Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-07-30

more efficiently than the most elaborate
system of timbcring.
II was during the progress Of the
lawsuit that JEFF Bynum returned 10
the farm in McNabh's Covci and the
rumor which had pointed to Texas ms
the objective of his migration was con
firmcd by his own story of his Wander
ings. Not rontentcd. however, with
this tribute 10 its veraci'Nt gossip again
busted itself with his affairs, and there
were vague hints of lawless sojourn
in the Lone Star state, coupled with q
still more indefinite intimation that his
career in the welt had terminated I'm
open crime.
Ono othcF element OF discord had
bcen added by the passing years TO the
I.atimer side of the fcud. In the person
of the coloncls son Henry. Tho boys
mother. 10 whose gentle influence the
fireside gossips OF Trcgarthcn ascribe
the cessation of feudal strife during her
short life NJ The Laurels," died while
Hester and Henry were children; md
the hoy had early learned the lesson
Of vindictivcness from the lips Of over
loyal servants. Uniting with hasty
and impcrious temper a contempt of
restraint curious in descendant of the
conservative old Nirginian, his rnshness
became a constant menace 10 the pre-
cartons truce existing between the two
families; and as Henry grew 10 mnn-
hood, the colonel was often reluctant
ly compelled 10 take the side OF peace
for tho sake of setting an example he
fore his son.
In the case of the daughter. educa-
ton in a boarding school, where she
had spent the greater portion Of her
girlhood. and, later, association with
the Ludlows. had done much 10 modify
her childish ideas of feudal vengeance;
but she was still enough Of q partisan
to be very warm in her defense OF the
Latimer rights. and. in common with
her brother, she could never believe
that anything hut yindictive malice
actuatcd the doings of the family In
McNabb'S Cove.
. Don't You think you are little in
clincd 10 Judge them hnrshly, my dcar?"
Mrs. Ludlow had once venturcd 10 ask,
when Hester had been expressing her
contempt for the Bynums and every
thing connected with them.
mo, ma'am, I'm not. IL you knew
them as well as we do, you wouldn't
ask such a question"
II don't know them at all, but from
what you tell me gather that they nrc
poor and ignorant, and that they have
had much the worst OF the fight all
along. Can't you he n generous en-
emy?"
They never give one q chance 20 he
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. Dynum was sick. Mann
ma sent a basket of jcllies and dninties
down 20 the cove, and the next morn
ing the basket and everything in IL 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 a question of forgiveness.
You don't understand, because you've
never been brought in contnct with
such people. And Us 10 their having
had the worst of IL. there Is question
about that. They made poor Grand
father Latimer's life miserable, and
shall always believe that John Bynum
killed him at last. Resides that, they've
always been annoying and worrying us
in ways that forbid retaliation because
we couldn't dcmean ourselves 10 pay
thSim hack in their own coin. No,
'd9n't think they've had the worst Of IT,"
When Mrs. Ludlow reported this con
versation TO her husband he smiled and
said: 81 wouldn't mcddle with thnt
quarrel, If were you; it's pretty deep
ly ingraiucd on both sides. and shall
be surprised il il doesn't come 10
pitched battle some day. II the
out about tho trouble in the McNanb
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. lie has the cour-
age of veteran, joined TO the rnshness
Of headstrong boy: And he's as good
u hater as any of the Bynums."
"1t's great pity" re joined pcaccable
Mrs. Ludlow. at gives one an uncom-
Portable feeling OF living over a volcano
that may burst out at any moment.
Isn't there any way TO put q stop 10 IT."
.1.. knN \ I'll n
that's been tried. 1t occurred TO me
some time ago that the family in the
cove might bc pcIc"ably tEportcd II
the Bynrm farm could be purchased,
and | suggested il to some of our poo
pie in New York. with the caution that
the colorcl mustn't lie told Of il until
the purchase was fact accomplished.
They put the matter in the hands of
our attorneys and told them not 20 bag
gle about the price. don't know how
the negotiations were conducted. bu.
imagine the Bynums found out that
the company was in the deal and they
refused point-blank to sell ut any price.
That settled IL, and il means that they
propose TO stay and fight it out.
There'll be fight, too, when We try to
open the McNabb vein; and hope we
can keep the Latimcrs out of it,"
But you mustn't get into il your
self, Tom," intcrposcd Mrs. Ludlow.
Ludlow smiled grimly. "Iou think
] wouldn't cut much of n figure rs n
fire eater, don't you? Well, now, you
lust wait and see. When the time
comes I'll not 90 out of my way TO pick
n quarrel or TO avoid one; but if those
fellows interfere with the work they'll
have 10 stand from under. And they'll
find that they haven't a whole-souled,
irascible, generous southerner to deal
with, either"
1t was during the summer of Ring
brands visit TO Tregarthen that the
question of resuming work in the aban-
doned tunnel came up again. JEFF
Bynum heard the news in the store in
the village, and he told his brother Jed
when they were driving back 10 the
cove in the evening.
docs you-all aim 10 low hit ?" asked
the vounOar Rvnum