The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-07-15

forgotten all about il a moment after
ward-a fact which Mrs. johnson did
not know, Of course.
Accordingly, when she saw Mrs. Oar
row vainly trying to drag the pole away
her wrath arose at once
Kate, KateP she called to her stout
daughter, come here. quick There's
Betsy Darrow going to drag off our tele-
phone pole, and I'd just hired a man to
come and cut it up tomorrow. Run out
and take it away from her If it want
for my rheumatic I'd 90 myself, and give
her piece Of my..mind, too Hurry up,
can't you ?"
Kate hastily wiped the dish water Of
her bands, ran out Of the house, and at
once began to reproaeh Mrs. DaTow.
What are you coming here and try
ing to take away our telephone pole for2
she said, excitedly.
Taint your telephone pole Mr.. In
gram gave it to me, returned Mrs. Oar
row.
Well, of all the - the-whoppers,
that beats EN- said Kate. Ma ma
here's Mrs. Darrow saying Mr.. Ingram
gave her the pole. when We can prove he
gave it to Us ~ she screamed out to her
mother.
At this apparent falsehood on Mrs,
Darrow's part, Mrs. JOhnson's indigna-
ton overcame her fear of physical pain,
and she hobbIed to the door in response
to her daughters call.
Betsy Darrow, you knows wells
you're living, now, that Mr.. Ingram new
er gave that pole TO you in his born days.
Ne gave it to me, and don't let me see
you touching If, much less trying to haul
it away" she called out, angrily.
You go sit down again, Becky John
son. Ireckon l know what I'm ADDING.
This pole belongs to me, and you and
Kate and all your kin amt going to keep
me from taking it"
Well, if that don't beat all 1 guess
we1l see whether you take that pole or
not. Kate, set down on it." command
ed Mrs. johnson.
Kate sat down on the pole, laughing
derisively as Mrs. Darrow strained and
tugged away, until her naturally pale
face became purple.
Keep on sitting, Kate :" urged Mrs.
Johnson and Kate obeyed, until from
sheer exhaustion Mrs Darrow gave up
the unequal contest.
Kate Johnson, if you don't get up of
that there pole III have you arrested, as
sure's you're alive :" she threatened. But
Kate only laughed the more, and settled
her hundred and fifty pounds more firm
ly on the disputed pole.
= I don't think any policeman is going
to meddIe with me for setting down
on my own mas property" she said,
Tain't your mas property / tell
you MS mine. and yon'd better get up
this minute, before 1 drag you along of
the pole into the yard" said Mrs. Oar
row, as she gasped for breath.
Finding that threats were futile, she
seized the long, slender upper section Of
the pole and began to drag il across the
street.
Seeing this, Kate sprang up and pulled
the pole from her enemy with such force
that she fell in heap under the pole on
the ground.
Mrs Darrow felt that her opportunity
had come, so, while Kate struggled to
arise, she seized the large end of the pole
and lin one mighty effort succeeded in
lifting it from the ground.
But her strength was not sufficient to
bear the weight, and the pole fell upon
her feet.with such force as to crush them
both very badly.
She uttered a sharp cry, and sank
down so sick and faint that she could
scarcely hold up her head.
reckon you're tickled nearly to
death, Becky Johnson, sence you see me
sitting here like rat in a trap, crippled
for life, very likely, all for trying to get
what rightfully belonged to me. But if
you think I'm going to hOller, and faint,
and cut up as some women would, you're
much mistaken she said, defantly.
The next moment she had dropped
over in a dead swOon.
BY this time Kate had come to her as
sistanee.
oh, ma, she looks as fishes dead ?
Call to Mr.. Sanders to come, quick HIS
digging cistern in Walters back yard /;
I'm afraid to fool with the pele any
more might hurt her worse than
ever"
With great excitement and feelings Of
pity, not unmixed with the thought that
Mrs. Darrow was receiving her Just de-
serts, Mrs. Johnson obeyed.
Mr.. Sanders came, aud in a few min
utes the unconscious woman was laid on
Mrs. Johnson's best bed.
"Tain't worth while TO carry her home.
There's nobody there to take care Of her,
and she'll need lots Of taking care Of be-
fore she's throug with this, / reckon, y
said Mrs. johnson, her warm heart be
ginning to swell with sympathy. as she
looked at the white face that had been
so dear to her in her girlhood.
Then followed days and weeks Of suf-
fering days in which Mrs. Darrow was
a helpless, irritable burden, bemoaning
her fate that a surgeon had been called,
and that the time had at last come when
she was going straight to the poorhouse
Kate was her tender, patient nurse,
bearing silently all her fault-fnding and
But Mrs Johnson's spir-
its boiled hotly within her, until at last
her indignation reached a climax.
See here, now, Betsy Darrow, I've
tooS just all I'm going TO from you l
look at you and wonder sometimes is this
can be the sweet-tempered, merry, free
hearted girl I used to love more'n / low
ed myself If you'd died before you
grew into a cross, stingy, mean woman,
no more ike that sweet girl vas than a
wild rose is like cookie bur, you would
have been fit to meet your good old
mother, and we could all have loved
Bessies memory. Do you remember
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