Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-10-24
THAT RIGHT OF WAY.
A Somewhat Pathetic Recital Of
an Innocent's Woes.

IOu hHOW NHdt TiBuI VI way
U.s. Or course you do; every body
knows that. 1t is simply the right to
60 across another mans land, In order
to reach your own, which may be re-
mote from any highway.
Oh! you didn't know what fright
of way" was! Well, there's nothing
20 be ashamed OF in that, for the law
yers themselves don't know exactly
what il is; whether il gives the right
20 the shortest way across, TO the orig
inal way, or 20 any way that the owner
OF the land chooses TO grant. But
there's no need Of our stopping to dis
cuss that point.
II was a charming piece OF ground
that had selected and bought, on the
outskirts OF the somewhat thriving
village OF M. There was fine
view OF the majestic Hudson on one
side and OF the village on another.
But--there s always "A but-there was,
at the rear OF my lot, short distance
AWAY, and hidden among growth of
neglected evergreens and underbrush,
what failed TO notice before purchas-
ing-a old family. burying-ground.
wasn't used to buying building
lots; that's the amount OF il, and IL was
fortunate for me-. as Mr.. Van Grinder
had said, from whom bought, that I
was dealing with man who took an
interest in me.
know he took an interest In me,
for in the first place, he said he did.
Then, too, he brought me to this lot
and confdentially told me OF two other
men, in whom he took no interest
POSSIBLY, l have since thought, be-
cause they were men Of straw, who
were both anxious to get it, but he
was trying to hold on TO IL for me. So,
when / had about decided to take it,
but wanted few days TO think il over
In and consult my wife, he counseled
me that it would be safer-not that
there was any fear of his backing out,
but II would be safer, in case of his
death or-or any thing OF that kind,
TO pay some amount down, to bind the
bargain. thanked him for the hint
and gave him round sum, cautiously
taking receipt therefor.
He then incidentally led Inc around
near that old burying-ground, and re-
marked what an inoffensive affair Il
was, entirely unused and covered with
trees; and he hadn't mentioned il be-
fore lest | should get sudden and un-
reasoning prejudice against so nice a
piece OF property. i confess that
didn't appreciate this last evidence OF
consideration, but thought he had
meant well and would make the best
OF it.
explained to my wife, and it took
more explaining than thought il
would, that dead people were very
harmless neighbors, especially when
they had been dead thirty or forty
years; and they must have been very
nice people indeed to give their dead
such fine place Of ground 10 rest
in, with view OF the water and ali
that.
She tartly remarked-you know how
women will, the best of them-that
she didn't know what good view OF
the water was to dead people, unless
I ] meant their spirits, and she hoped
they weren't the kind that hankered
after a view OF water. But I've 60,
used TO such little plcasantries from
Maria, and didn't let this trouble me
much.
A soon as the papers could be drawn
up, paid for my lot and received the
deed. after which j thought IL would
be nice thing, while the house wa.
being built, to have the title searched
just as a matter OF form, and so that
could feel positive when stepped or
its threshold that every thing was alb
solutely my own.
The professional gentlemen whom
employed TO make the search soon tolt
, me that the property had passed
through good many hands, and wha
was more interesting still, that some
where through this old farm that m,
friend Van Grinder had purchased, ant
OF which my lot was a part, there wa,
reserved right of way" to an oil,
burying-ground.
i was somewhat alarmed and has
tened to Mr.. Van Grinder for an az
PLANTATION.
"Why, my dear fellow" said h,
(such friendly way he had OF sayin,
my dear fellowr'), that's of no con
sequence whatever. The ground /
never used, asy you see for yourself; tn
family long ago stopped giving it an,
care. and II any OF the heirs are TO b
found you couldn't hire them TO b
buried in 1t. Besides, to make itdoubl
! secure, I've reserved way to tn
: ground on the other side;" and he pulle
out his map and showed me, sur
enough.a right OF way mapped out iron
the road TO the ground by round abou
path, and through land not very avails
bic for other purposes.
left him, convinced that IL was n
right, but still not feeling quite so fir
}. in my possession as before.
/ didn't like the cold-blooded lar
guage Of that ancient conveyance, ''tc
! fsther with right OF way to and fror
= the said burying-ground, for the pun
pose OF burying their dead. 10 ther
and their heirs forever"
kept my own counsel this tim,
There was no need Of Maria's KNOWN
/. any thing about this wretched "rigt