Connecticut western news., 1891-02-25
THE END OF THE FEUD.

HE END UF HE FEUD.
 As far back as the oldest inhabitant could remember there had been 8 feud between the Jasons and the Spratts. It had never been deadly one, but it had been very bitter for all that. and had caused 8 great deal of ill feeling, not be- tween the two families alone, but among many others who through alliance with rel. fs&
 There were people. too, in and about Tomsburg who took special delight, it seemed, in keeping the two families constantly in hot water by carrying tales between the two houses. Often these tales were himsy fabrications, woven from the imaginations of the tell CTS. which would have been readily de- tected as fiction by people less preju- diced against one another than the Ja- sons and Spratts; but as it was the busy bodies and mischief makers had an open and free field wherein to exercise their more or less Ingenious art of story tell ing.
 At the time of the ending of the feud Sim Jason was the representative of one aide and Jay spratt of. the other. They were both young men, unmarried, and intelligent in everything except the ono subject Of the family feud, an exception not to be wondered at, since they had imbibed prejudice against each other with their mothers milk.
 But time, the resistless, that under mines empires and causes them to tum- ble in night, brings changes every where, Sooner or later everything suc- cumbs and is no more. The Tomsburg feud ended in night, and that, too. when it seemed to have grown more bitter and more deadly than it had ever been before.
 Tomsburg is situated on the shore of one of the many bays on the Texas coast, where nine out of every ten of the in habitants own sailing craft of some kind. the greater number being what are commonly called catboats, on which they make weekly trips to the adjacent cities, carrying the products of their gardens and fields.
 Sim Jason owned ono of these boats, a trim little craft, and one of the swiftest that plowed the waters of the bay. The little vessel had been named the Annie after his sister. Like every other boat man, Sim was touchy on the subject of being beaten by any other craft, but his particular sore spot was a banter from the Spratt adherents that Jays boat, the Lily, could outsail him under any and all conditions. --.-.
 "The Lily, like the Annie. had been named for the sister of its owner. It was a new boat, understood to have been built expressly to beat the Jason boat. Boast and banter ran high in conse- quence, and high words were exchanged daily between the packers of the two crafts.
 One evening Jay and Sim met down by the shore, where they had come to look after their boats. Both men were accompanied by friends.
 "h owned an old tub like that one yonder," said Jay Spratt to his compan- ions, pointing to the Annie and speaking in tones loud enough to be heard by the Jason crowd, "rd leave her to the mer- cy of the wind and weather and let her take care or herself.
 That tub, as you call her, can out sail that box of yours," retorted Sim, stopping and looking around defiantly.
 "I don't believe it."
 "I didn't ask you to take my word for it, Jay Spratt. But if you have the spunk of kitten can prove it to you this very night"
 "HowY' asked Jay, affecting surprise.
 'ra sail you a race to Reddish light sky we are likely to have all sorts of weather-winds and calms and squalls and our boats will have an equal chance"
 Jay considered few moments. The sky looked threatening and the night would be dark. The distance was twen- ty miles, and to go out on the bay with every indication for stormy night was 2 risky business; but Jay knew he must either accept the banter or back down in disgrace. tacitly acknowledging the in feriority of his boat, and mourning be. sides the reputation of coward. These thoughts flashed through his brain, and in moment his mind was made up. Aye, he would outbrave Sim in accept. :, :; the challenge.
 Il accept your proposition, Sim," he said. Then he added, "And to make the race more even for you will only take sister Lily along to help me sail tht boat" -.-E -..-
 A wild yell of approval went up from his companions, for all knew that Lily Spratt was as plucky girl as thert was in Tomsburg, and that her skill in handling boat was second only tt that of the most expert hoatmen in tht village.
 Just then Annie Jason came upon the scene, and joining her brother asked tht cause for the uproar. Sim told her in { hurried whisper. -s
 ''The Spratts sha'n't crow over us Sim," she said resolutely, stamping hel small foot upon the sand, "r1l go witl you"
 When Sim made known what his sis ter had said another shout, moro wild and more prolonged than the first, rent the air.
 In short time the news of the pro posed race spread through Tomsburg and in less than half an hours time men women and children were congregatet upon the shore, all taking lively inter est in the preparations being made there
 sThe sun was just going down behin' a dark mass of clouds when Jay ant Sim, accompanied by their sisters, cam down to the landing, where their re s,ecsiye friends had hedeted sa0 eo fh = z. ~n0