The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-06-06

ed. Where are you starting so early p
Il came to get the drill, F" she replied,
@tO put in our wheat. have the ground
ready, and l thoaght I'd use the drill
while you are finishing your breaking, so
that you could have it when you are
ready TO use it"
Dick Enness looked at Mary very hard
for an instant, then cast his glance down
while a glance overspread his face.
Pm sorry to have to refuse you IA
vor," he said after awhile, "but l don't
just see how can let you have my drill,
for shall need it myself for several
days"
@Your drill?" Mary exclaimed in sur
prise.
ayes, ma'am," Enness replied, without
looking up. Il supposed you knew it
was my drill"
81 didn't know It, Mr.. Enness," Mary
said, "and l can't understand how it
comes to be your drill. know that you
and father bought it together, and
know that he paid half Of It's cost"
That's true enough, Miss Ashby. But
about two months ago, just before your
fsther's death, bought his interest out
and paid him for it. 50 now it is all
mine"
Mary Ashby looked at Enness in won
der. That there was a word oftruth in his
statement she did not for one moment
believe.
"Mr. Enness," she said at last, "it sur
prises me that you should claim that
which is not yours never wonld have
Believed that you would be 50 base as to
rob two helpless women, and especially
the wife and daughter Of man who did
so much for you as my father did"
"Miss Ashby," Enness replied with
cool effrontery, ~the drill is mine and
you can't have ii, and that is all there is
to it,"
He turned on his heel and walked
away, and Mary, realizing her helpless
ness, returned homeward with heavy
heart.
She understood Enness' purpose, and
she knew that he had more in view than
the simple possession Of the drill. His
object was to thwart her attempt to rais-
ing a crop, 50 that the claim would come
to him, and ifhe could deprive her ofthe
use Of the drill he argued that her efforts
would be baked. Bot he had different
spirit TO deal with than he had anticipa-
ed, and one that was capable Of surmount-
ing the imPediments be placed in her
way.
She thought the matter over. Before
she reached home she had plan form
ulated. 1t was useless, she knew, to
fight with Enness for her rights, and it
was equally as useless to seek elsewhere
for drill. Yet she was determined to
put the wheat out, and she adopted the
only plan that was open TO her for the ae-
complishment Of that purpose. She
would SOW it broadcast and harrow II in.
And she did, though it took days of
hard work. She perseyered until the
last foot Of land was planted and harrow
el Enness, who was watching her
movements and who chuckled to himself
when she began, thinking she would
soon give up the undertaking, changed
his tune and felt somewhat crestfallen
when he saw the work completed.
q had no idea she was half so gritty"
he mused, "and it begins to look ike
I'll not have very easy time getting her
off that claim, but then the chances are
that her wheat viii fail after all"
But Enness was doomed in disappoi Mt
ment in his hopes Of a crop fIilure, for
her wheat grew and prospered, and at
last when il was ready 10 harvest it WAS
the finest field OF grain in that section.
Miss Ashby had long spell of sick
ness Immediately after getting her crop
out, but she WAS well and strong again at
harvest time, and though Eaness did all
he could against her by hiring her har-
vest hands away f.om her, she was able
oget her grain secured without loss.
When the wheat was all threshed and
marketed Miss Ashby counted up the
proceeds and found that she bad $500
clear Of all expenses She was justly
proud of her achievement, and it was
with feeling Of pleasure that she look
ed back on those days Of hard, weary
toll, when she broke the soil and plant
ed the seed that brought such rich har-
vest.
Enness learned full soon what Miss
Ashby hsd gained, and the information
came to him as death blow to his hopes
of securing the claim for nothing.
He decided that if he was to secure the
claim be would have to buy it, and he
felt that the sooner he bought it the
better.
So one morning he walked over to Mrs.
Ashby's sod cabin, and after passing
few commonplace remarks. said:
Mrs Ashby, I've concluded that /
might afford to take your claim off, your
hands being as you're so anxious to sell
1 don't really need it, but to aecommo-
date you I'll buy it."
~what will you give?" Miss Ashby
asked.
swell, it amt worth. " Enness replied,
"but I'll allow you what you asked FOR it
when you offered it 10 me shortly after
Ashby's death"
4 told you then you could nave it for
$500, l believe?" Mary remarked.
SYes. think it was 500, and though
that is too much. III give it just as
matter of accommodation, as l said be-
fore"
HMr. Enness.H Mary seid, IF you want