Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-07-16
THE SQUATTER.

terOusly without. IhstihrtiS6ly N6 drew our chairs closer to the fire, which was blazing pleasantly on the hearth.
 Dr. Hapley had dropped in to spend tho evening.
 My" said he, "but this is terror It reminds me of night experienced out west few years ago. An interest ing romance was begun that night, with q sequel too, Did ever tell you about it?"
 assured him that he had not, and he continued:
 ''It was in the lato fall in southern Nebraska, whoro had gone to oversee the putting ill of tho winter wheat for the next years crop. I had not been to the farm since the previous season, the land having been loft in charge of To- cal agent during the interim. After reaching the section and looking over the ground I had intended to go out among tho neighbors to secure my rent CTS for the season.
 'ThCre was little four room house on tho place, painted and ill fairly good condition, a good well and a number of sheds which served for stable, granary and other necessary purposes. As there | was no resident tenant a quantity of | grain had been stored in the house, which was then locked, while the sheds were left empty, it being deemed un- wise to leave anything of value exposed to tho cupidity of movers, who might chance to pass that way.
 Ut was nearing sundown when I came ill sight of tho place. Twas much l sod n gt,o ,,f ing from the chimney, and as I drove nearer other evidences of habitation ! were manifested. A wagon stood in the space between the house and the sheds, while from one of the latter the heads of two horses prOtruded inquiringly, as if to ask on what errand I had come into their lonely ncighborhood. Near | the wagon stood a sod cutter, and near | that was wheat drill, all little the worse for exposure, but still apparently in good condition.
 | ''As 1 drew closer my attention was attracted by the appearance of man who had como from tho other side of 1 the house and now stood, arms akimbO, | watching me He WOro no hat, and his | long hair was somewhat unkcmpt, al- l though an effort seemed to have been made at tidinc$s. His faco was clean and had evidently been washed ill the little tin basin which stood on bench at the corner of the house. His feet were | bare, he wore no coat or vest, and his | trousers hung by somo invisible means of support around his waist, clinging to d shirt of a faded and now indis- tinguishable color
 He made a striking picture indeed, standing thcro ill tho midst of his lone | ly surroundings, and with the setting sun for a background.
 "As approached the house he came | forward to meet mo.
 How d'ye do, strangcr?' said he Arc you the owner of this place? I heard you was a-coming.
 My surprise was turned to amaze mcnt by his cool. matter of fact manner
 Well, yes, l am, and what arc you doing hrrc:' put the question as pO- litcly as circumstances and my feelings permitted.
 "'Wcll, it's this way he began You sec, after you was here last year, along ill the fall, when it was getting cold weather, there was woman come along with four or five little children, and she didn't have no place to stay, and so she comes to mo and asked me if she couldn't get into this house here if no one would tako her. I had the Tan ncr farm up hero then and was doing | pretty well, so I inquired among the I nCighborS, and we agreed that she I should come ill here, only wo knowed | there was grain stored, and we made | her promise not to take any. So we ] knocked open the door and cleaned the | place up for her as best we could and moved her i'll. Then, two or three weeks ago, lost my farm. Tanner wanted to move on to it himself, and I had to get | out. So 1 como down and told Mrs. | Bruwn-that was tho w0man'S name | how l was fixed, and that since had | helped her i'll her bad luck she would have to help mo i'll mine, and for her to move out and go over to the next coun- 1 ty for this winter, and I would move ill here. She seed as how that was square, one good turn deserving another, and | she moved out, and I moved in, and so, | you see, that $ how I como to be here
 But I have treated you white, stranger, and if you will look around you will sec that have taken good care If things for you. ain't touched any ] If your grain, and I have fixed up the | placo quite d bit, propping up place | here and Railing on a board there and fixing what needed fixing whenever I saw it. But your horses look tired. ] Won't you put them up and stop hero for the night? 1 will fix a place for them around by the stable. I've got my own on the inside, and there's only two stalls, but they will do just as well out side, and can give you good place to sleep ill the house,
 'It vas d novel proceeding, this be- ing asked bya sQuattrr on my own farm | to be his guest at my own tircsidC, aS it ! Were, hut as 1 had intended remaining ill the ncighburhuod for the night, and a-s there was something about the man that l gather liked 1 accepted h1s lnv1- | tatiOn.
 "The man, Martin Conyus he said was his name, was patching it, as he expressed it, but he was able to spread before us really tempting meal of we'll cooked and hearty food and did not seem to lack experience ill cookery, whatever may have been his abilities in other di- | rectiOnS.
 ''Thc grain was stored in two rooms, and of the other two one was fitted up as dining room, kitchen and living room. There was a rag carpet on the floor and a few books and other evi- dences of civilization on the table The other was used as bedroom. It was furnished with a comfortable bed, a chair or two, faded carpet and one or two old rugs. There were also dresser and looking glass, although I could not but wonder what purpose the latter could serve, unless it was to furnish, in his reflection, a companion for him in his dreary winter days.