People's voice., 1899-08-03

the farm in McNabb's Cove; and the
rumor which had pointed to Texas as
the objective of his migration was con-
frmed by his own story Of his wander
ings. Not contented, however, with
this tribute to its veracity, gossip again
busted itself with his affairs, and there
were vague hints of lawleSs sojourn
in the Lone Star state, coupled with
still more indefinite intimation that his
career in the west had terminated in
open crime.
One other element of discord had
been added by the passing years to the
Latimer side of the feud, in the person
of the colonels son Henry. The boys
mother, to whose gentle influence the
freside gossips Of Tregarthen ascribe
the cessation of feudal strife during her
short life at "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 a descendant of the
conservative old Virginian, his rashness
became constant menace to the pre-
carious truce existing between the two
families; and as Henry grew to man.
hood, the colonel was often reluctant
1y 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 boarding-school, where she
had spent the greater portion OF her
girlhood, and, later, association with
the Ludlows, had done much to modify
her childish ideas of feudal vengeance;
but she was still! enough Of 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.
'No, ma'am, I'm not. If you knew
them as well as we do, you wouldn't
ask such question"
81 don't know them at all, but from
what you tell me l 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 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"
ut isn't a 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 CT it, 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. 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,
don't think they've had the worst of it. v
When Mrs. Ludlow reported this con
versation to her husband he smiled and
said: 81 wouldn't meddle with that
quarrel, if were you; it's pretty deep.
ly ingrained on both sides, and l shall
be surprised if it doesn't come to q
pitched battle some day. If the
colonel had suspicion of what 1 founo
out about the trouble in the McNabl
tunnel, ! wouldn't care to answer fol
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 rashnes.
of headstrong boy; and he's as goot
hater as any of the Bynums."
"It's great pity, "rejoined peaceabl,
Mrs. Ludlow. 1T gives one an uncom
Portable feeling 6f living over volcano
that may burst out at any moment
Isn't there any way toput stop to it?'
"0nly one that l can think of, ant
that's been tried. 1t occurred to MI
some time ago that the family in tn
cove might be peaceably deported i
the Bynum farm could be purchased
and 1 suggested it to some Of our pee
pie in New York, with the caution tha
the colonel mustn't be told of it unit
the purchase was fact accomplished
They put the matter in the hands o
our attorneys and told them not to hae
gle about the price. I don't know ho'
the negotiations were conducted, bu
7 imagine the Bynums found out ths
the company was in the deal and the
refused point-blank to sell at any pric,
That settled it, and it means that the
propose to stay and fight it ou
There'll be fight, too, when we try
open the McNabb vein; and hope W
can keep the Latimers out of it"
But you mustn't get into 1t YOU