Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-03-31
THE sQUArrzr's DAUGHTER.

point in Kansas. They were cousins anC
young men In their tWenties, both m0d3r
ately we'll to do and both quite hand
some.
Before coming to Kansas Frank anG
Zeke had met young lady who was at
tending school IN their home town in
Ohio. The young l4dy's name was Gray
son, and as he was both beautiful and &C
compiiahed the young men fell DESPERATE
~ IN love with her. For several week;
they each paid attention to her anG
though she treated them both kindly il
Ct ded preference for Frank.
Then the young men came west Wal
their small capital and started themselves
in business, and during the year their
store had been III existence they had done
well
One night after the trade was over ant
the customers had gene away FranF
said:
Il received some welcome news t.
day,
"Wt at is it?" Z-ke asked.
Il have letter + rom certain little
girl-y0u know who-and she saws she i!
coming out to this part of the country Il
ive."
WHAT Zeke exclaimed. "Miss Gray
son coming here?"
That's just what she writes in her let
ter, Frank replied. Says her father i,
some wehre in this section now cooking
up claim, and as soon as he gets located
and puts up house she and the balance Of
the family will com e to him. So | sup
pose they'll be here about fall"
There was a sal, troubled look il
Zeke S face and for q little while he gazeL
silently at the floor 1t was plain the
subject was not a pleasant one to him anC
that sore spot in his heart had beer
touched. But finally he spoke In a quiet
rteady DICE, saying;
That is welcome news to you Frank,
surely, and | congratulate you"
II think have reason to be congratu
lated, Zeke," said Frank "AIice is q
woman te be proud of, and | know she
loves me.
yes, think she does" replied Zeke
X m certain of it.--Has she--ever-'
Ever what?' Frank questioned, seeing
that Zeke was not going on.
Ever promised 70 marry yOu?"
Moo, not exactly Frank admitted
but I'm sure it S al! right. | don't thinl
she would come out here but for that. -
Perhaps not, - said Zelre. you viii
help her father 70 get claim, of course?
'Whv, yes, III do what can for him
But, aside from the river claim down
there, cent figure out anything worth
having right near this. The good land is
all taken up except that one piece, and |
want that myself.
But you have no right to it, Frank
and you can't hold it if some settler dis
putes the matter with you"
Il know that, but I've held it year ,Jy
'Dlutting, and III continue to hold it thai
way"
well, you wouldn't attempt to bluff
Miss Grayson's father, would you?"
Il don't know. I'd like to accommo-
date him for her sake, but I'd rather keer
that claim for her and myself"
Just at that moment the clatter of
horses feet was heard without and little
later a man rode up to the store and lis
mounted. He was a settler from the river
district.
Why, Ike" said zeke, YOU out lat
tonight"
Yes, said the settler, rather late
But | came for the doctor"
WI 10 : SiCh frank asked.
II don't know the man. He's strang
er who squatted on the river claim to. day
was up the river this morning, and rid
ing back across the claim, saw covered
wagon by the timber So went dowr
that way to see what it meant, and wher
got there ! found a man In the Wagon
down with malaria. He seemed to be ii
bad fix and thought he ought to have
doctor"
The doctor had gone out In the country
out within a half hour he returned anC
imme diately he and Ike set off to visit the
squatter.
Nov that beats the nation,'' Franz
said, as soon as they were gone, Il won
der who the old chap is that's had the gal
to squat on my claimr"
Il don't know" said Zeke; II wonder
If he's needy"
''Ah, l suppose he Is" replied Frank
ooldly. ''Those squatters are nearly al
WAYS sick and needy"
Il suspect we should have gone dowr
there with Ike and the doctor to see i
there wasn't something we cou d do fol-
the man" Zeke said. Like as not he il
out of provisions.
well, let him be out, >" said Frank
1t isn't my business to trot around feed
ing men who jump my claim. I'm going
down there tomorrow, but I'm not coins
TO inquire about his health. I'm going t.
give him orders to move on as soon as h.
is able to drive"
Il wouldn't dc it, Frank. 1t isn't right
You have no title to the claim if that MAJ
wants to enter it he has right to do so.
oh, so far as the law is concerned b.
mas a right to it, of course. But Nv
selected that claim and propose to hav
it."
"Do you think Alice Gayson would in
6orse such an act as you propose, Frank P
why wouldn't she?"
Suppose her father was similarly stu
ated and some one drove him eff. Do yo'
think she would be pIeased?''
moo, ! suppose not But that's
different thing"
Not bit of it. It's just the sam,
thing, only it would De different OK tina
was gored. think Miss Grayson is
conscientious woman andi she would no
approve Of anything unfair, no matte
who was the loser or who the gamer"
ooh, don't think Alice Grayson ha
such high flown notions of honesty as 70,
have. You're toe conscientious for al
everyday business man, and you ought t
he a deacon or a Sunday school teacher
Every time you hear Of anybody bain
sick or in need you want to fly off to bel
him"
ke made NO reply to this accusation
but, with shrug Of the shoulders, turne
and walked out of the store. Frank 500
followed, closing and locking the doc
after him.
The next morning the doctor came