Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-09-27

II
rail OF the fence, and over IL came
1hon they took boe-line; yes, for
my house and for tho vory window
where 10 wore now brcathlessly
watching.
Maria was puzzled and Interested; !
was In agony.
Though the ground was rough and
steep in places, the driver dashed his
old horses and persuaded them that
they wore to move straight ahead and
follow the men before them.
Il now appeared Why so rough a
turnout had been used TO convey--I
shudder to say it-a dead body TO its
final resting-place.
Diagonally across tho corner OF the
lot straight on they all como, rcmorse-
less rs fate, till finally they reached an
other fence. This time il was a newer
fence. IL was my fence.
Jorton went TO the wagon and re
turned with ha inner and chisel, with
which he proceeded carefully TO take
down length OF the fence. couldn't
help thinking that he handled 1t near
ly as II IL were his own fenco.
stupidity wondering what they would
do next, stood like q statue or a fool,
till Maria asked me II l was the latter.
cor why didn'tI go up and stop tbom?"
Mechanically put on my hat and
went out, though had an awful fore
boding that l shouldn't be able TO
stop them. asked Jorton what ne
was about, TO winch no replied that
Lawyer Snively would explain.
That gentleman bowed. and drew
from his pocket a paper which he said
was n copy OF the decd OF this land.
from the Jorton family. He read the
clause reserving the burying-ground.
and concluding: Together with q
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 a descendant, and even
hears the identical name OF that early
Ephraim Jorton, and Il isn't his fault
that tho mother Of his deceased wife
happened to die at his house, not far
from here; she had to be buried some
where
lie paused for breath. and tho pen
sive Jorton repeated after him: "Yes,
had TO be buried somewhere"
al don't deny that" l almost
shouted, for saw that Maria had
raised the window, and thought IL
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 it? A right Of way has
been loft on the other side Of the
farm
Lawyer Suively replied serenoly 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 az
his own Importance, smiled feebly ana
was about 10 speak, when Snively shu;
him of and continued: Moreover
we're very sorry, but-this isn't the
worst OF it; the VIZ runs right through
this wing Of your house. The horses
might pass around outside, II you will
give a written permit, acknowledged
before nOtCry-I can do that for you;
II won't cost you but a quarter and
viii be pleasenter for all parties; but
the corpse OF course must follow the
legal right Of way, and be passed
through that window and out Of the
door opposite.
/ stood perfectly dazed; longed for
an earthquake. for once my prayer
was answered; the earthquake came.
Our first premonition Of its coming
was the jingling Of 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 | was, more accurately
speaking, his man.
On ordinary occasions / didn't hes
itate at the most groveling act TO curry
his favor, aud had always shuddered
al Maria's familiarity with him. On
the present occasion / didu't shudler.
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 in!
! can't hold HIM much longer" The
warning was hardly needed; Patrick
had already begun to swing the horses
around, and there was "A lively hurdle
race over the sides and wheels OF the
wagon; with the chances strongly
against the ''oldcst inhabitant" The
wagon was fairly under motion, and |
don't think that Patrick would have
cared If the patriarch had been left TO
parley with the mastiT.
As Bone loaped out after them, tho
sight was so insplriting. and the reyul-
sion Of feeling within me was 50 sud
den and complete, that / gave myself
up TO a paroxysm Of fhilariiy, Of which
/ trust there were few witnesses.
It was a triumph OF matter over
mind; the wrctched legal document
that the pettifogger instinctivoly bran
dished over his head, as the only
weapon he knew how 10 use, seemed 50
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 dislikcd most. When he
had seen them fairly in the street and
under good Roadway for other parts.
he returned in a very excited oondi-
tion.
had rummaged the pantry for re-