The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1905-07-08
TheHealingof
a Social Feud



midsummer Saturday is not unlike
a lesser Henley at the point of dissolu-
ton; a muffled tumult of departure.
punctuated by the squeals of steam
launches, and the excited directions and
counter-dfrections of the occupants of
entangled craft.
On the evening of such a day, in the
thick of the craft below the bridge, lay
the wherry Vanity, a marvel of multum
in parvo ingenuity, with every possible
luxury on board.
The Laismeres-lately come aboard
were justly proud of the Vanity. Per-
haps the only regret that disturbed the
mind of Mrs. Laismere, as she lay back
in a wicker rocking chair upon the roof
of the deckhouse, was that the Mainlys
were not there to witness the wonders
of the wherry
For between the Laismeres and the
Mainlys there existed, on the former
side, barrier of envy hatred, and I'M
charitableness; and on the latter, of cold
disapproval-a condition of affairs
which was constant source of delight
to the circle in which the Mainsys gy-
rated brilliantly and round which the
Laismeres vainly lowered. with those
cursed goloshes, like a milestone round
our necks," as Laismere, careless of
metaphor, constantly exclaimed, allud-
ing to the source of his wealth as a
manufacturer
Mrs. Laismere, as she sat Illuminating
upon the subject of the Mainlys, allowed
her eye occasionally to rest upon the
opposite bank of the river. from which
the boats were dropping off downstream
one by one,
Suddenly, she put out her hand and
grasped the arm of Laismere, who was
also reclining, rejecting, and, in addi-
ton, smoking, while the crew of two
all-round Norfolk Shippers" pursued
amphibious occupations.
The action caused Laismere to drop
his cigar, and with it a crisp summary
of his disapproval. But. as his eyes in
stinctively followed the direction of his
wife's gaze, he forgot his cigar in the
sensation caused by the spectacle of
on the deck of a smart cutter which had
come into view with the departure of a
substantial boathouse from it's moor
ings.
simultaneously, the Laismere eye
swept the Mainly decks, and the Mainly
eye swept those of the Vanity, but
neither, by so much as an instant's
pause, revealed that any mutual shock
had been caused. The cold beam of a
searchlight could not have been, appar-
emily, less inquiring.
In both yachts the final work of prep
aration proceeded. On board the wher-
~, the Laismeres sat in silent state
but secretly longing to explode" upon
the subject of the Mainlys. On board
the Puck las the gold letters at her bows
betokened herr, Mainly was full of ac-
tivity, while above the cabin hatch
bobbed his wife's captivating little
blonde head-so blonde, Mrs. Laismere
had been heard to declare, that you
ceased to wonder.where she got her fair
ness from.
The Puck was first to cast her moor
ings and drop down the river, not a help
full puff of wind rustling the tranquil
evening.
An hour later the Laismeres impos-
ing boat lay moored above Wroxham
Broad, in the shelter of the tall trees
that fringed the river at this point.
Alongside the grassy bank opposite was
the Puck
With curiosity, carefully screened by.
the curtains of their cabin window, Mr..
and Mrs. Laismere had watched certain
preparations, the most interesting of
which was the erection of snug tent
upon the bank. Evidently it was in
tended for the occupation of Mrs. Main
ly, who fitted busily to and from the
Puck, while her husband drove home
pegs and tautened ropes.
At length the couple retired into the
cabin of the cutter, and, from the
sounds of climbing china and laughter
which presently arose, it was evident
that they were absorbed in the novelty
of picnic.
Not so the Laismeres. A certain
amount of pomp of a portable descrip-
tion accompanied their dinner even
here.
But nature was in restless mood
and by and by the wild duck, in the
channels close at hand, woke up and
complained Of the shaking of the reeds
and the distant, disconnected grumble
Of thunder rolled up. A moment later
flash of blue-green lightning lit up
the ripping face of the river. After
that it was a quick call TO arms;
through the trees and rushes. flick
ering up the water, whistled the
wind; and, lastly. the rain. driving
diagonally. ratified upon the leaves and
Missed into the water.
Above the din came suddenly call:
tsWherry Vanity ahoyip
Immediately afterwards Pickering
light was to be seen on the Puck. and
the lightning revealed Mainly crawl