The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-06-24
iuch Thought as this came to Ringbrand

The successive scenes of his uneventful
life passed in review like the pictures
Of retrospective panorama. Now that
he thought of it, he saw that all of his
lines of conduct had been drawn
we'll upon the hither side of personal
antagonism-that he had always been
averse to anything approaching an ar
bitrament of force. With well-mean-
ing sophistry, he had argued himself
into the belief that contempt for mere
physical courage was a part of the
thoughtful mans protest against bru-
tality and the unconvincing logic of
appeals to physical superiority; but he
remembered, with sharp little sting
of modification, that these fine-spun
theories had been swept aside like cob
webs on the few occasions when he had
been brought face to face with personal
danger. 1t was not necessary to go far
foran example; flush of shame glowed
in his face when he recalled the small
fit of terror that had seized him but an
hour before, when he had stood help
lessly watching Henry trying to get
the dodging shadow within the range of
his rife.
After that, his thoughts kept him but
indifferent company for the rest Of his
walk, and he reached Tregarthen, and
his room at the Ludlows', without hav-
ing arrived at any more definite conclu-
sion than a determination to ask his
friend for an explanation of the incl
dent at "The Laurels," and to get there
with SO much of the Latimer history as
Ludlow might be able to recite.
The latter enlightened him, cheerful
ly, on their way to the furnace the next
morning. THAT was probably one of
the Bynums," he said; though why he
should risk his skin at such close quar-
ters I can't imagine. They're bad lot,
though-equal to almost anything, I'm
afraid"
"Who are the Bynums, and why
But don't make me pull it out of you by
Titles; tell me the whole story"
"Isit possible that you've been in Ire
garthen all this time and haven't yet
heard of the Latimer-Bynum feud?"
Its more than possible; it's fact"
"Well, it's long story, but I'll con-
dense it for you. Old Squire Latimer,
the colonel's father, was instrumental
in bringing one of former generation
of the Bynums to justice for the muir
der of revenue officer. Since that time
there's been a running fight between
the two families; the squire had his
house burned, and subsequently lost his
life, presumably at the hands of the ia
ther Of the present family of Bynums.
/ qualify because there seems to be
little doubt about the murder part, now,
although the squire's ncighbors were
well enough satisfied to hang John By
mum by the summary process of lynch
law. of course the row couldn't be
expected to end with single lynching,
and when the boys grew up they began
on the colonel. / believe he horse
whipped one OF them and got broken
arm for his pains; that was good while
ago, but the feud has lost none of it's
bitterness with age. It's been stirred
up in my time by lawsuit over the Nc
Nabb coal vein, which is situated on
part of the colonel's estate, but was
claimed by the family in the cove. Of
course the colonel-or rather the com
pany, in this instance-won the law
suit, and that didn't help matters any.
We tried to open the coal vein after
wards, but it's my private opinion that
the Bynum boys destroyed the working
as fast as we developed it,"
"What a frightful story of lawless-
ncss!"
1T is rather savage, when you come
to think of it, isn't it? And we haven't
seen the end of it yet by several lives,
I'm afraid"
"But won't the law protect the
colonel in the defense of his rights?"
"It-or public indignation-would
avenge his death very promptly, but in
regard to the other, you'll remember
that you must first catch your hare;
these fellows don't go around with
brass band announcing their inten-
tions."
Still, should think it would be easy
enough to get evidence against them"
"Do you?-then suppose you try it.
That's n bright idea, Hugh; you are in
tcrested in the family fortunes, and
youhaven't anything else on your mind.
Just turn in and get evidence enough to
hang these three Bynum boys, and I'll
guarantee the colonel will give you Hes
ter out of hand"
"I?-God Forbid" replied Ringbrand,
turning pale. MY gifts don't lie in
that direction"
Ludlow glanced at his friend with
look of mingled curiosity and concern.
II was wondering if you'd changed any,
Hugh; you used to be peaceable sort
of fellow in college. can't imagine
you in the role of a fire eater"
"Go on and say the rest of it," said
Ringbrand, bitterly; "you can't imagine
me as an adopted member of fire-eat-
ing family. Well, I don't blame you; I
can't do il myself"
81 shouldn't have put it in any such
uncharitable form" responded Ludlow,
refectively, "but, since you've men,
toned it, I'll say what's been in my
mind ever since you told me what
brought you to Tregarthen. Hester
Latimer's husband will have to do one
of two things-help fight the family
battles or refuse to have anything to
do with them. The first may cost him
his life, and the last will be very sure