The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-02
A FEUD SETTLED.

a stirring refrain or bloody tale has
been founded on the family wars of
''the dark and bloody ground" but no
feud, ancient or modern, was ever set
tied in a more satisfactory manner or
resulted in a more lasting peace be-
tween the factions than was brought
about by the settlement of the feud
between the Brown and Jones families
in a county bordering on the Ohio
river which shall be nameless. .
How the enmity between the families
arose in the first place belongs not to a
story of modern times, for the begin
ming was far back in the early history
of the State. At first it was bloody
enough to suit the most sangulnary
partisan, but as the county became
more settled and peacefulthe Brown
Jones feud took the shape of politi.
cal rivalry no less bitter than the old
warfare, but not quite so destructive
of the population of the county. Busi-
ness rivalry also sprang up, and the
family of Brown was arrayed against
the family of Jones on every possible
occasion, aud their respective retain.
ers always stood by their chiefs.
This led to some deplorable affairs on
such occasions as conventions, election
days and other gatherings, W here both
parties came in contact, but the leaders
of the factions, advising law abiding
conduct on every occasion, managed to
keep the i'll feeling from breaking into
open warfare as general thing. No
one accused either of the parties to the
feud of cowardice, and when at the
breaking out of the war Brown cast his
lot with the Federals it followed of
course that Jones took up arms for the
Confederacy, as he was in duty bound
to do even if his sympathies had not
been with that cause.
Each began as captain of compa-
nv, and during the whole progress of
the strife each fought valiantly, and on
more than one occasion their commands
met in the midst of the horrid storm of
war and helped to make few pages of
history sodden with the blood of heroes
for in those days, when men In gray
met men in blue, deeds of daring were
performed that made the actors immor-
tails and wrote their names high in the
temple of fame.
The people at home watched anx-
iously the course of their respe ;tive
leaders, and when Brown was promot-
ed his partisans held a grand mass
meeting which was still the talk OF the
town when word came that Jones had
been promoted also, and his retainers
met to rejoice. :,
So the fight went on, and Brown and
Jones were in the thick of it and their
bravery was rewarded, until when the
days of peace came at last, it was Gen
eral Browff and General Jones who
came back to the little town and neither
of them had performed deed OF valor
that had not been equaled by the other.
General Brown had son, John, and
General Jones had a daughter, Janette,,
but they passed each other by in scorn
when school children together, and as
they grew older they were never known
to speak to each other. In fact, they
rarely met at any social function, be.
cause there was no middle ground in
that county. He who was not for
Brown was against him, and the same
might be said concerning Jones.
Society was divided into the Browns
and the Joneses, and the members OF
one party did not associate with the
other more than was absolutely neces-
sary. When a Brown partisan died,
the Brown faction buried him from the
Methodist church north, and when a
Jones died he was carried to the ceme-
tery from the Methodist church south,
and the only place where the two par
ties rested together in peace and quiet.
was the little cemetery on the hills be.
yond the town.
John Brown and jeanette Jones were
1s and 10 respectively when the war
ended, and they grew up hating each
the name of the other, as had their an
cestors since the memory of man went
not back to the time, and the Brown
Jones feud was as bitter as it ever was
as the years went on.
Then came sad blow to each. On
the very same day General Brown was
thrown from his horse and killed and
Mrs. Jones died sitting in her chair
from some sudden stroke, and the cor
oner of the county rendered his YER
diets accordingly, and from the church
north and from the church south sol
emn professions moved, composed OF
the friends of each party, and there
was one day when the two factions
met and passed no jeering word or in
sulting remark between them and
when each went his way decorously as
becomes Christians in civilized land.
Then the years went on again. Mrs.
Brown, fair to look upon, and as stately
as a queen, became the leader of the
Brown faction, while General Jones,
the courtly and polished gentleman in
all things. pursued the even tenor of
his way, having regard for the sex of
his opponent, and gradually peace be-
-xan to settle over the community.
The Browns and the Joneses were as
bitter toward each other as ever, but
their partisans noticed that there was
an unwonted quiet between the imme-
diate members of the families, and
those who were not OF the blood OF
either began to see that one might be-
long to the faction they were opposed
to and still be decent sort of per-
sun, and gradually a better feeling. be-
gan to otinda footing in the community.
70 be sure, no one deserted his party.
1t was not that party fealty had grown
weaker, but the charity that covereth
a multitude of sins spread Its white
mantle over the whole people and
made them understand that others
ho