The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-07-02

chuckle. AZ she thousbi Of the chssrir
that would fll Mra Johnson's heart sber
The pole wss taken away.
What matter il II her neishbor REALLY
peeded the pole Tor stove vcodi She wa'
pui responsible iot Becky Johusop's poy
erty. 81. reasoning with herself with
cautious steps she approached the coye'
ed pole aud attempted TO lit, one eod o'
H.
Bot sbehad either overrsttd her strength
OF moderated the weigh. Of the pole, She
could hardly stir the heavy piece ol
wood
10 the midst Of her ti1r,s Mrs. john
son barpsned to glance out OF the win
dow, aud saw Mrs Dafrow trying. rs she
supposed. TO s,eal the telephone pole 10
broad daylight
Nov the very neat morning sier the
storm, as Mr.. logrsm passed her house in
spec,ing damages, Mrs. johnson had ask
ed him to give her the POLE, and be had
cheeriuly given II to her. but be bad for
gotten all about i, 10 moment aitervard
"A fact which Mrs. johnson did not know
Of course,
Accordingly, when she saw Mrs Oar
row v.lply trying to drag the pole away,
her wrath arose at once.
Kate. Kate she called TO her stout
daue hter. come her quichl There's Betsy
Darros going to drag of our telephone
pole. aud I'd Just hired man to come and
cut it up TO morrowl Run out aud take il
away from her, II 1t wasn't for my rheu
ms,iz. I'd go myself, and give her piece
Of my mind, too. Hurry up, cant you?
Kate hastily wiped the dishwSter from
her bands. ran ont OF the house. and be
gan to reproach Mrs. Drrow.
What are you coming here and trying
to take away our telephone pole fof? she
said, excitedly.
Tain, ycur telephone pole! Mr.. ln
gram gave it to me, retorted Mrs. Dar'
row
Well, Of oil the the whoppers. that
beats 'em, said Kate. MAJ NAL here's
Mrs. Darrow saying Mr. Ingram give her
the pole when We can prove he give it to
usl she screamed ont to her mother
AT this apparent falsehood on Mrs Oar
rows part. Mrs. Johnson's indignation
overcame her fear Of physical pain. and
she hobbled to the door 10 response to her
daughters call,
Betsy Darrow, you knows as well as
YOU re living woman. that Mr.. Ingram
never give that pole to you 10 his born
days. He give it to me- aud don't let me
see you touching it. much less trying to
haul it away, she called out angrily.
You 90 set down again, Becky johnson.
reckon know what I'm doing. This
pole belongs to me. and you aud Kate and
oil your kin aint going to keep me from
taking it
WE'LL Il that don't beat all! | guess
we II see whether you take that pole or
not. Kate, set down on itlDcommanded
Mrs johnson.
Kate sa. down on the pole. laughing der
isively as Mrs Darrow strained and tug
ged I'LL her naturally pale face became pur
Pile in hue.
Keep on s,setting, Katel urged Mrs.
johnson; and Kate obeyed. till from sheer
exhaustion Mrs Darrow gave up the IN"
equal contest.
Kate johnson. II you don't get up of
that there pole, I'll have you arrested sure
as you're alive she threatened. But Kate
only laughed the more, and settled her
hundred and fifty pounds more firmly on
the disputed pole.
l don't think any policeman is goiog to
medde with me Tor sitting on my own
mas property. she said, spiritedly.
Taint your mas property l tell you
it's mine, and you'd better get up this
minute. before ! drag you along of the
pole into the yard, said Mrs. Dsrrow. as
she gasped for breath.
Finding that threats were futile. she
seized the long, slender upper section OF
the pole and began to drag it across the
street.
Seeing this. KITE sprang up and pulled
the pole from her enemy With such force
that che fell ip q heap under the pole, on
the ground.
Mrs Darrow felt that her opportunity
had come; so. while Kate struggled to
arise, she seiz d the large end Of the pole,
and 10 one mighty Effort succeeded 10 lift'
ing it from the ground.
But ber strength WAS not sufficient to
bear the weight. and the pole fell upon
ber feet with such force ss to crush them
both very badly.
She uttered a sharp cry. and sank down
so sick and faint that she conld scarcely
hold up her head.
reckon yeu re ,ickled nearly to death,
Becky johnson. since you see me sitting
here like q rat 10 trap. crippled Tor HE
very likely all for trying TO get what night
fully belongs to me Bot " you think I'm
going 10 boiler aud faint and cut up %
some women would. you're much mistsk
en-, she said. defantly.
The next moment she had dropped over
10 dead syoon.
By this time Kate had come 10 her as
sistsuce.
Oh. nal she looks rs II shes dead Call
TO Mr. Ssuders TO come qnickl He's Dig
pipg q cisiern Ia Walters bsck yard. I'm
afraid 10 fool With the pole sny more;
might hur, her worse than ever.
ma . ...,t.mant ard f.af,nos n