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

We got IL! ne announced, cneef-
fully. Next east OF the one you
wantedl You will be near your aunt,
and If you want anything sudden, you
can run up signal"
''Thank you," answered the girl
bravely. ''I only wish / hadn't set
my heart on the other. l guess you
had better make out the papers"
''That's gritl" sighed old Daddy,
with relief "When ye can't get first
pick, be thankful for second choice. !"
'Miss Bessie is lucky to get any
thing" broke In the agent. "There
is talk of railroad running through
her part of the country; and land is
going like hot cakes"
''Well, 1 am thankful" answered
Bessie, "and 1 am real grateful to
both of you for your kindness. She
smileN back upon them as she left
with tdch O bright face that both felt
satisfied. Still, she was slow to get
over her disappointment.
''I can't help it, Aunt Mirandy,"
she said, months afterward. "I feel
real ugly toward that Watson boy. It
just seems to me as il he had jumped
my claim"
81 know how you feel," answered
the aunt, YEARLY, land it amt Chris
tian. He didn't GO to do you any un-
kindness. 1 was sorry, that you got
mad because he built SO close to us.
Probably he hadn't been from home
before and was lonesome.
HE needn't have left home at all
il he didn't want TO, retorted Bessie,
looking away from her aunt out
through the tiny window at her neigh
boris claim. What she saw was not
comforting. John Watson was too
prosperous. Instead of sod hut, he
had actually built one of lumber.
She understood, further, that he
had secured chance to teach for six
months school beyond Hammerville.
Soon he could be paying on his home
stead, while she must wait through
long years for her title.
Aunt Miranda noticed the girls
discontented face, and broke the 81
lence. 81 don't believe you deserve
it, Bessie" she said, quietly, "but
I'm going to move across and live
with you in your new home to-mor-
row."
"YouP" gasped the girl. "But you
cau't, auntie? 1t won't be safe to
leave your own homestead.
'You see, DEAR" she answered
slowly to her impatient niece, 'this
amt claim any more. l proved up
last fall"
80 Aunt Mirandy, you never told
mel"
mo. WANTED you to act for your-
self. 1 thought it would make you
more womauly. 1 must say you have
been real brave about the work and
living alone"
cts too good to be true," said
Bessie, tremulously. cliff 1 had
only known, / wouldn't have hated
that horrid Watson boy quite so bad.
1 couldn't bear to leave you, auntie. u
The next day "that horrid Watson
boy" came over and helped them move.
He was very quiet and obliging, and
never seemed to notice Bessie's cool
ness. Aunt Miranda was gracious
enough for both. When he was about
to leave, she thanked him profusely
for his kindness.
"Oh, that's nothing" he answered,
good-naturedly. "You can keepan eye
on my claim while I'm gone. l start
for my school tomorrow, and ii an
absent day or so more than the siS
months allowed by law, you keep of
the jumpers.
They parted In good fellowship
laughing at the idea of jumpers. II
seemed absurd then that any one
would think of taking his homestead
they were in such an out-of-the-way
place. Strangers were scarce, and
farther ON land was still plentiful.
Duringi the next six months, how
ever, the growing rumor of the rail
road attracted people to the vicinity
The last claim In the neighborhoodw was
taken. Now and then The two lonely
women heard of distant claims thaf
were being jumped.
81 do wish to the lands sake tha
John Watson would come home, com
planned Aunt Miranda. "His 81,
months was up yesterday, and Tn
getting awful anxious.
"He will look out for himself" re
torted Bessie. "He never lost min
ute after he came of age to get tina
homestead"
"Seems to me you're awful unjust
Bessie. Can't you forgive him for be
ing successful? 1t beats all how yol
can hold grudge for nothing. Seem
like you ought to understand him bet
ter when you know that he is working
for his mother"
Her voice died out wearily. Sh
looked across the prairie that lay
blank aud lifeless, under the morning
sunshine. A wistful look came int
her eyes as her glance rested on tn
two little houses huddled so elosel,
together in their desertion aud desc
lation. For months their only visitor
had been snow, rain aud wind Some
times their padlocks banged all nigh
long, as il the houses had found toy
which they conld rattle through th
long wiuter hours OF darkness aud az
lease their Loneliness.