Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-10-24

my house and for tho very window
where we wore now breathlessly
watching.
Maria was puzzled and interested; I
was in agony.
Though the ground was rough and
steep in places, the driver dashed his
old horses and persuaded them that
they were TO move straight ahead and
follow the men before them.
II now appeared why so rough a
turnout had been used TO convey
shudder TO say it-a dead body to its
final resting place.
Diagonally across the corner OF the
lot straight on they all cana, remorse-
less as fate, till finally they reached an
other fence. This time it was newe,
fence. II was my fence.
Jorton went to the wagon and re-
turned with hammer and chisel, with
which he proceeded carefully TO take
down length OF the fence. couldn't
help thinking that he handled il near
ly as IL Ii were his own fence.
Stupidity wondering what they would
do next. l stood like statue or fool,
till Maria asked me il was the latter,
"or why didn't i go up and stop themp"
Mechanically put on my hat and
went out, though had an awful fore
boding that i shouldn't be able to
stop them. l asked Jorton what he
was about, to which he replied that
Lawyer Snively would explain.
That gentleman bowed, and drew
from his pocket paper which he said
was a copy Of the deed OF this land.
from the Jorton family. He read the
clause reserving the burying-ground.
and concluding; Together with
right OF way to and from the said bury.
ing-ground, for the purpose of burying
their dead, to them and their heirs for.
ever"
"You can't blame Mr.. Jorton," said
he, for he is descendant, and even
bears the identical name OF that early
Ephraim Jorton, and IL isn't his fault
that the mother of his deceased wife
happened to die at his house, not far
from here; she had to be buried some
where"
He paused for breath, and the pen
sive Jorton repeated after him: Eyes,
had to be buried somewhere"
II don't deny that" l almost
shouted, for / saw that Maria had
raised the window. and l thought II
was time for me TO show little spirit;
"but il she's got TO be buried in that
ground, why didn't you inquire for the
proper way to itP A right OF way has
been left on the ether side OF the
farm"
Lawyer Snively replied serenely that
there was only one proper way that
they had right to follow, and that was
the way that had always been used.
Zone OF our oldest residents is pres
ent," said he, "who can testify that
we are now following the original
lane; he has fixed the line by means Of
one or two old trees, and there is no
doubt OF its correctness"
The old wreck, evidently rejoiced at
his own Importance, smiled feebly and
was about to speak, when Snively shut
him of and continued: Moreover
we're very sorry, but-this isn't the
wosst of it; the way runs right through
this wing OF your house. The horses
might pass around outside, IL you will
give written permit, acknowledged
before notary can do that for you;
IL won't cost you but quarter and
will be plcasanter for all parties; but
the corpse of course must follow tho
legal right OF way, and be passed
through that window and out OF the
door opposite.
l stood perfectly dazed; longed for
an earthquake. Tor once my prayer
was answered.; the earthquake came.
Our first premonition of its coming
was the jingling Of IA chain in the back
yard, and the words, in Maria's firm
voice: There, Bone, gently nowr'
He was nominally my dog; but when
he was united l was, more accurately
speaking, his man.
On ordinary occasions | didn't hes
itate Mt the most grOveling act to curry
his favor, and l had always shuddered
at Marias familiarity with him. On
the present occasion / didn't shudder.
felt perfectly resigned and willing to
take my chances with the company
| was in.
Whoever's driving those horses
turn them around quick and all get inl
l can't hold him much longer!" Tho
warning was hardly needed; Patrick
had already begun to swing the horses
around, and there was lively hurdle
race over the sides and wheels of tho
wagon; with the chances strongly
against the "oldest inhabitant" The
wagon was fairly under motion, and I
don't think that Patrick would have
cared IL the patriarch had been left to
parley with the mastir.
As Bone leaped out after them, the
sight was so inspiriting, and tho revul-
sion OF feeling within me was 80 sud-
den and complete, that ] gave myself
up TO a paroxysm Ofhilarity, OF which
] trust there were few witnesses.
1t was triumph OF matter over
mind; the wrctchcd legal document
that the pettifogger instinctively bran
dished over his head, as the only
weapon he knew how TO use, seemed so
utterly out OF proportion to the mas
sive agility Of the dog, as he bounded
at them, first on one side and then on
the other, apparently puzzled as to
which face he dislixed most. When he
had seen them fairly In the street and
under good Roadway for other parts,
he returned in very excited condi.
ton.
had rummaged the pantry for a re-
ward and | now leaned far out of that
terrible window, holding toward him
a fine portcr-house steak, and saying
Here Bone, good dog!"
But he glanced CONTEMPORARY to.
ward me as IL he scorned TO he raw ard