Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-08-06

house burned, and subsequently lost biz
life, presumably nj the hands OF the fn
thor of the present family of Bynums
| qualify because there seems to be Z
little doubt about the murder part. now
although the sunire's hciehbors were
well Enough satisfied 10 hang John by.
mum by the summary process of lynch
law. OF course the row couldn't b<
expected Ia end with "a single lynchinC
and when the boys grew mp they began
ON the colonel. l believe he horse-
whipped one of them and got broken
arm for his pains; that was q good while
ago, hut the fcud has lost none of lis
bitterness with age. It's been stirred
! up in my time by o lawsuit over The Nc.
| Nabb coal vein, which is situated on
part of thc rolonel's estate, but was
claimed by the family in the cove. OF
course the colonel-or rather the COM
pany, in this instancc-won the law.
suit, and that didn't help matters any
| We tried 10 open the coal vein after.
wards, hut it's my private opinion that
the Rynum boys DESTROYED the working
| as fast as we developed it,"
What frightful story Of lawiess-
! ncss;"
''lt is vathcr savage. when YOU come
10 think OF it, isn't it2 And we haven't
seen the end of IL yet by several lives
I'm afraid"
But won't the law protect the
colonel in the defense of his rights"
"It-or public ndignation-would
avenge his death very promptly. but in
regard 10 the other, you'll remember
that you must first catch your hare /;
these fellows don't go around with a
brass band announcing their inten-
tons"
Still, | should think il would be easy
enough to get evidence against them"
do you?-then suppose you try 1t.
/ That's a bright idea, Hugh; you arc In
tcrestcd in the family fortunes, and
You haven't anything else on your mind.
just turn in and get evidence enough to
hang these three Bynum boys, and III
guarantee the colonel will give you Hes
ter out of hand"
"I?-God Forbid" replied RinglanId,
turning pale. "My gifts don't lie In
that direction"
Ludlow glanced NJ his friend with
look of mingled curiosity and cos5ern.
Il was wondering il you'd changed any.
Hugh; YOU used TO be a pcaceablc sort
Of fellow in college. l can't imagine
you in the role of fire eater"
Go on and say the rest of it," said
Eingbrand, bitterly: you can't imagine
me as an adopted member of fire-eat-
ing family Well, don't blame you; ]
can't do il myself"
81 shouldn't have put il in any such
uncharitablc form, responded Ludlow,
reflectivcly, '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
Iatimcr'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 he very sure
10 cost him his happiness. I'm no hand
| 20 meddle, As you know, Hugh, but it's
wei! enough to consider these things
before it's too late"
That's the pity of it, Tom" replied
| Linghrand, quietly. I'm afraid it's
too late now. / realized two things
! pretty clearly last night--one was that
| life without Hester wouldn't he worth
| living, and the other was that I'd rather
die than have her find me out for what
| am"
That's putting it rather harshly;
you haven't any good reason for .hin'
ing that you are"
"a coward-say it, Tom; ought 70
he able to bear the truth. and that is
the truth. | know it; I've known il
all along, only I've been trying to make
myself believe it wasn't so. That's
what was at the bottom of all those
little things you remember in the uni
Ncrsity days; you don't know how
despIsc myself when think of it ALL
NO, / don't remember anything but
what | said Il moment ago-that you
were always a peaceablc sort of fellow
THAT isn't it: it's one thing to he
| peaccable from principle, and quite an
other TO be restrained by a wholesome
fear of consequences. It's always been
the latter with me. | can look back
over my life and see how I've been con
! tinually dodging. When / was little
fellow, the fear of whipping was the
strongest incentive 10 good behavior
and the same argument has held good
ever since. You know that, Tom, il
you'd only admit it,"
mo. don't know anything OF
the kind" protested Ludlow.
"Wcll, it's true. You remember that
affair with TTrnhull in the last year
when he went out of his way to insult
me. You took occasion to praise my
self-control, but / want to tell you now
that it was the interest sham; l was
afraid TO resent il, and that's the
truth"
nonsense" retorted Ludlow; "you
did just right not TO demean yourself
by fighting With cub of an under,
graduate"
I'm not arguing about that-it's the
motive; it was cowardice, pure and
simple; there's no other name for it
What are you laughing at?'
Its amusing 40 hear you.vilify your
self. But seriously, Hugh. this is G
crisis that's got to be met. l take YOU
word for it that you're properly in love
with Hester Latimcr; if she does YOU
the honor TO return your affection
which, I take il, is not yet foregont
| conclusion-why, you're a lucky fel
low, and you should he thankful enough
TO fight her battles, and those of hel
| father and brother il need be. II may
not require such a phenomenal degre,
of physical courage. but it'll ask fol
some of the moral variety; and there.
always a wide possibility that it'll de
mand both in heroic proportions. Il
1 were in your place should fight tho
battle beforehand; then, if you FIND
you're not going to be up to il. the hon
orable thing is to pull out while tn,
girl is yet fancy free. That's pretty
straight talk; but you know me of old
and you have invited frankness."
They were nearing the furnace yard
and Ringbrand did not reply until they
reached the gate; then he grasped Lud
lows hand and pressed it warmly
"You're a good friend, Tom. I'll think
it over and try to do as you advise
Only if l can't bring myself up to the
mark, you mustn't be surprised if
should drop out unexpectedly. Idon't
believe could face you or Mrs. Ludlow
after that"
fro be CONTINUED