Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-11-07
FATAL FEUD.
A Tragic Tale of Kentucky.
EY ". L. FRENCH.

RY ". l.. FRENCH
Here, Caesar, skip to the barn and
saddle Hero for me. Ii the old master
wants to know where 1 have gone, tell
him galloped over to Highmore.
Yep, Young Mars" Caesar tell i'm.
He don't forgit what young Mars John
soils 'im."
"That's right, Caesar. I am glad to
see YOU have q good memory"
Right good one, Mars John, replied
the servant, as he started off in haste
toward the stables to obey his young
masters orders.
young Mars john" as the darby
called him. was, properly speaking,
John Hanley. son of Reginald Hanley,
owner of On immense plantation in the
State Of Kentucky. John was an only
child, and would in the course of time
he the rightful owner OF all the Hanley
estates.
His father. Reginald Hanley, was a
stern, unbending old man of 60 years.
Hard-headed, obstinate, and inclined to
be unforgiving in youth, added years
had only increased these undesirab bic
qualities 10 his person. In spite of
these traits he was usually very just
and ever ready to aid the needy.
John resembled his father in eyerv-
thing except his unforgiving disposition.
In this respect he was like his mother,
Who had been one of the mildest of wo-
men. But once thoroughly reused John
and he would be dangerous foe.
Just now there was difference of
opinion and a consequent GOODNESS
between father and son that might 7et
lead to serious results. It was all about
q sweet young maiden of nineteen sum-
mers named Mabel Rogers, and. as
usual, it was case of love and upposi.
Mon
Between Reginald Hanley and Frank
Rogers, Mabel's father, there was fierce.
nndying feud that dated back to colonial
aimes. Several members of each fac
hon had fallen in maintaining what thew
believed to be the honor of their fam
lilies. But there had been truce now
IN the tued for over score of years.
There was only these two families left
to maintain it, and they had let it rest.
though their hate was none the less
bitter for doing SO.
John and Mabel grew up without any
ii this foolish hate toward each other.
Mabel had II cousin named Tom Haw-
ley. who had been raised from infancy
sn her fathers family. He was q bitter
hater of the Hanley's and nothing but
Johns tact had thus far avoided a col
ssion between them.
John and Mabel became acquainted
at the house Of o mutual friend, where
shey had accidentally met. 1t did not
take them long to find out that each
loved the other, and, though they knew
She opposition they would encounter,
they became engaged some three
months prior to the time this story
opens.
BY some means Reginald IIauley
learned that his son was paying clan
aestine court to Mabel Rogers, and his
rage knew no bounds, He called his
son into his presence and, after telling
hun what he had heard, upbraided him
with having disgraced his family's honor
by allowing himself to become intimate
with the low-born daughter Of Rogers.
Of course John resented such Ian
guage in connection with mis- betrothed,
and he replied holly. Angry words were
nsed by both and it finally terminated
by the old man giving John his choice of
giving up the girl or being disinherited.
OF course John choose the latter and
This only incensed his father more,
and he declared the instant thew were
wed he would make a new will and
leave all his wealth to charitable
purposes. But John was young and
5n'l of hope and pluck, and this did not
discourage him in the least. And then
he did not really believe his father
wonld 60 to such al extreme as to dis
inherit him, even if he did we'd Mabel.
So they separated, each one bent on
doing exactly as he had declared he
would during the interview.
Caesar, the black body-servant of
John, had carried notes for him to the
Rogers homestead and there delivered
them to Mabel's maid, whom Caesar
greatly admired, and she in turn would
deliver them to her mistress and return
with her answers to where Caesar
awaited her coming. BY means of these
notes it had been arranged that they
should meet at certain spot on the
stage road and flee north across the
Ohio River and there be married. OF
course they knew they would be per-
sued, but they had little fear of being
overtaken with the start they hoped to
obtain.
In few moments after Cnsar's dis
appearance he reappeared with the
horse, and, bidding his faithful attend
ant goodbye, John swung into the sad
die and was Of. Half On hours gallop
brought him to the appointed place of
meeting. but Mabel was not yet there,
50 he reined in his horse in the shade of
m old oak tree and, springing from the
saddle, sat down OF its messy base.
While awaiting her coming, he fell
into . sweet revery Of love, and did not