Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-03-21
tcopNtght Secured An Rioats Reseruedl Driven From Sea to Sea;
 Or, JUST A CAMPIN'.
BY 0. 0. POST.

upon the winding DluH road back Of the house; then an answering neigh from the hill pasture, and both know that the husband and father has returned.
 Hurrying to the door, Mrs. Parsons heard the pasture bars let down; heard the short whinny of recognition and welcome which the horses exchanged as the home-comer entered the field, then heard the barn door open as the rider went to hang up his saddle; then the footsteps turned towards the house, weary and covered with mud, but sound of limb, entered and bending down kissed wife and child.
 Il s'pose you an Johnny hev been worried most to death about me, Marty" ho said. "but couldn't very we'll help it; leastwise thought it best to do as done."
 "Yes, dear, we have been fearful that something had happened you. Did you meet with an accident, or what was the matter? 1 know you must be tired and hungry, whatever it was, and I'll have . cup of tea for you just as soon as tho kettle bols again. It won't take but 8 moment; it was boiling oaly g little bit ago."
 Wall, you see when 1 got to town I con; luded to ask around an see if I could hear of place for rent or to sell on time, an after inquirin' spell I heard of claim, mostly wo'thless. but with enough good land to make livin' on, that was for sale or trade, fifteen mics further back in the mountains; an as, of I come home first I'd hev to go right back agin tomorrow, if I took look at the place at all, concluded to go right on an see it. hopin' to get home, though, afore it was so late. But when got back to town it was almost dark already, an neithnr me nor the horse had ct bite sin, e mornin, an was jest obleeged to stop an let t. @ animal rest couple of hours. That gave me dark ride home. an the roads is purity bad over the hills since the rains come. What time O night is itp Nigh on to midnight. reckon"
 ''The clock struck twelve some time since," repl ed Mrs. Parsons. But what about the place? Is thero any house on it. or an orchard, or any tor toingP gIsP" And what does the man ask
 There's bit of shanty on it," re- terin' grape vines, an' dozen or two
 
 we'll up on the mountain an is of of the ma n road, an sort O lonesome like; leastwise, Pm afeared 'twoRld seem SO to you an the lad. But there's @ chance to make livin' there even If it ain't a very good or" an I s'pect may be grapes W Il do pre.ty we'll on part O the ella m- It's mighty rough an broken, though, an won't be so pleasant eult;vatin' as this place used to be.
 "There ain't nc bottom lapd onto it. ner with n ten m les of it fer that mat. ter. An there alu't many neighbors, an such as there is is poor folks. that couldn't git cla ms nowher's g else l talked with one of lem. an he said he was satisfied they could raise as good fruit of most kinds as grew any yEhere in the State; an anyway there ain't any danger of their flood n it from any mines; it's too far up on the mount aims fer that, an may be the best tn :ng we kin do is to take it, Spec ally as the ewnep, who lives in town. is willin' to take pair of horses an purity near anything else we have to turn out to him, guess"
 'sThen we had better take it." re- piled his wife. II had rather have q place of our own, however poor, than to be dependent upon somebody else and obliged to move every year is our own, as we would do on a rented place. But are you sure about the title, Johna Don't for pity's sake let us buy a ranch to which there is not 8 good title."
 That's just what told MT. Blake. the man that owns it. told him that if there was anything at all wrong with the title wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole, but he says it's all right, an he is to get an abstract of it from the recorders office. The place has never had but two or three owners, an it's clear outside of the land grant, so if there's no mortgages onto it doS t see how there can be any danger, an of course the abstract will show"
 '1 almost wish you had told him wc would take it. I'm afraid somebody else will step in and get it first. there are so many looking for places now. When did you tell him you would give him an answerp'
 He is to come over tomorrow and look at the things we have to trade. If we kin agree, then he is to get the ah- stract, an if that is all right it's 8 trade. wish you could see the place. mother, before we decide about it. but don't see how you kin, unless we take Johnny over to Ritch; ;e's and leave him while you go an take look at it.
 'What do you say, Johnny? Will you stay at Mir. Ritchie's while mother goes with me to see the new placer"
 :'Won't the water and mud rise clear over us and bury us?" asked the boy. in his weak little vo ce,
 ''Oh, mo-" replied his father, ''Mr. Ritchie's house is higher up than ours, you know. There is not bit of danger"
 ''Then I'll stay"
 But Mrs Parschs cid not wish to go to see the place.
 ''lt would be hard days ride," she said. ''lifty miles there and back, and we would have to go on horseback, suppose, for 1t must be awful slow get ting along with wagon, now; and be- sides it would make no difference any WaY. If vou think Wa can maEa Q