The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-07-14
The HealingOf
a Social Feud
By l.. LUMLEY

lie river at workman upOn q busy
midsummer Saturday is not unlike
a lesser Henley at the point OF dissolu-
ton, a mufHed tumult Of departure
punctuated by the sQueals of steam
launches, and the excited directions and
Contradictions 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 un-
charitableness; and on the latter, Of cold
disapproyal-a condition Of Affairs
which was a constant source of delight
to the circle in which the Mainlys gy-
rated brilliantly, and round which the
Laismeres yainly lowered, with those
cursed g0loshes, Ike a milestone round
our necks. as Laismere. careless Of
metaphor, constantly exclaimed. allud-
ing TO the source Of his wealth as a
manufacturer
Mrs, Laismcre. as she sat Eliminating
upon the subject Of the Mainlys. allowed
/ her eye occasionally 20 rest upon the
opposite bank Of the river. from which
/ the boats were dropping of 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
lll-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
stinctiyeiy followed the direction Of his
wiie's gaze he forgot his cigar in the |
sensation caused by the spectacle OF
Mainly. In neat duck suit. coiling rope |
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 eve
swept the Mainly decks, and the Mainly
eye swept those Of the Vanity. but
neither by so much as an instants
pause, revealed that any mutual shock
had boon caused. The cold beam Of
searchlight could not have been. appar-
emily, less inquiring.
In both yachts the final work of prep.
aration proceeded. On board the wher-
ry the Laismeres sat in silent state
but secretly longing to explode" upon
the subject Of the Mainlys. On board
the Puck (as 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 10 declare, that You
ceased to wonder where she got her fair. I
ness from.
The Puck was first to cast her moor
ngs and drop down the river. not a helm.
'ul puff Of wind rustling the TRANQUIL {
evening. 4
An hour later the Laismeres' impos-
ng boat lay mOOred above Wroxham
Broad, in the shelter OF the tall trees B
hat fringed the river at this point J
Alongside the grassy bank opposite was !
he Puck. C
with curiosity, carefully screened by
he curtains OF their cabin window Mr.
nd Mrs. Laismere had watched certain
reparations, the most interesting M y
which was the erection Of a snug tent J.
pom the bank. Evidently IL was In q
ended for the occupation Of Mrs. Main -
y who fitted busily to and from the l
luck, while her husband drove home d
egs and tautened ropes. u
At length the couple retired into the
abin Of the cutter, and. from the
FUNDS OF blinking china and laughter
hlch presently arose It was evident
hat they were absorbed In the novelty
a picnic.
Not so the Laismeres. A certain
mount OF pomp Of a portable descrip.
on accompanied their dinner even
IRE.
But nature was in a restless mood
ID by and by the wild duck. in the z
iannels close at hand. woke M ami +
implanted Of the shaking Of the reeds
nd the distant Disconnected erumblo
lhuhdor rolled up. A moment later
nash OF blue-green lightning M ND Is
e ripping face of the river. After
al II was quick cali 20 arms: y
rough the trees and rushes. flick +
ing up the water, whistled the !
nd' aud, lastly. the rain. driving j
'gonally, ratified upon the leaves and g
ised into the water. =
Above the din came suddenly a call: :
Wherry Vanity-ahoyi" ?
Immediately afterwards a Pickering q
nj was 70 be seen on the Puck. and
lightning revealed Mainly crawl
about her deck fumbling for the g
inter Of the dingy.
hen muilied sobbing voice arose
m the Tapping cracking tent on 7
bank: The
Arthur, Arthur where are you2 yer
ke me QUIT Something dreadfuls iea
opened" Y
4
iere crashing peal Of thunder yer
'wned the words. Rer
BE brave, darling" roared Mainly.
VI must stay whore you are. the
ms half full Of water and there's