Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-06-25

One other element of discord had
been added by the passing years to the
Latimer side of the feud, in the person
of the colonel's son Henry. The boys
mother, to whose gentle influence the
fireside gossips Of Tregarthen ascribe
the cessation of feudal strife during her
short life at 1.-THE Laurels," died while
Hester and Henry were children; and
the boy had early learned the lesson
of vindictiveness from the lips of over
loyal servants. Uniting with hasty
and imperious temper a contempt OF
restraint curious in descendant of the
conservative old Virginian, his rashness
became n constant menace to the pre-
carious truce existing between the two
families; and as Henry grew to man.
hood, the colonel was often reluctant
ly compelled to take the side OF peace
for the sake of setting an example be-
fore his son.
In the case of the daughter, educa-
ton in q boarding-school, where she
had spent the greater portion of her
uHus uoSoSiu'ioh WIN
the Ludlows, had done much to modify
her childish ideas of feudal vengeance;
but she was still enough of a partisan
to be very warm in her defense of the
Latimer rights, and, in common with
her brother, she could never believe
that anything but vindictive malice
actuated the doings of the family in
McNabb's Cove.
Don't you think you are little in.
clined to Judge them harshly, my dear"
Mrs. Ludlow had once ventured to ask,
when Hester had been expressing her
contempt for the Bynums and every
thing connected with them.
mo, ma'am, I'm not. If you knew
them as we'll as we do, you wouldn't
ask such question"
II don't know them at all, but from
what you tell me gather that they are
poor and ignorant, and that they have
had much the worst of the fight all
along. Can't you be a generous en-
emy?"
"They never give one q chance to be
generous. You've no idea how mean
they are. I've heard old Aunt Betty
tell how mamma tried to make peace
when old Mrs. Bynum was sick. Nam
ma sent basket of jellies and dainties
down to the cove, and the next morn
ing the basket and everything in it was
found on our doorstep, smashed into
bits"
"That was certainly vindictive-and
childish. Still think you might for
give even that"
1T isn't q question of forgiveness.
You don't understand, because you've
never been brought in contact with
such people. And as to their having
had the worst of it, there is question
about that. They made poor Grand
father Latimer's life miserable, and l
shall always believe that John Bynum
killed him at last. Besides that, they've
always been annoying and worrying us
in ways that forbid retaliation because
we couldn't demean ourselves to pay
them back in their own coin. No, l
don't think they've had the worst of it,"
When Mrs. Ludlow reported this con-
VeTSutlOI W ueT HuSDduu uc SHlllcu tIu
said: II wouldn't NEEDLE with that
quarrel, if were you; it's pretty deep
ly ingrained on both sides, and shall
be surprised if it doesn't come to
pitched battle some day. If the
colonel had suspicion of what found
out about the trouble in the McNabb
tunnel, / wouldn't care to answer for
the consequences; and as for Henry,
it'll be a miracle if he doesn't get him
self killed in the row. He has the cour-
age of veteran, joined to the rashness
of headstrong boy; and he's as good
a hater Us any of the Bynums."
ats great pity" rejoined peaceable
Mrs. Ludlow. ut gives one an uncom-
Portable feeling of living over q volcano
that may burst out at any moment.
Isn't there any way to put stop to it?"
only one that I can think Of. and
that's been tried 1t occurred to me