Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-11-06
STEALING WATER.
by ROBERT n UTTER.

"Annic," snid Mrs. Hart, "T wish
you'd go down and tell Peter Nordsen
that want TO get my bects in to-mor-
row, If he'll come up"
"Yes'm." said Annie.
"And ask him II he can spare me that
lslip from his rose geranium he prom
ised me last week."
"Yes'm." Annie took her sunbonnet
and moved toward The door.
"And don't run, child--,t's dreadful
hot. And don't bring .!nmc another
horn tond. I simply can't abide the crit
ters." Mrs. Hart stood in the doorway
and looked out over the gray hillside.
"a drendful drenry county, she NUT
tered. "If only the Lord could have
made It green to stnrt with"
She caught sight of ben. figure with
rifle Mt right shoulder shift, plodding
slowly up the canyon road beneath her.
"For the lands snltel" she ejacula ted.
"Therc he is now Mr.. Nortlsen! An
ME! Come backl Mr.. Nordsen, come
up here O minute, wan, to speak to
you'll"
Annie ran back along the hillside.
glad she had not gone beyond recall,
and Nordscn toiled slowly up the steep
path to the door of the little shanty.
"Come right in and sit down." said
Mrs. Hart, ":f you have time"
"Plcnty OF time" said Nortlscn. sit
ting down With his rifle between his
knees. 81 was Just going up to fix my
water gate and see II ccnld shoot II
jack rabbit"
YOU'RE lucky TO have water gate TO
Ak, Mr.. Nor 'sen," nhc replied. ~ can't
make out how Henry cama to leave me
without any water right, pnless It was
that he was taken 40 suddenly"
"Yes'm," assented Nordscn. "Whcn
the Miners Delight caves in, she amt
likely to leave man mucl. time to fiN
up wnter rights for his widdcr."
II said to Henry when we first came
here" Mrs. Hnrt went on. :" "'Hcnry,' I
snid. I'll not live in country where
you have to buy your wat.r, ns IL some
body owned it, said. It's just like
supposing we had 10 buy nir. and il the
Lord don't ruin it down her. on the just
and the unjust want TO stay in Yer
mont"
"And what did he say to that?" asked
Norlsen.
"IIr said: we don't need water. Mil
ly. when we can have horn liver for the
digging of It up The upshot Of the
matter was that not q drop of Rifle
creek do own, from one end to the
other"
But you raise some pretty fine beets.
Mrs. Hart" said Nordsen, "seeing you
have no water"
"Only on account of Mr.. Seynour's
shiftlessness," she replied. at NIL
comes down from leak in his big hume
above here
"Really ,ncw!" snid Nordsen. "And
he never flxt that 6ume? Well. that's
one on him." He grinned with good
deal of heart iness rs he wired IN imag-
mary speck of dust from the front sight
of his rifle. IA regular good one" he
repeated. "Yes, yes!"
"Iiow so?" asked Mrs. Hart. with
some show of interest.
"Wcll," said Nordsen, slowly. "for n
man of his disposition, that's paid nigh
$4,000 for his water rights, and makes
every RANCHES below here Jay two dol
lars an acre FOR what water is left when
he gets through. il seem. to me it's
queer of him to LIT you have all you
want without paying for it-especinlly
as he never pave a thing t, living soul
before in his life, so far as ever heard"
"Ten thousand dnllnrs!" echoed Mrs.
Hart
"Yes'm, to this one, and .hat one, and
the lawyers. Bnt it won't hurt him to
give you little of Il. It'll stand him in
good stead az the last. Hell; need water
finally he rdded. with c'ircklc. "And
You can deprud on me to keep my mouth
shut"
Mrs. Hart did not reply. Her lips
were shut tight, and she was gazing
through the open door flr out ncross
the valley giimmering in ibe afternoon
sunlight. The old man rose TO 60.
What wanted OF you. Mr.. Nordsen," !"
said Mrs. Hart, with an effort. twas to
know il you can help me set my beets
In to-morrow moTniDg."
Il guess So" he replied. "as far as +
know now."
"And If you'll let me haze the use OF
your wagon" she went on. I'll do your
washing for as much longer as you see
at"
you're freely welcome, Mis- Hart"
he said. without any further trouble
about it, and I'll take youf beets to the
sugar factory for youif you wish"
I'm cert,jnly greatly obliged, Mr..
Nordsen," she replied, "but rather go
myself. I've one or two errands want
specially to DO"
"As you please. na'am. he said. "as
yeu please. Ill be bere tomorrow with
Il cure. GOOD day. -Goosl.by. Annie.
How's the kitten coming oil that gave
you?"
Nicely. thank you. sir" said Annie.
rhyIy.
'sThas's good" he said "Good-by.~