San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-12-20
THAT RIGHT OF WAY.

You know what fright of way" is OF
course you do; everybody knows that. 1t is
simply the right to go across another mani
land in order to reach your own, which may
be remote from any highway.
Obi you didn't know what fright of way"
was Well, there's nothing to be ashamed of
in that, for the lawyers themselves don't
right to the shortest way across, to the origi-
nal way or to any way that the owner Cf
the land chooses to grant. But there's no
need of our stopping to discuss that point.
1t 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-tbere's always but-there was at the
rear of my lot, a short distance away, and
hidden among growth of neglected ever
greens and underbrush, what failed to no
tice before purchasing-an old family bury
ing ground.
wasn't used to buying building lots; that's
the amount of it, and it was fortunate for me,
as Mr.. Van Grinder had said, from whom /
bought, that 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 in
terest possibly, have since thought, because
they were men of straw, who were both aux
ious to get it, but he was trying to hold on to
it for me- So, when l had about decided to
take it, but wanted a few days to think it
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 it would be safer
in case of his death or anything Of that kind,
to pay some amount down to bind the bar
gain. | thanked him for the hint and gave
him round sum, cautiously taking q receipt
therefor
He then incidentally led me around near
that old burying ground, and remarked what
a very inoffensive affair it was, entirely I'M
used and covered with trees; but he hadn't
mentioned it before lest should get sud-
den and unreasoning prejudice against so nice
piece Of property. l confess that didn't
appreciate this last evidence of consideration,
but thought he meant we'll and l would make
the best Of it.
l explained to my wife, and it took more
explaining than thought it would, that dead
people were very harmless neighbors, espe-
cially when they had been dead thirty or forty
years; and they must have been very nice
people indeed to give their dead such fine
piece of ground to rest in, with view OF the
water and oil 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 | meant their spirits, and
she hoped they weren't the kind that hank
cred after view of water. But I've got
used TO such little pleasantries from Maria,
and didn't let this trouble me much
As soon as the papers could be drawn up,
| paid for my lot and received the deed,
after which | thought it would be nice
thing, while the house was being built. to
have the title searched, just as a matter of
form, and so that could feel positive when
| stepped on its threshold that everything
was absolutely my own.
The professional gentleman whom l en-
ployed to make the search soon Id me that
tie. EZopCh-s- had passed thEOusEh a-gooo