The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-11-03

claimed Aunt Miranda, at last.
"Pears like they couldn't get along
each other, no way. An sup
pose they acted as unneighborly as
you do to John Watson9 It's shame,
Bessie, and you have both got to live
here side by side year in and year out. "
eff you have finished your Sermon"
the girl answered, GROSSLY, "I guess
I'll 90 down to Hammerville for the
mail"
An hour later she was slowly jog
ging down the trail, as she had done a
year before. Nothing had altered in
the chaugeless landscape. Even the
mood of the former time came back
again. Before she realized it Bessie
was singing;
GLOW firm foundation, ye saints of the
Lord"
When she rode into town, she sud
denly forgot the music. On corner
she overheard two men talking. eyes, "
one was saying, che is going to jump
John Watson's claim this afternoon. "
For one brief, mean minute Bessie
was glad. "It serves him right" she
told herself. The next minute she
was ashamed. "Aunt Nfirandy was
right" she thought, soberly; sit isn't
Christian.
She stood still in front of the post
Office and thought of John Watson.
Her heart was touched with pity as
she thought OF his hard work and his
mother. "I don't know what 1 can
do, she thought, woefully, "but am
not going to be mean any more"
After moments consideration, she
mounted her horse and rode across the
prairie at such a headlong gait that
those who saw watched her with real
concern, and prophesied sunstroke.
AS if some fate were playing a game
of coincidence, she met old Daddy
again where their trails joined.
"Oh," gasped Bessie, "you are the
very man L wantedr' Then she made
an excited explanation. "Now you
start right away after him, she con-
cluded, "and I'll tend to the rest"
Daddy looked down at her with ad.
miring eyes. you're a regular ole
brick, you air!' he insisted, with rough
gallantry.
ooh, go alongl" laughed'the girl,
with prod at his horse that sent the
old man hastily on his mission.
Aunt Miranda looked up as the girl
burst into the house. and snatched 6
loaf of bread from the table and filled
Jug with milk. "I'm needed up tn,
TRAIL" explained Bessie, "I'll be back
| tomorrow"
The good aunt gasped as the dool
Jared shut behind her niece. "Well
that beats all! Ole Mis- Simpson mus
be sick again. Bessie's got gooC
heart, an awful good heart-excep
toward that Watson boy" Aunt Mi
randa shook her head sadly, and wen
back to her backing.
An hour later, in passing the win
dow, she stopped to glance at the tw'
companionable houses. Her glanc'
became a stare Of amazement. Sh
couldn't believe her eyes. She pu
on her eyeglasses and locke,
again. Yes, somebody had moved int,
John Watson's house! Smoke cam
out Of the chimney, and long row o
family washing was already hanging oil
the line. Before the door stood tw,
lean horses, still hitched to tn
strangers emigrant wagon.
"Oh dear! oh dear" walled Aun
Miranda. "His claim is jumped, an,
can't do anythingl" She sat down
limp and lifeless, and began to cry
"I could stand it better if Bessie wa
homel" moaned the poor woman.
But Bessie had more important worl
than comforting Aunt Miranda. Whel
she climbed into John Watson
through a window, she took q brie
survey. "Ive got to make 'em thin
some one is living here" she thought
rapidly. 81 wonder what would seen
most naturalP"
She hastily built fire, and the
took every cloth that she could fin
and hung it on the line, for it wa
washday, Monday. When she adde
her own apron and sunbonnet, to Civ
the line a domestic air, she allowe
herself one brief moment to grin at tn
display.
She had almost finished dustin
when she first caught sight of tn
emigrant wagon. She knew her hou
had come, and drew a long breatl
{ Then she watched, aud it SCENE
hours before the wagon reached th
house.
A frowsy, brutish-looking ma
thrust his head beyond the WACO
cover. SIS that Watson's place?" /
growled, with a jerk of his thum
toward Aunt Miranda's deserted SC
house.
"Oh, no." answered Bessie, with
70 lump in her throat, that belongs
Miss King"
; ''King?" he snarled. ''They tol
= me down to Hammerville that Il
t empty one belonged to Watson.
guess you're a-lyiug to perfect hir
I We are going to move in, any way"
. "All right" answered Bessie, tr
( ing to hide her relief.
4 The man clambered down from II
wagon, followed by a sharp-faced W
= man and several disagreeNble-lookii
J. children.
t "Thought they said his house W
frame, snapped the woman.
!, The man looked from one house
: the other. "TheY did say So"
Il snarled back, "but you can see +
s yourself!"
y "Seems to be mistake, ventur