The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-02-18

| WHlppeu one OF Unem ana 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 a lawsuit over the Nc
| Nabb coal vein, which is situated on
q part of the colonels 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 frightful story of lawless-
ness!"
"It is rather savage, when you come
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-
tons"
"Still, I should think it would be easy
enough to get evidence against them"
'Do you?-then suppose you try it.
That's bright idea, Hugh; you are in
terested 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 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 q
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. I can't imagine
you in the role of a fire eater"
$50 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, don't blame you;
can't do it myself"
81 shouldn't have put it in any such
uncharitable FORM" responded Ludlow,
reiectively, "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
to cost him his happiness. I'm no hand
to meddle, as you know, Hugh, but it's
well enough to consider these things
before it's too late"
''That's the pity of it, Tom," replied
Ringbrand, quietly. I'm afraid it's
too late now. l realized two things
pretty clearly last night-one was that
life without Hester wouldn't be worth
living, and the other was that I'd rather
die than have her find 1ne out for what
Iam.''
That's putting it rather harshly;
you haven't any good reason for think
ing that you are"
"a coward-say it. Tom; / ought to
be able to bear the truth. and that is
the truth. know it; I've known it
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
versity days; you don't know how !
despise myself when 1 think of it ALL"
mo, don't remember anything but
what 1 said a moment ago-that you
were always peaceable sort of fellow"
THAT isn't it; it's one thing to be
peaceable from principle, and quite an
other to be restrained by wholesome
fear of consequences. It's always been
the latter with me. 1 can look back
over my life and see how I've been con-
tinually lodging. When 1 was little
fellow, the fear of a whipping was the
strongest incentive to good behavior,
and the same argument has held good
ever since. You know that, Tom, if
you'd only admit it,
"No, 1 don't know anything of
the kind" protested Ludlow.
well, it's true. You remember that |
affair with Turnbull 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 1nerest sham; 7 was |
afraid to resent it, and that's the |
TRUTH"
"Nonsense!" retorted Ludlow; "you |
did just right not to demean yourself |
by fighting with a 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?"
"It's amusing to hear you vilify your
self. But seriously, Hugh, this is a
crisis that's got to be met. take your
word for it that you're properly in love
with Hester Latimer; if she does you
the honor to return your Affection
which, take it, is not yet foregone
conclusion-why, you're lucky fel-
low. and you should be thankful enough
to fight her battles, and those of her
father and brother if need be. 1t may
not require such a phenomenal degree
of physical courage, but it'll ask for
some of the moral variety; and there's
always wide possibility that it'll de-
mand both in heroic proportions. If
l were in your PLACE I should fight the
battle beforehand, then, if you find
you're not going to be up to it, the hon
orable thing is to pull out while the
girl is yet fancy free. That's pretty
L. A-l1