The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1897-05-21


shc mind OF poor Mary wandered, and
in a weak, frail voice she talked OF
kcr youth. Of her old home in the east
and Of her father. Again and again
she imagined herself child and thought
her mother came and bent over her
and soothed her with loving words
and earcsscs, Just as she had so often
done In the long AGO Again she would
remember her father as she knew him
when q child, and in her wild fancy he
would come and kiss her and fondle
her us he used 20 do in the old, happy
days. Sometimes she would dream
that she was in the old house, playing
about the large, airy, coy rooms, and
again al other times she romped over
the smooth, soft lawn.
Then her fancy would take a turn,
and through her mind would come
trooping reuembrances Of less pleasant
scenes. She would live over AGAIN all
the suifor,ngs Of later years and in the
agony of her soul cry out to her fatheF
for mercy.
"Oh, papa, papa" she would cry.
have mercy on me and spare me. De
not be So cold and cruel % your child,
but lcJ me once more feel the touch OF
your hand, the pressure Of your lips.
Let me once more hear you speak words
Of tender love as you did when was a
child"
Thus the weeks dragged by and the
autumn came. Johns store of provis'
ions dwndled down until the larder
was almost empty, For days he and
Louise had gone ON short allowances in
order that so much as possible might
be spared to the sick woman. But now
the time had come when the larder
must be replenished in some way John
pondered the matter over long, and at
last he hit upon plan. He had his,
wagon and team and few farm inple
ments left He would make an effort
to dispose of them. He was 10th TO take
this step, for with the sale of the things
he parted with all chance of raising
crop the coming year.
"Yet, it must be done" he mused.
''They must 20, if there is anyone to
buy them"
So he made ar. effort to raise some
means that way, but day after day he
= sought for purchaser in vain There
: was nobody TO buy them, for few of the
settlers were much better Off than he,
and many another would gladly have
exchau red his possessions for provisions
or the means of securing them. Find,
ing it impossible to get purchaser for
his things at any price John began
to seek out another plan, and at last hit
upon one
Scraggs still lived, and as last re-
sort he decided to 60 once more to him.
Perhaps under the circumstances
Scraggs would be so good as to increase
the loan on the farm, or at least accom-
modate him with loan on the wagon
and team. There was no great hope of
his doing either, but as q drowning
man catches at a straw, so viii starv-
| ing one catch at anything that offers
7 bare prospect of relief. Nobody save
Scraggs seemed to have money to loan.
so to Scraggs John went. "
When he entered Scraggs' office John
found Harry Pearson there. Pearson
gave him warm salutation, asked
after the health of the family, and was
. greatly shocked and much saddened
IS when John told him of Mrs. Green's
!. sickness.
e "It is too bad" he said, "and regret
i it exceedingly. You have my heartfelt
It sympathy, Mr.. Green, indeed you have.
d have felt great interest in you, and
G while [ was away often thought of
n you. / should have been out TO see you,
but only returned from the east three
r days ago, and [ have been very much
d crowded with business since"
t John thanked Pearson for his kindly
L interest-thanked him from the bottom
of his heart, for he was in that condi-
G ton when the kindness Of q dog, even,
|, would have been grateful, Moreover,
u John looked upon Mr.. Pearson as an
; exceedingly generous young man and
Y was glad to have his friendship and
company, So he expressed a wish that
IA Harry would visit his family as often as
a he found it convenient.
e Scraggs looked on this little scene
with anything but a pleased ex-
preston. His face showed mingling
it of anger and pity, and if John had
n been a close observer, capable of re
ing the human countenance, he sur
would have seen something in the
preston of Scraggs' face and eyes
= have warned him against futu
= danger. But as it was John ss
q nothing
- mir. Scraggs," John said when tn
:, salutations were over, 81 have come
you for a little further accommodation
= as you call it, and in this instance wi
a term it an accommodation myse
y even though dearly bought. ] hav
come to that point where must hay
i money from some source, even if
y have TO steal it, and | want to kno
a if you couldn possibly make a sligl
advance on my loan. The farm is u
j doubtedly perfectly good for more tina
= double what is now ON it, and yc