Mower County transcript., 1903-12-09
CHAPTER II.

closely allied Dy blood or by friendship
the breach is apt to be all the more
deadly and bitter than if they had been
only mere acquaintance.
And when the same men quarrel
over a woman, covertly or openly, be-
ware of the consequences, for a very
pretty feud is apt to ensue.
1t was Richard Dysart's misfortune
to be born the younger son in family
long in lineage but short in wealth.
He was bred to the law, having hopes
of family influence and preferment in
that quarter, his own taste being for
the army. But old Sir Arthur Dysart,
his father. had his own way, and Rick
re9igiously kept his terms and ate
his dinners at the Temple.
The elder brother, also named Arthur
there had always been Sir Arthur
Dysart since Charles Seconds time
was OF a studious turn, being slight
and dark in stature and complexion,
presenting a complete antithesis to his
Berserk younger brother. In tastes
and likings they were also at opposites.
Arthur seldom shot over his fathers 8
preserves; Rick was never so happy
as when he had gun over his shoulder
and a good dog at heel. Arthur loved
books and flowers and music, and was
something of colorist; Rick almost
hated the sight of a book, and esteemed
a ride to the hounds worth more than
a library of Elzevirs, and the merry
oe
than a classic symphony
But it must not be inferred that
Arthur was by any means milk-sop-
he was a type of the modern English
gentleman, than whom there is none
finer OH Gods footstool; and if his
pursuits were of the more peaceful
order, be could, nevertheless, be trusted
to hold his own anywhere and with
anybody.
Now, the Dysart acres were strictly
entailed, and as younger son Richard
Dysart could not expect more than
a modest inheritance. Old Sir Arthur
had foreseen this, and managed to lay
by few hundreds which at his death
he intended to bequeath to Rick to tide
him over the briefless days that come
to every budding barrister. Stella Dy-
sart, the sister, was amply provided
for, her mothers jointure having been
settled upon her absolutely.
But the will, put off from day to
day, was never made, and one morning
the old baronet came a cropper over
his horse, was carried home with a
broken neck, and a new Sir Arthur,
tenth of his line, reigned at Denecroft.
The latter was perfectly cognizant
of his fathers intentions respecting
his brother, and meant to scrupulously
carry them out, when an unexpected
obstacle occurred, to wit, bitter and
acrimonious quarrel betwixt the
brothers.
Marcia Churchill was the woman in
the case, daughter of old Squire
Churchill, the reigning beauty of at
least three counties, at this time in
the heydey Of her social triumphs.
Perhaps because Marcia Churchill
and Stella Dysart were representatives
of two distinct types of beauty they
WSlC plCCIy ClOoC llcl1uS. MdICld
might have stood for one of DuMauri-
er's women, for she was tall and
stately, patrician, and severely beauti-
full. Stella Dysart scarcely came up
to her shoulder, being as petite and as
pretty as a Dresden shepherdess.
The four young people had known
one another from childhood, when
they romped together in the woods of
Denecroft or roamed over the daisy
meadows OF Gatewood, the Churchill
property. AS boys the two Dysarts
We'd with each other as to who should
be Marcias champion, and with char
acterlsuc feminine impartiality she
shoWered her favors upon each in turn.
NOW it was Arthur's week, and again
Richard would be her knight.
The rivalry continued, more quietly
but fully as intense, after the brothers
came back from Cambridge, but both
OF them feared to put the question of
precedence to the test. Marcia went
through two seasons scathless and an
parently heart-free, so perhaps her
AAAAAo =" e"o AAauC VI dlIcI dill.
1t Arthur Dysart had the ADVANTAGE
OF the heirship on his side and OF
nearness to the Churchill estates while
Richard was grinding away at his
laWbooks in London, the latter had his
own little compensations, for he saw
the girl constantly during the season
and lost no occasion of quietly keeping
himself to the fore. Richard OWNED
somehow that Arthur would not pro.
pose while his father lived, and sc
was content to wait, hoping the while
that his own ship would come into
port.
Matters were at this stage of truce
and tension when there came the news
OF Sir Arthur's death.
Richard went down for the funeral
and then it was discovered that there
was no will. Immediately his position
dashed upon him; he was absolutely
dependent upon his brothers bounty
for naturally his allowance stopped
with the demise of his father. It also
dawned upon him that now Marcia
would be called upon to make de-
cision, and that she would perhaps pre-
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