St. Landry democrat., 1893-05-13

"What were they2"
"That I would never part with it
under any circumstances, unless it was
to give it back in his charge, and
and"
"Well, what else2"
THAT when every other source of
help and comfort failed me | would
go to it-don't look so angry, Stephen"
II think have good cause to be an
cry; it is like phophesy of i'll fortune.
Why should he forespeak sorrow for you2
And why should he suppose that you
would need help or comfort | could
not give you? If he had given you a
thousand pounds it would have been more
to the purpose"
Maggie looked quickly up. She had
never heard such sentiment from Ste
phen's lips before. Then she laughed
"A thousand pounds, stephenl Why,
what on earth should we do with so much
money!"
"Buy and drain Druid's Moss, Mag
gie.".
Maggie drew her eyebrows together
and looked wonderingly at Stephen, who
had risen and was pacing the floor with
rapid, thoughtful steps.
"Why, love. )" she said anxiously, "what
can you mean? The Druid's Moss! What
is that worth?"
"a few lecchcs and wild birds now,
Maggie, but acres and acres of golden
wheat and rich meadow grass if it is
drained. | was talking to Thwaites about
it to- day. Both our uplauds are worn out;
the Moss lies between us. / would give
five years of my life to own half Of it and
money sufficient to drain and cultivate
it,"
"How much money would do, Ste
phen9"
IA thousand pounds. I could drain
part, and then save the proceeds to
drain the rest. But where could | get
the money!
II was thinking of Uncle Joseph.
Would you let me ask him."
Nothing is so wonderful as the growth
of master passion. In few hours, the
desire for this particular piece of land
had strengthened itself so that Stephen
began to consider whether it might not
be worth while to let his wife 60 borrow
ing for him; and the longer he talked,
the more eager he became; SO that, at
last, Msggie felt hurt to see what trifle
he made of her feelings and of the risk
Joseph Hawick would run.
However, next day she went to see
the old man, and, as they sat together
over their tea and crumpets, said:
,hon $o %n 1n1n
Thwaites in buying the Druid's Moss"
"What for? To raise cranberries?'
"Uncle! Why they talk of great
wheat-felds and meadows.
'It will need sight Of drainage, and
that means sight of money. / should
not think Stephen had idle cash suffi-
Gent"
"He wants to borrow it,
Joseph's face clouded.
"Wonders never cease. thought
Stephen Gray would starve before he
would borrow or owe money"
Don't cast up the past, uncle. Ste
phen thinks that if he could borro
thousands pounds he would make it ten
in very few years; and, uncle, came
to-day to ask you to lend him it,
''Iou came useless journey, Maggie,
forbye | don't like that pride that makes
others stoop for its conceit,'
esquire Thwaitcs said you had plenty !
Of money in Kendall Bank" |
of | had money I'd never trust it in
any bank; but l make no more than I
need now. | am getting an old man.
Maggie"
Stephen will be sorely disappointed"
''He has no cause to be so. told him
you would have no fortune and he quite
;corned at the thought of money with
you. He had his choice between yon
md Kate Crofts, with the Crofts Manor
It her will.'
The old man was quite gloomy after
his talk; and Maggie was almost glad
o escape from the silent hearthstone to
he hustle of her own busy farm and the
loisy welcome of her husband.
Stephen took the refusal very proudly,
'ut the idea had now become paramount,
nd Joseph Hawick's refusal had only
made him the more determined to carry
nut the project He had fierce struggle
With his pride and his independence, but
he next day ne went into Kendall and
made arrangements to raise the money by
mortgage on the farm that had been
for six hundred years.
In few weeks all arrangements had
een made, the Moss had been bought,
and divided, and the partners
4 its drainage went to work. It soon
roved itself O. drainage of two kinds.
Ifter many hundreds of pounds had
cen spent to very little purpose, more
experienced surveyors had to be sent for,
nd entirely new means and machinery
sed Too much had been thrown into
he Moss to abandon the project, and yet
be constant cry for ''money' was fast
zhausting the patience and purses of
9th Squire Thwaites and Stephen Gray.
The former more able to bear his loss,
ecame, after two years labor, quite in:
ifferent, talked Of the affair as hopeless,
nd was half angry with Stephen for
But something like despera-
on animated the young farmer, for he ]
ad SO far mortgaged his home and es- {
tie that their redemption was hopeless S
the Moss failed him. {
Poor Maggie, with her two babies to
are for, strove to help him by taking ,
pom herself labors she was totally unfit {
'r; and she rapidly broke down between {
lie unusual physical strain and the con- '
ant, anxious worry regarding Stephen. {
II her husbands life dwindled down to t
lose damp, black acres or rich mud.
-aggie got to hate the name and shud a
sr at the sight of Druid's Moss, and with |
lat touch Of superstition always linger- '
g in north-couutry minds, she half I
AIRED it had bcwitched him; for he a
orked there through long days, until be t
Ime home too weary to speak to her or a