Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-07-14

lave Is pspt though for three eener.
atoms, and silver mugs enough to serve
all our finds. Uncle's Bible was no
means a ordinary one"
aHov not ?"
i vt las been in the Hawick household
si' os4616, and contains the family regis
~ l0F more than two hundred years.
\ <nSthe last of my branch uncle thought
1 4 would like to have 1t. 1t is queer old
BOX, with great brass clasps. i made
aie.e two solemn promises over It.
hat were they ?"
That would never part with it un-
| ger any circumstances, unless 1t was to
Igive 1t again in his charge, and-and
-
s.Well, what elses''
"That when any other source of help
and comfort failed l would go to it.
don't look so angry, Stephen"
IL think have good cause to be an
CRY 1t was like a prophecy of ill-for
tune Why should he fOrespeak sorrow
for you? And why should he suppose
that you would need help or comfort |
could give your If he had given you a
tnousand pounds, it would have been
more to the purpose"
Maggie looked quickly up.
she had never heard such sentiments
from Stephens lips before.
Then she laughed gaily-
"a thousand pounds, Stephen! Why
what on e9rth should we do with so
much money.
"Buy and drain Drll's Moss, Maggie"
Maggie drew Der eyebrows together,
and looked wonderingly at Stephen, who
had risen and pacing the floor with rap
id, though thoughtful steps.
'Why, love-" she said,anXiOusly," what
can you mean? Dru's Moss! What is
that WORTH" fzer .t tts1 0af
"a few leeches and wild birds now,
Maggie, but acres and acres of golden
wheat and rich meadow grass, if it was
drained. was talking with Thwaites
about it to-day. Both our uplands are
worn out. The Moss lies between us. l
would give five years of my life to own
half of it, and money sufficient to drain
and cultivate it."
"HOw much money would do,
Stephen?"
"A thousand pounds. i could drain
part and then save the proceeds to drain
the rest. But where could l get the
money!"
II was thinking of uncle. Would you
let me ask him p" GAG
Nothing is so wonderful as the growth
of master passion.
In few hours the desire for this par
ticular piece OF land had strengthened
itself so that Stephen began to consider
whether it might not be worth while to
let his wife 90 borrowing Tor him.
The longer he talked the more eager
be became, so that at last Maggie felt
hurt to see what trifle he made of her
feelings, and of the risk that Joseph
would run. ~
However, next day she went to see the
old man. and, as they sat together over
their tea, said:
stephen wants to join Squire Thwaites
in buying the Dru's Moss, uncle"
"What for p
"Why, they talk of great wheat fields
and meadows"
ut will need a sight of drainage, and
that means sight of money. | should
not think Stephen had idle cash suffi
Gent"
"He wants to borrow it,"
JOseph's face clouded.
wonders never cease. 1 thought
would borrow or owe money"
Don't cast up the past, uncle. Stephen
thinks if he could borrow a thousand
pounds, he would make it ten i'm very
few years; and uncle came to-day to
ask you TO lend him it,
You came useless journey, Maggie;
for don't like that pride that makes
Others stOOp for its cOnceit."
'.SQtilre IlWaites said ron ba,l ,,lopty
Of money i'm the bank"
IF had money, I'd never trust it i'm
any bank; but make no more than |
need now. an getting an old man,
Maggie"
"otephen will be- sOrelY disappointed
'.IIc has 10 call to be so. | told him
you would have no fortune, and he quite
scOrned at the thought of the money
with you; he had his choice between you
and Kate Croft, with the Croft manor at
her will"
The old man was quite gloomy after
this talk, and Maggie was almost glad to
escape from the silent hearthstone to the
hustle of her own busy farm and the
noisy welcome of her husband.
Stephen took the refusal very proudly
but the idea had now become paramount
and Joseph Hawick's refusal had only
made him the more determined to carry
out the project. 49,
He had fierce struggle with his pride
and his independence, but the next day
he made arrangements to raise the money
by mortgage OH the I'm that had beer
unincumbered for hundred years.
In a few weeks all arrangements ID
been made, the Moss had been bought,
surveyed and divided, and the partners I'm
| its drainage went to work.
1t proved itselfa drainage of two kinds.
After many hundreds of pounds had
0eec spent to very little purpose, more
experienced surveyors had to be sent fol
aud entirely new means and machinery
used.
Too Iauch had been thrown into the
Moss to ABANDON the project, and vet the
constant cry for money was fast exhaust
ing the patience and purses of both
Thwaites and Stephen Gray. g. H
The former, more able to bear his loss
became, after two years. labor, quite i'm.
different, talked OF the affair as hopeless
and was half angry at Stephen for per-
sisting.
nething like desperation ami
mated ne young farmer, for he had SO
Ear mortgaged his home and estate that
their redemption was hopeless if the
Moss failed him.
Poor Maggie, with two little babies to
care for, strOve to help him by taking
upon herself labors she was totally uniiI
for; and she rapidly broke down be-
tween the unusual physical strain, and
the constant anxious worry regarding
Stephen. ~ 81
III l.x- ~ \
down to those damp, black acres of mud.
Maggie got to hate the name and shud-
der at the sight of Dru's Moss, and she
half feared it had bewitched him for he
worked there long days, until he came