The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-03-04
FABLE THE lIItor.-CoNrINuED. /

DIVE, ETC, ETC.
FABLE THE iInar-CoSrISuEp
'fPut up with my land--you! Why
il can't be; it can't be. There's never
heen when Leys Croft didn't belong to
a Blackthorn. 'Twouldn't be in the
nature of thingsr' he exclaimed, still
half bewildered from such blow, but
with glow again in his eyes; the while
Marrish, the mortgage, sat stern and
stolid, pressing his broad-brimmed
beaver between his knees. "We've
owned and farmed Leys Croft, me and
my forebears, for hundreds of years
thousands, more like-and there isn't
one of 'em but would turn round and
curse me out of his grave. 'Twould be
worse than being beggar TO that old
curmudgeon up in London for me TO
give up the land that goes down from
father to son. / say, 'twould be like
King George giving up England to
Boney, If L was to give up Legs Croft to
any but a Blackthorn Of the straight
line. My grandfather was born in this
house, like his grandfather before him,
and so was |, and so was my-my girl.
koow every clod in the fields since /
VIVA that high; and to be told l must
give up the landl No"
His voice was prematurely old, but ii
treil5led rather from a sense Of supreme
outrage than from age, and, after al
most breaking down when it spoke Of
the girl, it came down upon the mo"
startlingly round and full.
"Well, Tom Blackthorn," said the
/ or ditor, 'you've only got to raise the
mcaey. and Legs Croft IS yours as sure
as Welsteads mine.'
"Welstead, indeed-that you bought
for money; rs if money could make a
thing a mans own, like mines mine. ="
"Td like to see II better title than
hard cash, though" said Marrish,
with somohing distantly akin to a
smile. The question is-can you
raise hundred poundP"
no"
Then you must give up the land"
~No!"
"rhen, Tom Blackthorn, you're an
obstinate old fool. And il 'twasn't
you, I'd call man that won't take the
only way he's got 10 pay his good law
ful debts long way worse name than
fool. Howsoever, the laws on my
side; you ride over, or walk over TO
Winchester, and ask Lawyer Lake, and
lesrn for six-and-eightpence, il you've
got it. what i tell you for nothing at
all. You are an unlucky devil, Tom
Blaokthorn; but that's no call why the
piper's to be paid by me. "
''Ah! You've come to turn me and
my girl out OF house and homer"
'I'll have to foreclose on Legs Croft.
That was the bond" ..
1'he broken-down yeoman, whose land
was the core Of his heart, glilped down
hard sob, took down his hat from a
peg and put it on, armed himself with
tough walking-stick out Of corner,
and then, from the depth Of a drawer,
fsbed up big key, which he handed to
his creditor. Goodbye, Enoch Mar
rist.p said he, without looking him in
tho face. IL can't shake hands, but
HI strobe towards the door.
"Nhats this for?" asked Marrish,
lingering the key. where are you OF
10 powp"
''Of the land that isn't mine-that's
ali. I'm going 10 fetch Patience; and
thcn well 20" {"
Go! Whcre?'
whats that to youp'
"Of all the obstinate Old foolsi I've
got to foreclose yet; and II hadn't,
t.rire's no cali 10 turn out as II the house
wts aiire
And do you think, said Blackthorn,
Background and looking him full in the
faSii 'I'll sleep another night on the
place I've sold for mess Of pottageP
III find the Ice Of haystack some
wtsre oil the land for my lass; and
brl that's naught to you II you was q
Biackthorn, you'd understand. I'll put
yol 90 10 expense nor trouble. I'll
cary away just my stick. aud the
clc hes stand in, and the girl. She's
mipe. But | won't carry of out Of
Lc,s Croft so much as the muck on my
bc,ls; I'll wipe them clean by the gate
or ihc Four Acre; and"
Come, Tom--if you'd only hear a
msi out, instead OF being such an OBJ
'Th true / can't afford TO 20 without
muncy or land; these war times are
crml hard. Ican't; but--l will!'
~Whatp" cried Blackthorn, facing
rcsIna again.
twill That's what / say. I'll TAX,
Psiionce instead Of both Of EN-
there"
tH-s---H