Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1892-12-17
md Amaranth felt her determination


"But-but there's brother Reuben.
wife and the childrenl" she faltered
"They are quite destitute, and have n.
one to look to but me-"
Sylvester frowned.
"Let Reub's wife look out for her.
self'' he returned grufay. II dare sa,
Tiers orphan 'sylums In the city where
the young uus would be took care Of"
Arananth's eyes flashed scornfully a,
him as she drew herself up with offended
dignity.
"Brother Reuben's children silal,
never go to the asylum while live!" she
declared Indignantly.
After few more words their troth
was broken. Sylvester stalked moo dig
on his way, while Amaranth, with .
pang of sore disappointment at her
heart, turned toward the graystone farm
house, where she earned q small supend
over her board by doing the housework
for family of six.
The broken engagement offered fresh
food for gossip among the Brooke and
Stubble6eld kith and kin, but Amarantb
was not to be turned from her course
by their censures aud criticisms.
The old homestead was bought and
raid for. To be sure the soil was rocky
and sterile, and the dwelling in need ol
repairs.
The orchard trecs-what was left oI
them-were gnsrled and bent, and the
fences and outbuildings in q sad state of
dilapidation.
1t was really scarcely worth the small
.um asked for it, but Amaranth had de-
termined to buy it, and buy it she did.
An ancient cow and a half-decrepit
pony were included in the sale.
And after the house had been treated
to few repairs and thorough cleaning,
brother Reuben's family were released
from their uncongenlsl quarters in the
city and comfortably installed therein.
Mrs. Reuben-a meek little woman,
with no more idea of supporting herself
than canary bird might have-was yet
good housekeeper. and willingly under
took the management of domestic affairs,
| while Amaranth gave her attention to
the raising of poultry and garden vege-
tables. And the children grew round as
bu,terballs, romping under the gnarly
old apple trees or playing hide-and-seek
among the tall sunfowers and holly
hooks that nodded in the door. yard.
Later on, Amaranth earned few dol
lars each week by the sale of her pro-
duce at the little village Of Pineywood
Centre, which was scarcely stones
throw from her back pssture.bars. But
with all her industry and economy, she
found 1t hard matter to provide for
herself and the helpless ones depending
OF her, aud there were times when she
really fancied the wolf was already at
her door.
The family connections held them :
selves aloof from her, and still continued
their dircful predictions.
Sylvester Smalley took particular
pleasure in driving past the house, with
Nancy Maria Stubblefeld, to whom be
/ had transferred his attentions, sea.ei
beside him in his spring buggy.
But no one offered helping hand,
anl Amaranth was beginning to feel a
tremor of despair, when something hap
| pened which no one-certalniy not
Amaranth-had ever dreamed would
come to pass.
1t was nothing more nor less than the
building Of a branch railway from the
"Ozark Lead aud Zinc" mines TO point
on the Mississippi River some three
miles beyond Piueyvllle Centre.
The nearest route, according to sur.
v.y, lay directly across one side OF
Auaranth's estate, and she readily &C.
cepted the offer Of TIVE. hundred dollars
HON the mining company TOR this small
portion OF her .sworn out" farm laud.
Blu. the tide of prosperity did no. ssoE
here.
| Roger Alden, the young surveyor,
vino had laid out the new railroad, sug
gessed Pineyvil!e Centre As the mos
convenient point for the smelling work
to be erected by the mining company.
And so the sleepy little village wake
I'd one fine morning to dnd itsslf ia the
mids. of a most unexpected boon"
Car loads of lumber and other balld