Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-03-30

is q queer old book with Breht D.as2
clasps. / made uncle two. solemn promises
over il.
''What were they9" IL
s'That / would never part with IL
under any circumstances, unless IT was
to give II back in his charge, and
and"
"Well, what elsel"
THAT when every other source OF
help and comfort failed me | would
30 to it-don't look so angry, Stephen"
al think have good cause 10 be an
cry; it is like phophesy Of i'll fortune.
WHY should he forespeak sorrow for your
And why should he suppose that you
would need help or comfort l could
not give, your If he had given you
thousand pounds it would have been more
TO the purpose"
Maggie looked quickly up. She had
never heard such q sentiment from ste
phen's lips before. Then she laughed
gayly. WV,
* thousand pounds, Stephenl Why,
what on earth should we do with so much
money!"
"BIy and drain Druids 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.
i'Why. love. she said anxiously, "what
can YOU mean9 The Druid's Mossl What
is that worth9"
"a few lecchcs and wild birds now,
Maggie. but acres and acres of golden
wheat and rich meadow grass II it is
n hi 10 hxuOff ahOIIt
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 ana
money sufficient to drain and cultivate
it."
Chow much money would do, Ste
phen2" :,
"a thousand pounds. / could drain
part, and then save the proceeds 10
drain the rest. But where could l get
the money!
az was thinking of Uncle Joseph.
Would YOU let me ask him"
Nothing is so wonderful as the growth
of n 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 go borrow
{ ing for him; and the longer he talked,
| the more eager he became; so that, al
last, Maggie felt hurt to see what tri1t
, he made of her feelings and OF the rlsE
: Joseph Hawick would run.
However next day she went to SEE
[ the old man, and, as they sat togethel
v over their tea and crumpets, said:
[ "Uncle, Stephen wants to join Squire
!, Thwaites in buying the Druid's Moss"
( "What for? To raise cranberrlcs!
: ''Unclel Why they talk OF grea
G wbeat-felds and meadows.
{ 'It will need q sight of drainage, ano
that means a sight of money. / shoult
D not think Stephen had idle cash sutfi
|. cient."
n ''He wants to borrow it.
d Joseph's face clouded.
IS "Wonders never cease. though
1t Stephen Gray would starve before II
il would borrow or owe money"
Don't cast up the past, uncle. Ste
a phen thinks that If he could borrow
d thousands pounds he would make 1t tel
C. in very few years; and, uncle, cam
ID to-day to ask you to lend him it.
r. 'You came n useless journey. Maggie
)" forbye don't like that pride that make
ID Others stoop for its conceit,
- .fsvyuirs, -ipls-vssisos snisi you huci picut
I'd of money in Kendall Bank
:" "If had money I'd never trust 1t !
so any bank; but / make no more than
to need now. l am getting an old mar
Maggie"
nd stephen will be sorely disappointed
ee "He has no cause to be so. told hi
he YOU would have no fortune, and he quit
scorned at the thought of money VIII
les YOU. He had his choice between yC
and Kate Crofts, with the Crofts Man'
IN, at her will" :.
en- The old man was quite gloomy aft
adj this talk; and Maggie was almost gla
en- TO escape from the silent hearthstone
nd the hustle of her own busy farm aud Il
or, noisy welcome of her husband.
IN. stephen took the refusal very proud
ed but the idea had now become paramount
ers and Joseph Hawick's refusal had on
nd made him the more determined to car
de out the project. He had fierce strugg
with his pride and his independence, b
nts the next day he went into Kendall al
tie made arrangements to raise the money
be n mortgage on the farm that had be
SEES unincumbered for six hundred years.
len In few weeks all arrangements h
, it been made, the Moss had been bougi
eel surveyed and divided, and the partn'
the in its drainage went to work. 1t SO
ant proved itself drainage of two KIM
He After many hundreds of pounds b
lily, been spent to very little purpose, me
hat experienced surveyors had to be sent I
her and entirely new means and macb'::e
all used. Too much had been th.'w WI - |,
the the Moss to abandon the p~oJec', anu
the constant cry for money was -
bite exhausting the patience aud purses
na. Loth Sonire Thwaites and Stephen Gr'
ben The former more able to bear his 10
iall became. after two years labor, quite
uld different, talked of the affair as hopele
, at and was half angry with stephen
old nersisting. But something like despe
$ to ton animated the young farmer, for
nth had so far mortgaged his home ana
tate that their redemption was hopel
her IL the Moss failed him.
too Poor Maggie, with her two babies
wear care for. strove to help him by tax
be upon herself labors she was totally u
lites for: and she rapidly broke down octw
two the unusual physical strain and the c
ONE slant. anxious worry regarding Stepn
loss. All her husbands life dwindled dow
5 he those damp, black acres or rich m
lgle, Maggie got to hate the name aud 50
| the der at the sight of Druid's Moss, ana
,eat- that touch of superstition always I'm
ught ing in north-country minds, she
L. NAE