The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-12-09
THE DENHAM FEUD.
by ELEANon c. LEWIS.

lOnn ana John Francis Denham, half
brothers, began to quarrel with each
Ither, would be hard to soy. There was
Inly two years difference in their ages
md, when they were children, they were
Iond Of being together.
AS boys, at school, they remained
rood friends, though not so intimate as
before; but when they entered college a
:oolness rose between them. Frank, as
Francis John was called, was open
hearted, impulsive, quick to speak. and
quick to repent; generous and kind.
Francis, as the other was called, was
squally honorable and upright, but not
1t all impulsive.
He made up his mind before speaking
It, and consequently had not nearly so
much to repent of as his brother let.
Tor all his goodness, he was not so Iowa
BILE boy, at first sight, as Frank-poor,
needless Frank, who went stumbling
through life, stepping on other peoples
feet in pure csrelessness, but apologiz-
ing so instantly, and with such charm of
repentance, that he was always forgiven.
When Francis blundered-to speak
more accurately, made a mistake-it was
q serious matter with him. First of all,
Y.
This being settled, he at once, and con-
scientiously, made what reparation he
could; but his very effort to be just had
in 1t something so rigid and uncom-
promising, that people felt none the
more kindly for it. "He would not ex-
plain at all, said they, 'only that he
was obliged to-
Francis realized this feeling on the
part of others, without understanding
it.
"Why is it." he sometimes mused,
''that do my duty and am disliked for
1t, while Frank, who never thinks of his
duty, is loved2" But it took him life.
time to find the answer to his ques-
tion.
Meanwhile, the ''little rift in the Lutte"
grew larger. Frank got into debt; Fran
els, with strict justice but little mercy
said he could not spare the money to
help his brother out. Then, both boys
contended for a prize. Francis toilcd
hard, but Frank, by a lucky stroke,
won. Next they fell in love with 1.-The
same girl; and though the attachment
was not deep, and the young lady mar
ried third lover, yet, for the time, it
was Frank who was favored.
So gradually their enmitv grew, until
when commencement day came, they had
nothing in common but a speaking ac-
qunintance. Two years later, even this
ceased, for the boys grandfather died
(their parents were already dead)and left q
will that was the cause of complete es-
stranRement between them.
His property was shared equally by
them, but certain heirlooms-especiall "
valuable ring which had been in the
family for several generations, was left
lin the words of the will-''to my dear
est Francis
1t was known that he had intended to
make another will-the same in princi-
pie, but reducing the property by one or
two public bequests but, if made, il
was not to be found, and every one
thought that death had surprised him
before ne could carry out his intentions.
Had such document seen the light. the
ambiguity of 'my dearest Francis" might
have been cleared up.
AS matters stood, each claimed the
heirloom. Frank had been the old mans
favorite-all knew that Still, he had
tried his grandfather sorely of late. by
his needless ways and extravaganza; and
beside, no one ever called him Francis.
AS for the other, he was always called
Francis, and had been more of favorite
lately than at first; then, too, he was
the older.
So each young man urged his claim,
and defended it, although, in his secret
heart, Francis did admit that he was not
'the dearest" just as Frank felt assured
he was. And Frank, with his usual i'm.
pulsiveness, spoke out, and strongly. and
after this it was hard for either of tho
two to give up the case.
Still, it might have been settled, il the
matter had not been discussed one day
in public. In the excitement of the
talk, Frank at length called Francis O
designing scoundrel To be sure, he
retraeted this harsh speech. but the apol
ogy was not accepted, when an officious
friend reported the matter to Francis.
''Designing. am 2" said he, grimly.
''Very we'll. You may say to Frank Den
ham when you meet him again, that
am designing enough to get and hold
my own. The ring is mine, is in my
possession, and no court of law in the
land will adjudge it away from me to
him"
No court did take it away, though
Frank went to law to establish his claim.
Francis said the ring had always gone
TO the eldest son in fine, it was in his
possession, and no one could prove that
It ought not to be there.
This settled the matter, though not
the feelings that had been reused. The
brothers had now nothing whatever tc
do with each other They lived in the
same town, belonged TO the same church
and married neighbors' daughters even
tuallyi yet they met as strangers. After