Smyrna times., 1896-02-12
RACING FOR A CLAIM.

Yes, gentlemen, we are from Massa-
chusetts, my wife Id myself, and,
what is more, we came together as
boomers. 1t was rather odd, but I
don't mind telling you about it if you
want to hear. My name is Erastus
Jenkins, and my wife was Matte
Parks. We were born and raised in
South RoyalstOn, and always had a
sort of liking for each other, which we
showed in quarreling over trifes and
making up again, all the way from
childhood to maturity.
When we were old enough to leave
home, Matte went away to work in Il
factory; 1 drifted along after her and
hired out for the same money. We
worked there for three years, and had
a falling out as often as every month,
but managed to agree again after due
repentance, till finally the overseer in
the spOoling room began to make love
to Matte, and became so jealous that
we broke off our intimacy entirely.
Then we went separate ways; or,
rather, I left the factory and found
other work, and Matte stayed on till
she had put in the longest term of SER
vice of any employe in the mill.
1 packed up my things and went out
to Illinois, and when my Both birthday
came it found me bachelor, with not
great deal of wealth on hand and
hankering after home of my own that
was hard to keep down.
About this time l got the Oklahoma
fever, and determined when this strip
of land was opened for settlement to
be on hand and rush in with the tide.
When l found what the tide was. [
was sure was in lively business; but
l camped out with blanket strapped
on the back of a sound horse, and
awaited the signal for start.
l don't care to describe the begin
ming of that struggle; history has done
it so well, that you must have a graphic
picture of it in your mind crowding,
lOstling, whip-cracking and wild rae
ing, with oaths and threats and laughs
filling up every gap in a confusion of
tongues
When l was flying ahead on Ned [
experienced a thrill of delight that l
could pass wagons and footmen and
even other riders, but bye-and-bye [
noticed a trim figure on handsome
white horse dashing along at a gait
that l envied. 1t was a lady dressed
in gray, with ostrich tips on her hat.
l was seized with desire to overtake
her. 1 galloped on, urging Ned to a
swifter rate of speed, but with her head
tossed back, and her hand firm on the
rein, the lady held her own. swept
by the throng that was between us and
yelled at Ned sharply. She heard my
voice and urged her horse forward. A
lock of hair had escaped from the coil
at the back of her head and curled
itself against her neck in a shape which
famed an old memory into a flame.
My heart began to discount the clatter
of Ned's hoOfs on the prairie soil; but
she did not looi back, and saw that
! was gaining on her
The race was now between us, for
we had left our companions far behind;
would have given my right hand to
have swept by her in the madness of
the struggle, but it was not to be.
Right here where this tent stands she
dismounted and planted her stake, and
when / reached her I saw the face of
Matte Parks. 1t was seven wears
since we had parted in anger, but all
the old grievances foated away like
thistledOwn as 1 rolled off nv horse
and tumbled down on my knees.
"Mattie," I cried, ''you have won
the claim, but I wish you'd take me
with it,
And Matte, like thrifty New Eng
land woman, said, as she shook hands
with me:
Il will, Erastus, if you'll take the
one that joins me.
hummed off again like an arrow
from its quiver, and the result is that
to-day we are Mr.. and Mrs. Jenkins.
and jointly own two quarter sections
Of land, two horses, q Jersey COW, and
other valuables to numerous to men,
tiOn.
DO we quarrel now? Oh, no!-we
have more serious things to think of.
We are very happy together-so happy
hat L have never regretted the race
which won me both claim and wife.