and that.
| The patriarch snufried back to his chair; the
doctor sat on the table and looked to the buckle
I'll na ms Is spur and the rest Rursed up the1r
| The door had opened, while q voice in the
passage said. Eyes, lass; bring me gill;"
"Ale? No! Brandy"
| The occupants OF the room lifted their eye
| Dr0Ws and nodded TO each other. A tall, burly
man entered, looking as white and dusty as a
| oarn-owl, except that his whiSkerS were black
| and crisp.
Here ye be a." said he, taking seat.
the t aoetoT gave =, light nod OF
| his long pipe and scrat ched match. The dull
| eyes around observed these movements as II
they had never seen the Ike before There
the dtstrac ed humping and buz1ing OF blue
bottle on the window pane, which the new
conner watched with apparent interest,". His
brandy was brought 10 little pewter measure.
He poured out giassful ana drank 1t of, and
then turned to his neighbour.
"An what be news gOine?"
"Nou't,f said Old Bidker, promptly, from the
other side OF the table, " cent ABBOTT thoo.'
''Ye say so?"
There was no change in his look or tone.
But DR.. Mahoney knew how Bidker delighted
to engender strife, SO he turned at once "Fact
is. Jonn, Just told them as how We were mad
ABBOTT something 10 your aunt's Will; dldn'c
"KnaW? Cod! How should ye knaw?" He
poured out and drank the rest of his brandy.
The old lady may ha' Left him the house and
"But." cried the patriarch ssshe wur fonder
O. thoo than o. Gea- ge.'
Or" continued Grewelthorpe, w1tho ut
SAYS, ha' left me the house and him the land
BE that what she's done?" asked the patti
arch eagerly.
Grewelthorpe turned and looked at him
moment; and then said sententiously, Mouse
TAPS, old Cocker. Maybe HE'LL
A face darkened the little window, peering In.
1t was h1S-the brothers.
D.nation;" slowly growled John, staring at
the window. ''Thats JUS how he's aye a-inter-
ruptin, nee now: But done him out a along,
and I'll dom out again."
He rose suddenly. and went as IL to intercept
| his brother. But they heard him stop at the
bar and call for more brandy. They all agreed
With BdkeF mat he was .gong that he
| He'll be havin' the OWLS, said Long Rib
ston.
" Not he" said Mahoney, with skilled, supe-
| 1nterrOgat1ve ''No?"
The doctor went out. In moment he put
| his head In at the door again-"He's at it, At
| what? They all pushed and stumbled Into the
street; even the patriarch, after little hesita-
ton. put down his pipe and shuffied after
them.
| TIE market-plaee (Which was no more than
| portion OF the street Wldened On one side by
! the retreat OF a row OF wellto-do houses up
sloplng bank was filled with men and beasts.
The beasts were penned; sheep and pigs on the
| shop side ank the cattle On the bank. The men
usually talked and laughed and felt handouts OF
grain In groups, STOOD contemplative over store
ftfO n u q INF DIT thx
toneer's little pulpit at tho top of the bank, as
| much TO hear mis- jokes as to make bid; while
the sharp horsedealers from Barford, with loud
tones and cracking whips, uotted wild little
| nags OF ponies up and down the street. But
now sheep and cattle lay unheeded In the heat,
painting and ruminant; every man was pushing
toners crowded together to their doors; and
even Mr.. Parr, the vicar from Easterwyke lin
gered on the groeers step
COD said Bidker. ut be Just like ,prea CHI
| M; thinking, no DOUBT, OF What he had seen In
Methodist days
Not voice was heard but that of Pottle.
thWaite, which sounded loud and clear,
Ssventeen; seventeen-ten; eighteen. The
Grewelthorpe brothers were bidding against
each other for roam heifer. Tue auctloneer
was very serious; the bidders did not need the
spur OF his wit; their mutual hate urged them
on. Many pushed and pressed to get sight OF
the brothers faces. But there was little to be
seen In them; resolute LIP, an eye fixed on the
and then from the other: Up and up went the
bidding, till spectators began to stare at each
other and to raise their eyebrows. Every one
knew the value Of the heifer had long been
passed; 1t was plainly now foolish, relentless
| duel In which the heller was forgotten and
| hatred only remained.
| Twenty seven; twenty seven ten; Twenty
| eight" the eye OF the town brother dropped a
| moment - "going at twenty eight" = turned
! sideways 1t caught the fash OF triumph In the
| country brothers eyes and the satisfied sheer
on his lip, and 1t again looked resolutely al
| POttlethwaite. Twenty eight ten ;" said Pot
tlethwa1te. A nod from the other: "tWenty-
| nine; Twenty-Five ten; thirty
The excitement grew intense. The brothers
| knew they were merely throwing their money
away, but NO, neither would yield. In the ten.
| sion Of their passion they gradually turned Ia
face each other. The lips were firmly set the
eyes fixed and fiery, as II the men were engaged
In belt.to-belt tight with knives. Every Ijyht
nod the one cast at the other was fierce stab
The passion OF 1t began 10 glow in the bosoms
and In the eyes OF the crowd, and Pottleth.
Matte showed signs OF anxiety and hesitation.
Thirty nine; thirty nineteen; forty; going
at forty; any advance upon forty"
D ou.' cried the town brother and
fell down In 1T.
They gathered around to recover him. The
victorious brother Looked for a moment as II
stung, and then turned away mutterinp
dome him out again. swore I'd do it, and
done It."
In this bitter fraternal feud the sympath,es
OF most had hitherto been, for no partIcul ar
reason. with the bluff, obstinate miller rather
than with the retiring and reserved corn fac
tor and agent. They had observed with salts