Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-07-27
''But the vendetta?"

''But the vendetta?'
''Oh, yes. Well, I got the history of
it from my grandfather, who at one
time owned plantation between the
belligerents. 1t began with the shoot
ing of bull. Fairbanks shot Lorimers
bull, or Lorimer shot Fairbanks bull.
Doubtless my grandfather transmitted
the CORY legend correctly to me, but
my villainous memory has refused to
retain it. / confess to a certain confu-
sion as to the original ownership of the
bull whose horns have been as the
horns of a very serious dilemma to all
the succeeding Lorimers and Fair
banks
'sGammon!"
Gospel truth. Of course there was
row over that bull, but believe his is
the only gore that stains the scutcheons
of two proud families
''Be serious for once, Mckenzie"
Serious as sexton, pom honor! My
veneration for family feuds forbids
levity. In the succeeding generation,
tradition hath it, there were boy and
girl of the two households madly in
love with each other-perhaps tho IA
Their and the mother of this identical
pair. Doubtless by that time the casus
belli-or built, if you will permit vile
pun-began to look trifle shrivelcd;
SO an imaginary grievance of more re-
spectacle origin was manufactured
Years of bad blood had not improved
the temper of either family Con-
sequently, row number two: hands
parted. hopes blighted, and all that
sort Of thing. have the satisfaction Of
feeling that have helped the thing
along somewhat in modern tines
'tSatisfaction.''
'Unquestionably. When people have
been quarreling over a dead bull half a
century after the buzzards have done
with it. it is source of satisfaction to
feel instrumental in furnishing fresh
material for their ammunition. 1 want
ed to sell out my place up there. L was
wedged in between the two places of
these mortal foes. I reaped a golden
harvest from their idiocy. They bid
against each other in the most reckless
fashion. The result have been made
comfortable for life. Fairbanks ruined
himself buying the property, which has
enabled him to imping:, closer and
closer upon the neighboring place. The
Lorimers have nearly ruined themselves
the bones of the poor old vendetta are
ratified more feebly as each year goes
by. But noblesse obliSe, you know.
Ta-ta- 1 promised my daughter a drive
in the park this afternoon
And l must be going too"
The long reading-room was deserted
by every one but the two men in the al
cove. But for the full hour they had
been sitting there, shielded from close
surveillance by their position in the en-
brasure of the bay-window, they had
seemingly been oblivious of the coming
and going of the other men. They had
come together with a more earnest pur-
pose, perhaps. than any of the men who
sauntered in and out, smoking, reading.
gossiping, idiing the hours away, watt
ing for dinner time.
At the beginning of the interview the
younger man had said:
81 told you, Fairbanks, that I would
not trouble you again until had some
thing of Importance to communicate.
received a letter this morning which
think you ought to see."
sFrom whom?"
ssMiss Fairbanks" He took the let
ter from his pocket, but seemed loath
to part with it. 'sIt is not pleasant