Middletown transcript., 1921-10-03
The End Of a
Feud
By MARTHA MACWlLLIAMS.

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q 1891, by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
Miss Sue dropped in upon the gos'
siper, Mrs. Nanny, while that lady was
washing up breakfast things to say
breathlessiy: Must be some truth in
this talk. Of the world. coming to an
end! Actually Liza Brown came to
church last night with q beau-and
who should the beau be but Prof. Nc
Goodin!''
mol" Mrs. Nanny cried. Don't
ask me to believe that! Why, she'd
run if man more than said 'Howdy'
to her--and as for him why, Brother
Ben says he never recognizes the ex-
istence Of anything in less than six
syllables."
Il know, but l saw them-plain.
Be sure they made one stir in church.
Don't believe ten people heard the
tect, much less the Sermon said Miss
Sue. 1T was funny after dismissal
everybody standing stock still a min
ute, as though waiting for bride and
groom to go down the aisle. And how
they stared-out of eye:corners, you
may say. No telling how long they
would have Kept it up, hadn't been for
Jeff Davis Perry. He may be wild.
but he knows what to do in a plnch,
SO here he steps out, beckons. the
other boys just the least bit-and
there they had the whole congregation
moving. Liza and the professor were
beet-red, knowing what it all meant
but when they had melted into the
crowd they seemed not to mind. How
| know is, walked home right be-
hind 'em.'
What did they talk about?' Mrs.
Nanny broke in.
Miss Sic giggled. "Stars, and the
Chaldees, and the Babe in the
Manger," she said. 'Oh, he's got
words plenty, when he has the mind
for 'em. Then stars really belonged
last night-they were so big and
bright, and looked to be just above
The treetops."
Il do wonder--will that be a go?"
Mrs. Nanny answered refiectively.
Nothing to hinder. Liza has got a
nice property, besides her home. And
he has money in the Building an Loan
besides what he gets for fOoling with
bugs and snails and things at the
laboratory"
Mrs. Farley Pindar knows all that
--better'n we do, l reckon" said Miss
Sue. "She's nosey anyway-then him
boarding in the house so Longevity,
she's Jerry -the-spot."
"She always is-about other peo-
ple's business" Mrs. Nanny commented
acidly. But did you ever hear how
she spoke to him down town one
tlay-and had to tell him who she
WASP"
Miss Sue nodded, saying: Il call
that rich. She can't have her claws
On him very deep. But, mark my
word, she'll hold to him like grim
death. Somebody ought to tell Liza
she's so shy and housekeeping: l
doubt if she has ever heard word"
Multiply this conversation by near
half the houses in Hillside-result,
Hillside's amazement over the
church going. Before next Sunday
bets were laid on the event-covertly,
because Jeff Davis Perry took it upon
himself to discountenance vigorously
any making of the nascent romance
Il sporting event. His word carried
weight, socially and financially, albeit
he was under thirty. and given to
minding his own business. Somehow
standing up for those who could not
stand up for themselves appeared to
him vital part Of his business. Men
ought to fight their own battles
therefore McGoodn did not count. But
Miss Liza, a faded, pretty thing, close
upon forty, withered in the shadow of
Il stern paralytic mother until the time
of love and mating was past, appealed
TO his manhood. She had nobody
nearer than banker-cOuSin who
thought the whole duty Of a 'kinsman
was keeping Liza from wasting her
substance in charity and asking her
to dinner at Christmas and Thanks
giving. She always declined the
invitations-what she did then was
something between her and sundry
pensioners. Nep and Jim, the loyal
black pair, who served her as they
had done her mother, could have told
fine tales, but they held to the silence
they felt due the queer dOings of
quality white folks.
Jeff Davis was the more bound to
her service by the ancient feud be-
tween their grandfathers. It had been
bitter enough, bloody enough, in the
old time to divide church and dis
rupt a political campaign. AS a very
small boy jeff Davis had been taught
to hate the name of Jones. As a
man he laughed at that old rancor.
However, Miss Liza might feel her
name should not be banded about by
light tongues.
She came to church Sunday night
rs usual-but alone. And jeff Davis
took 1t upon himself to walk home with
her. He had his reward, for seated