Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-09-11

which ran over the hills, conveying oil from
the wells to the great tanks near the railroad,
where it was kept ready for transportation.
These fires were to keep the oil from freezing.
and several men were employed together,
And then stories Of wonderful oil-wells were
told, which aroused Teddy's imagination
to the highest pitch. All the oil which had
been struck was near the northern border OF
the town, miles away from their home, and
it cost from two to three thousand dollars for
the necessary apparatus to "bore for OIL
All Teddy's story papers did not give him the
faintest idea how he was to become the propri-
etor of an oil. well.
Now, an enterprising Irishman, thinking
be had discovered indications in his barren
pasture, was raising money to "bore," by
selling shares in the prospective we'll. And,
as if luck did mean to befriend them, Teddy
thought Patsy Flanagan was seized, just, at
this juncture, with desire to buy their place.
To be sure he offered less than it cost, but
what was any place WORTH now, that had no
signs of oil about it, Teddy would like to
know. And he gave Nora no peace. coax
ing and arguing, getting angry and shedding
tears, by turns, and refusing to listen for a
moment to poor Nora's suggestions that "there
might not be drap at all, at all, in Danny
Cregan's we'll, and then, with the bit of place
gone, and no money, what would become Of
them ?"
On this particular evening, Teddy was very
much vexed and disturbed in his mind. At
ter he had pictured the prospective good for
tune in such an attractive way, for Nora to
be entirely unmoved, and throw cold water
on all his hopes and plans, was too much for
Teddy's temper. He arose from the door
step, where they were sitting, and strobe off,
knocking over the baby, kicking at the cat,
and throwing stone at the chickens. Poor
Nora's heart was full almost to bursting; she
did 80 hate to go against Teddy! She was
naturally yielding, and she "loved Teddy so
much" .t. -., -.. -..r.
Besides, as he said, she was younger and
only girl "Maybe he do be right" she
said to herself, faltering in her resolution.
"It's afther gettin' worun out both OF US IS,
with the harud woruk, an the little till ate,
an may be sickness before us-an the poor
bye's heart so set on the oilwell! But then
it do be so much like ganlblin'! An Danny
Cregan not quite right in his head, they all
says, an the last woruds the mother says be-
in, How'd fast to the bit place, Nora. Don't
be afther lettin' anybody take it away from
yezp 1t don't be for the likes of us to make
forchins. We must be contint wild kapin'
the roof over our heads, and the bit an sup
in our mouths. The saints be good till US! =
but Teddy'll niver be contint till he sells the
place and buys part of the oil we'll that
Danny Cregan hasn't at all, at all!'
And with this melancholy conclusion No
ra's tears fell thick and fast. But voice at
the gate made her wipe them away quickly.
Teddy had come back. Nora was afraid he
had gone "across the river" They had
"6rst cousin living on the other side, and
once, lately, when Teddy had got angry with
her, he had gone over there, and stayed two
or three days, neglec,ing his work ; and there
were wild boys there, who led him into mis-.
chief. Nora was happy to find that he had
not gone. Perhaps he had come back to tell
her that he was sorry for getting angry with
her. "Nver bye had better heart inside
iv him than Teddy had-before the oil favur
TUX him." Nora was always saying.
But Teddy hadn't come back to say that
he was sorry.
"It's now or niver-wll ye sell the place to
Patsy Flanagan an make yer forchin p he
called. "Misther Mcdonald is afther giving
his consint, an the papers is all ready for
signin.'
Mr.. Mcdonald was their guardian, but he
was hard working man, with large family,
and troubled himself very little about his
wards
"Deed, thin, he would consint till any
thin !" said Nora "Teddy, we'll niver make
forchin in Danny Cregan's oil-well! Don't
you behave it, dear. Don't let him desave
you, wild his blarneyin' tongue. Don't ask
me to sell the roof over our heads, an be at:
ther turnin the childer and all intil the street.
An where would we 60 ag'in we got the fine
forchin, if ye are sure Of it? 0, Teddy, ye
used to think dale of me an the childer, an
now We won't be afther breakin' our hearuts ?"
cts you that has the blarneyin' tongue
Lave of. now, an tell me, for good and all,
will ye give yer consint p
mo, niver !" said Nora, firmly, though
sadly.
Teddy went off, calling out angry words
that almost broke poor Nora's heart. But
the recollection of her mothers words kept
her resolution strong.
81 will 'howld fast to the home, and take
good care of them ALL as the mother said !;
and may be Teddy'll be afther forgivin' me,
some day." she said over and over again to
herself: "But if Danny Cregan do be afther
strikin' oil, Teddy'll never forgive me, sure"
And poor little Nora's tears fell fast, and
her heart was torn by doubts whether, after
all, it might not have been better to consent
She was suddenly aroused from her sad refec.
tions by the sound Of footsteps Two men
were coming around the corner Of the house /;
they must have come across the fields, as there
was no road in that direction but strangers
were not uncommon in town, now that the oil
excitement was raging they came from Pc.
trola, and Oil City, and even from Pittsburg,
almost every day. So Nora was not surpris-
ed. One of these men was Aashily dressed,
with gold chain, like cable, and large
diamond pin. Men who had struck oil usu-
ally dressed like that. Nora recognized them
as s'oil men," at once. They looked rather
curiously about the little place. Then one of
them advanced toward her.
"Good evening, little girl" he said, afably.
eve were told that we should find washer
woman here"
81 do be the washerwoman ?" And Nora
arose and made little courtesy, as her moth
er had taught her to do.
"You look rather small for washerwoman.
Isn't it pretty hard for you ?"
81 gets money for it." said Nora, simply.
"And this is lonesome, out-of-the way
place. Don't you ever wish that you lived
down by the river, where the other Irish peo-
pie live -
"The hit of q nlace do be our oMn-We