Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-10-11

(such friendly way he had of saying
my dear fellowrO, that's of no con-
sequence whatever. The ground is
never used, as you see for yourself; the
family long ago stopped giving it any
care. and if any of the heirs are to be
found you couldn't hire them to be
buried in it. Besides, to make itdoubly
secure, I've reserved a way to the
ground on the other side;" and he pulled
out his map and showed me. sure
enough. a right of way mapped out from
the road to the ground by a roundabout
path, and through land not very availa-
BILE for other purposes.
left him, convinced that it was all
right, but still not feeling quite SO firm
in my possession as before.
l didn't like the cold-blooded lam
guage of that ancient conveyance, ''to-
gether with right of way to and from
the said burying-ground, for the pur-
pose of burying their dead, to them
and their heirs forever"
l kept my own counsel this time.
There was no need of Maria's knowing
any thing about this wretched fright
of way" for women are such hands to
borrow trouble.
We planned our cottage, taking the
pleasure in it that every one does in ar
ranging every room to his or her
needs.
Some of the rooms, of course, looked
toward the river, but the dining-r0om,
situated in a wing or IL" of the house,
had front window with fine view of
the village and the big church.
The house was finally completed, and
the grounds gradually, under my di-
rection, assumed the proper shape,
and looked all the more pleasing from
| their having been rather rough by
nature.
The ascent, which had been quite
steep. was reduced to a number of
gentle terraces between which the road
wound gracefully. We were happy in
our new home, and every little i'm
provement about the place was a
pleasure though it did cost money and
labor. But after few months we
learned that our place was appreciated
by others as we'll as by ourselves.
One day stranger called and inquired
for me. After speaking of the weather
and the pleasant view, he said he'd
''like to look around the place if l had
no objections" I was perfectly will
ing and accompanied him. His ap-
pearance was not prepossessing; his
dress was rather shabby and his eyes
were everywhere except on my face;
but in spite of their watchfulness, he
had come near walking too close to the
kennel in which Bone" a gigantic
and much-admired English mastiff,
spent his days. fastened by stout
chain. The dog seemed to dislike his
looks even more than I, and could hard
ly be appeased.
Finally, in an embarrassed sort Of
wayne had evidently been trying to
work up to the subject gracefully. but
failed my caller said he'd "heard
that my place was for sale.''
l assured him that was mistake,
whereupon he said that he'd Thought
likely; but he took sort of notion to
the place and thought if it could be
bought reasonable he'd like to own it. ="
My vanity, of course, was touched at
having my choice approved, while at
the same time vision of the profits OF
building and selling arose before me.
said l would sell if got sufficient
price, and at his request named a good,
round sum. He shrugged his shoul-
ders and said he couldn't pay any such
money, but he thought he wouldn't
mind giving certain sum. which he
named, and which was about half what
the house had cost me.
told him abruptly that didn't care
to sell, and endeavored to close the
conversation by moving toward the
house.
If you should ever change your
mind you'll remember me, perhaps, "
said he, and handed me an old envelop
with his name on it.
l babe him "Good-day," and was
about throwing the envelop away when
the name struck me as familiar.
"Ephraim Jorton;' for a moment !
couldn't recall where had seen it, but
soon remembered that it was the name
of the grantor in that old deed, and
that l had deciphered the family name
on some of the moss-grown headstones
in the graveyard.
In vain tried to convince myself
that it was only coincidence; that
my Jorton family must be scattered
and dead; had to give myself up to
detection.
1t is thus that the clouds of trouble
roll over our heads. We no sooner re-
cover from one shadow and begin to
bask in the sunshine Of happiness than
another takes it place. That night,
as the church clock doomed out an
hour when l ought to have been asleep,