The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-02-04
THE CLOUGHS AND THE HEATHER.
CLOUGHS.

| ClOUGHS.
WHAT passion is it which keeps man
quarreling to all eternity, which clings to
him after every other human emotion
has deserted him-yea, which grasps his
soul in its steel clutches even as the man
is growing cold in death? Avarice.
1t had kept John Clough and Baby
lonia Heatherclough quarreling for forty
years. They were deadly enemies. He
was widower, seventy-fve years old;
she was widow, and seventy.
Promising young couple to build a
romance ON, aren't they?
Both laid claim to the fairest and rar-
est bit of property in the village OF
Heathegton. This property was known
in all Heatherton, all the county, indeed
through wellnigh the whole State, as the
Bone" That was because it was the
bone OF contention which these two old
misers had been picking at for forty
years. The Bone" consisted of wide
old house, surrounded by magnificent
park, English style, with grand trees,
and a lovely little lake in the center,
wherein tiny darting fish turned their
glancing, red.gold sides up to the light.
Here, on the UNCOVERED banks of this
lakelct, begin my story. Here, whether
by remarkable accident or by real fell
intent of the adversary himself, at the
self-same hour and moment, the two
people who had been fighting each other
for forty years met.
"There," said Babylonia Heather
clough to the stout serving-maid on
whose arm she leaned" there's that old
wretch! / wonder if he is going to live
forever"
Who's that, Mariana?" said John
Clough to his granddaughter. " It isn't
yes, it is it's my old friend, that sweet
voiced female of the name of Babylonia.
They said last week that she was on her
Edeath- bed. Death-bed! Humph! She'll
never die. They won't have ber in heaven
and t'other place amt big enough for
her"
At this they came up opposite. 1t was
painful sight, these two, in whom hate
had outlived strength, glaring at each
other like couple of toothless tigers.
The spite and venom of nearly half a
century hissed in their trembling voices
as they fought each other with hard
words, almost the only weapons left
them in their helpless, lovelcss old age.
Clough spoke first:
"Td have you understand, mistress,
that my park isn't public highway"
"Your park!" screeched Babylonia. 81
suppose my silver spoons belong to you,
too, don't they? John Clough, Pm sew
enty years old this day, and you're the
first man l ever saw who was mean
enough to try to drive childless widow
out of the home her father gave her
with his dying breath"
John Clough WINGED little, but he
gathered courage in a moment. 81
wouldn't try to put you out of the house,
mistress, if you didn't have better one
to go to. What possesses you to want
to hang to that old barn l don't know.
It leaks all over. The neighbors tell me
that whenever it rains you have to keep
pans a.settin' all over the floor to catch
the water that leaks in. You'll catch
your death there yet. woman"
"Don't you flatter yourself, John
Clough. I'll live to hear the bell toll for
your funeral and long enough after it to
come into my rights. I'll build a monu-
ment over your grave then, I'll promise
you. I've life enough in me to last
twenty years yet, I'd have you know"
at isn't life, it's the Old Nick in the
woman, that's what it is" muttercd
Clough to himself.
"Come, grandpa, let's go home,' said
his granddaughter.
mind your business, Mariana" re-
Piled the old man, fretfully. "Look
here, mistress, do you know what
know? Your father never came by this
property honestly. The Marshalls hain't
an honest bone in their bodies and in my
opinion they hadn't fur to 60 to learn
it. I've got the law on my side, ma'am
and I'll law ye till haven't red cent
left"
The old woman looked at him with the
sneer of vicious witch. "You'd better
be making your peace with your God
and your neighbors," said she. "You
haven't so much time left you in this
world, dear knows, that you can afford
to spend it lawing a widow out of her
home. Better be making your peace
with your God and your neighbors,
say. It'll take all the time you've got
left to do that, particularly if you in
tend to get the forgiveness OF all the
orphans you've swindled."
1t was like touching raw spot with .
red. hot iron to the old man. He clutched
the air with helpless rage. In fight OF
tongues q man is no match for woman.
"Come, grandpa, come," said Mariana
/ "Mind your business, Mariana," an
swered the old man. He turned to his
triumphant enemy: "Old woman" J" said
he, "if you ever set foot In these here
grounds again, by st. Pat, I'll drive you
ont with shot-gun"
i With that he hustled of at the top Of
his hobbling old speed, not quick enough,
though, to escape her womans last
word.
g You old viper!" she shFieked afte1
him. "rll outliye you, and como into
rns, rrvvn ~/k~p WON ara IN V0uP arAV0