Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-08-09
SAVING THE CLAIM.

Mrs Ashby stood in the open door
way Of her little sod cabin and gazed
longingly out across the broad stretch
of level, Kansas prairie. She was
frail, broken woman, whose deeply
furrOwed features and great, hollow
eyes told a pitiful story of mental and
physical suffering.
Like many Of the poor settlers on
the great western plains, she had eX-
perienced the bitter trials and hard
ships of long and unsuccessful war
fare against poverty. There was
yearning, soul-hungry expression on
her sad, wan face that was touchingly
pathetic.
Up across the prairie from the west
came another woman. She was young
not above twenty at the most. She
was tall and slender, almost to frailtS.
and her face wore that sad, wan eX-
preston that characterized Mrs.
Ashby, but without that hopeless, de-
spairing look.
''Well, Mary?" Mrs. Ashby said, in
an eager questioning tone, as the
younger woman approached and sank
TO seat ny Tie CABIN uOOI.
Dick Enness will not buy the claim,
mother, the other replied, folding her
hands in her lap.
Mrs. Ashby stared at her daughter
in amazeGent.
"Why Nary she finally exclaimed,
"how is that? | thought he wanted
to buy it."
He did, mother, While ia cher was
living, but he has changed his mind
now"
But why has he changed his mind?
He surely needs the claim now as
much as he needed it then"
Yes, he does"
''rhen why doesn't he want it now?
HE does want it, mother"
"Then why won't he buy it,"
Mary hesitated a moment, then ris-
ing and drawing hel form to its full
height, with angry indi gnation, re
oiled:
Mother Dick EnnesS is a rascal,
and he won't buy our claim because
he thinks by waiting a little while
he can get it for nothing. He was
anxious to buy it while father was
living because he knew father could
irold it. but he thinks now we VIII be
compelled to give it up and move
away, and then he will have nothing
to do but enter it in our stead"
surely, Mary. Dick Enness did not
tell you that?" Mrs. Ashby said in
credulouSly.
No" Mary answered. but he said
enough to make his meaning clear.
He means to get this claim, and with
out paying anything for it."
Mary twirled her bonnet nervously
and an expression of set determina-
ton gradually overspread her features
With deep sigh Mrs. Ashby at last
broke the silence.
We'll" she said, IF what you say
II true Mary, l don't see that there
Is any hope for us. 1t is hard to be-
Geve that EnneSS would take advant-
age of our helpleSSneSS and deprive
us of our land when we have worked
80 hard to improve it. | would never
have thought he could be so heart
less
Neither would IT, Mary replied 1T
is a poor return for the way father
helped Dick Enness when he nursed
him and helped him in his crop last
year when he was sick. He might
at the least pay us for the work that s
been done OF the claim, rather than
to see us turned out in the world with
nothing. But, mother, he shall not
as l came across the prairie and l
made up my mind that we wouldn'
give it up"
Mrs. Ashby looked at her daughter
in astonishment.
Why, Mary" she said, ''how can
we help giving it up? We have no
means Of living here unless we can
raise a crop"
L know that, but We'll raise a crop,
A. Mary replied, with quiet determina-
ton
But, how can we?' Mrs. Ashby
asked. we haven't a dollar to hire
help and nobody is going to work for
us without the money in hand"
I'VE won't ask anybody to work for
us, hdTy Sdlu. ell work Tor our
selves. Well SOW the land in wheat
just as father intended to do, and I'll
break the ground and drill the grain
myself
You, Mary?" the mother exclaimed
increduloUsly.
Yes, l." Mary replied, firmly.
But, child Mrs. Ashby protested
''think what a task it would be, anG
you're only a woman"
I have thought, mother, of all that
but we must not mind the work. II
rather go through anything, almost
than to give up our home and leave
here with nothing"
But | can't think of you trying t.
manage farm and doing a man;
work." Mrs. Ashby replied
81 can think of it much better thar
I can think of giving everything owe
to Dick Enness I may not prove sue
cessful in my efforts to raise crop