Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-02-25

them.'
"H-m. Why, there are not two sides
to that question. He is entirely right"
Jack said, with his most judicial air.
Mr.. McGregor laughed aloud.
II was proving it by a story he
began.
"Made to ORDER" Rob interrupted.
"Do you know, Jack, he was trying to
mako me believe that we would never
have had Roscoe but fora spotted
heifer?'
"We would not, Miss 1mpertinence,
her father said, still laughing. II will
tell Jack the story. had not thought
Of it in ten years until fell talking
day before yesterday with Benjamin
Topmark"-
"Why, what brought him here?' Jack
interrupted. Rob looked away, but said
gayly:
"The finest new turnout in the coun-
ty; at least Nam Liza says 80. And,
only think, missed sight of It; was
way out in the fields. -
"He came to see me" Mr.. McGregor
said, with dignity, "to say, poor fell
low, how sorry he was that he had not
been in threo years before. Now, in his
own sorrowful desolation, no is learn
ing'-
Excuse me, dad, but what has his
grief to do with spotted heifer-and
Rosooe?" Rob asked sauoily Her fa-
ther patted her hand.
"You shall hear in good time," he
said. "Jack will pardon an old mans
rambling. The story is not much, after
all. You both have heard me tell about
coming out Of Virginia, boy Of II,
riding at my fathers elbow. Ho had
not bought land before coming out, and
as soon as we chanoed upon this place
he made up his mind that he wanted it.
1t belonged to a man named Piokins
then, one Of tho poor whites. But, odd
ly enough, he had good title, though
most Of his sort merely squatted where
they chose. He wanted to sell and move
to one of the prairie states, but his wife
was against it, She would, in fact, have
brought tho trade to naught had she
not fallen in love With
came you to have that valuable animal?"
Rob asked, her eyes twinkling. Her ia
ther gently pipohed her ear as he went
on:
"Why, che was my pet I had raised
her back in Virginia and had refused to
sell her with the rest Of the cattle. She
was broken to the halter, so / led her
over the mountains into Tennessee. Mrs.
Pickins tried FIRST to buy her through
somebody else. She was u sharp old la
dy, but not too sharp for me. I let it be
known to her that my May Blossom
was not for sale, but that was ready
to mako her a present Of the animal
tho minute she would sign quitclaim
deed to the land. Even then she hung
back day and night, but ended by
coming round. And so. Miss Rob, you
will one day have Roscoe.
~ think-yes, | must look up that
Quitclaim, Rob said saucily. Her ia
thcr's face clouded.
"You will not find it," he said.
"Twenty years after it was given my
father sent it to a lawyer in Illinois,
who wanted it to he'll the CID womans
children in some legal matter. He prom
ised faithfully to return it, but never
did That does not matter if it is re-
corded. 1t was, / know. But so many
books wcro burned in that fire at the
courthouse. Benjamin Topmark spoke
of that and said he would find out for
me. He was going to search the books
on his own account aud would be glad
to look for me-
"Mr. Topnark is-too kind" Rob
said, with the faintest curl Of the lip;
then, with q quick change Of mood:
"Jack, do you want to be useful? Then
come help me feed my chickens They
are spoiled, almost as badly as this dad
Of mine They eat nearly their own
weight in meal every day, yet to hear
them quawk and complain you would
think they were starving
"They are deceitful, like their mis-
tress," Jack said as he followed her to
the feed coop, tent shaped affair of
rough Stats, which was set some 30
yards from the back steps, Rob had a
big basin Of wet meal. She flung it by
generous handfuls within the coop, then
leaned upon it, watching her pets at
their greedy feeding. One OF them.
pretty, tame, ash blue creature, flew
upon her outstretched hand and perched
there, proening herself and giving out
soft little sounds as she pecked daintily
at remnants Of dough in the basin.
Poor Bluebird!' Rob said stroking
the soft feathers. 81 am afraid, sweet.
heart, next winter you will be hungry
unless I can bring myself to kill you or
give you away. Do you know, Jack,
have como to wish, almost, that every
thing l love may be dead when winter
Comes?'
"Hushp' Jack began imperatively,
but she went Oh recklessly:
"It is the only way out. You see how
things are-the crop going to destruction
md not hand raised to stop it. Uncle
Ned's wife's brother s mother law is
dead. To show respectful sympathy with
him every soul here quit work and went
to tho burying. 1t was bad enough be-
fore. Now / have quite lost heart. Pap
by has lacked nothing so far. l had
rather die hundred times than let him
know the truth. How could l even hint
to him that we must sell part of the land
we both love SO we'll? Yet that seems
the only way in which I can save him
from actual want unless-unless God
wero good enough to let US die together. "
"Ah, there 10 another way, almost as
bad may be-still way" Jack said,
with unfeeling levity. "You-you can
marry me, Rob, though I am not half
so GOOD n chance as Won deserve" "