Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-10-04
THE AGENT.

Roads store, Felix Skaggs presented
picture of utter despair. All about was
peace and joy The broad prairie spread
ing back for miles in every direction in
one broad level plain was green with the
spring grass, while the evening breezes
came up laden with the sweet scents of
a thousand wild flowers. The surround
ings were certainly all that one could
ask, but Felix was blind to it and STUN
bled on with his eyes cast down.
Mrs. Skaggs met her husband at the
door of the little sod house, and in a
trembling tone asked:
HAS it gone against us, Felix
YES" he replied, sit has"
Felix threw his slouched wool hat
down on the ground, and dropping him
self on the door step, gave a deep drawn
sigh and sat for several minutes with his
face buried in his hands,
1t was quite while before Mrs
Skaggs felt able to say anything more,
but at last steadying her voice with an
effort she said:
"Well, Felix, it's bad, but we mustn't
worry over it. It's a great misfortune
to us, but it might have been worse, now
mightn't it,"
81 don't know how it could well have
been worse. Having to give up the
claim after we've lived on it this long,
and after we've worked and saved and
improved it, amt no trifling matter,
can tell you"
mo, know that, Felix. It's bad
loss to us, but we must bear up against
it."
Felix shook his head doubtingly and
drawing a coarse, soiled sleeve across
his face to wipe away the perspiration,
went on:
"It's easy to talk, lilly, but it amt
easy to bear such losses as this. Remem-
Der the years we've lived here, toiling
and struggling against droughts and
pests, doing everything we could do to
get a home started. And now, just
when we begin to see the light, and be-
gin to feel that our efforts are going to
be rewarded, here comes this land grab
Der and takes it all away from us, and
turns us out in the world with nothing.
All gone, swept away at one sweep"
Reckon you can't be mistaken, Fe-
lix?"
mo; wish was. There's no chance
for any mistake, lilly; none in the
world. Bert Hart was telling us at the
store that the case had been decided and
that the settlers would have to give up
their claims or buy them over again
from the land grabber. Bert was up to
the land Office yesterday, and so there
can't be any mistake about it. Old Joyce
has got the land and we have got moth
ing"
perhaps we could buy it again"
"What! After it is stolen from us, go
to work and buy it back! Never"
when will we have to leave?"
81 don't know. Old Joyces agent
will be at the Cross Roads tomorrow to
meet the settlers, and reckon we'll find
out then all about it."
For eight years the settlers in GER
tain section of Kansas had labored to
improve their claims and build up
homes, confident of their titles, and little
dreaming that the day was coming when
another claimant would appear to dis
pute their rights and GUST them from the
land.
Felix Skaggs and his wife had been
among the most Industrious and per-
severing of the pioneers, and had sue
ceeded in saving up money enough to
build them a neat house which was al
most finished when the trouble came on
them.
For long time the matter had been in
litigation, and the settlers, feeling that
they were in the right, were confident
that the courts would decide in their
favor. But Bert Harris information was
correct, and the next day the people col
lected in at the Cross Roads store to hear
what the agent had to say.
Felix went over early and was stand
ing on the platform when the agent came
up. Mr.. Babcock was the agents name
and Felix was a little surprised when
they met, for he had expected to find the
agent very cross, sour, grabbed old fell
low, whereas he proved to be a very
mild, affable gentleman, quite willing tc
give information on any point connected
with his business.
Nov, gentlemen" he said, addressing
the crowd collectively, 81 have but this
one proposition to make. If you wish to
retain your claims you can do so by pay.
ing me S. per acre, and the terms can be
arranged SO as to give you ample time to
pay out"
"But if we don't wish to buy the land
from you after we've owned it and Inn
proved it, then what?" Hart asked.
"If you don't wish to buy it, of course
you must move off and give possession.
So it was settled. and as there was nc
way around it the men left for theil
homes in anything but pleasant frame
Of mind
whats the news, Felix?" Mrs Skaggi
asked when her husband returned.
Nothing, only we have 20 give up the
claim"
"Then there's no doing anything with
the agent?'
''Not thing. It's possession or S. ar
acre with him. and with US it's possession
of course"
During the next two weeks many per