If you have never read the short story "The Interlopers" by Saki, pen name for author H. H. Munro, you should, its excellent writing, an outstanding example of a well written short story.
The main characters Ulrich and Georg inherited their animosity that stemmed from a lawsuit between their grandfathers, which resulted in the von Gradwitz family taking ownership of a stretch of disputed forest land. Even though the feud predates their birth, Ulrich and Georg have hated each other since childhood.
The story begins as Ulrich hopes to catch Georg poaching in the forest so that he has an excuse to kill him.
They both suddenly meet as a tree crashes down trapping both beneath it.
The irony of life becomes evident as they resolve they resolve their old feud only to be..?
We see that forgiveness is possible in the most dire of circumstances and that most people have the desire to help and not harm others. There is no doubt evil people in our world capable of horrible things, yet like our Lord we must do our best to serve and forgive!
Here are a few excerpts for the short story:
"..Ulrich was silent for a few minutes, and lay listening to the weary screeching of the wind. An idea was slowly forming and growing in his brain, an idea that gained strength every time he looked across at the man who was fighting so grimly against pain and exhaustion. In the pain and languor that Ulrich himself was feeling the old fierce hatred seemed to be dying down...In all the countryside there are none that could hinder if we willed to make peace. I never thought to do other than hate you all my life, but I think I have changed my mind about things too, this last half-hour. And you offered me your wine-flask... Ulkrich von Gradwitz, I will be your friend...For a space both men were silent, turning over in their minds the wonderful changes that this dramatic reconciliation would bring about...
from the book: The Complete Works of Saki (out of print).
H. H. Munro Biography
Hector Hugh Munro (Dec 18, 1870 - Nov 14, 1916) was a witty British author who published under the pen name SAKI or H.H. Munro. The inspiration for the pen name "Saki" is unknown, it may be based upon a character in a poem or on a South American monkey. Given Munro's intellect, wit, and mischevious nature it's possible it was based on both simultaneously. As a writer, Munro (Saki) was a master of the short story form and is often compared to O. Henry and Dorothy Parker. E.F. Benson shares his sardonic style.
Munro was born in Akyab, Burma (now known as Myanmar) in 1870. In 1872 while she was on a trip to England, his mother Mary was charged by a cow. She suffered a miscarriage, never recovered, and died in 1872 when Munro was only two years old. After her death, the Munro children were sent from Burma back to England where they lived with their grandmother and aunts in a strict puritanical household. In his early career, Munro became a police officer in India and was posted to Burma where he contracted malaria before returning to England in 1895..." from the article: H H Munro (Saki)
I would urge you to get the book from the library or order through this link and introduce yourself to works of H. H. Munro.
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