The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-03-05
Rlis1rllaucnu5.
THE SQUATTER'S GRAVE.
BY +. W. PALMER.
In Sothoron's Magazine.

In Sothoron's Magazine.
1t was t pical Kansas autumn af
ternoon when alighted from the train
at the little station of Wilson. The
atmosphere had TIN t peculiar haze so
characteristic of late summer and ear
" autumn in the West. The weather
was dry and hot, and as one looked
across the rolling fields and pastures
they seemed to undulate and culver i'll
the glare The hedges, corntields and
pastures were dusty, withered and
parched, and the eye looked i'll vain
for IA green spot on which to rest itself.
Surely not very inviting outlook for
Il seven-mile ride across the country
| had come to Wilson to teach the
district school in the Cottonwood dis
trict seven miles north of the station.
| was to board with Mr. Wells, IA we'll
to do farmer. who had lived in the
ueighborhood many years. had met
him on nv former visit to the school
district when | had been employed,
and had then arranged for board and
for him to meet Inc at the station.
But no Wells was there. Disappoint-
ed, and oppressed with the heat, l
clicked up my satchel, and walked up
the Struggling street. In front OF the
village grocery, seated in his wagon, |
found Wells. He was a big man,
bronZed and tanned, and overlooking
with good nature. He was evidently
telling some warn to the loafers and
f rmers congregated on the sidewalk
in front of him, from the rapt atten-
ton with which they listened to HIM.
He had evidently forgotten me for the
time being.
Hello, Jackson, The cried, chow are
you? glad to see you, was just going to
the train after you"
"Oh, I'm all right" replied, "a lit
tie hot here, isn't it p
Yes, somewhat hot and a little dry,
but then a farmer don't mind these
things He gets toughcned like hick-
DRY stick when he farms in Kansas.
Climb in and we Ii light out for home"
The crowd made way for me and,
after pitching my satchel into the rear
end of the wagon, climbed upon the
seat beside him. He backed his team
from the hitch-rack and We were on
our way.
My companion was evidently in a
communicative mood despite the heat
and dust. He called my attention to
| the well-kept farms along the road, the
trim hedges, and carefully cultivated
| fields. The owners, too, came in for a
share of his attention, and the charac-
| terstics and peculiarities, mental and
physical, were commented on. | was
| not new to farm life.and therefore lis
| tened with interest to his running re-
marks. and drew him out by various
| questions. About three miles out of
town we passed large white house
on the left, located in a gro with a
| lawn extended down to the road. The
house, barns, and surroundings show
ed that the owner was thrifty, orderly,
and prosperous.
who lives there - | asked.
THAT'S Tom kelsey's place." Wells
replied. He's one of the best farmers
in this county. Lived here thirty
years"
AS my eye roamed over the various
objects on the farm, | noticed a clump
OF evergreen trees in The middle of a
wheat stubble field which extended in
front of us along the road. Through
the trees l caught a glimpse of some
thing white rejecting the rays of the
afternoon sun.
What is that clump of trees for,
over in the stubble field ?" | asked
and what is that glistening SO white
among them -
That's where the 'Squatter's
Grave is, said Wells. Didn't youever
hear the story of that grave The
story is known all over the county,
he continued. KELSEY takes mighty
good care of that grave. You see he
has a fence around it. He planted
those trees, and every spring plants
flowers over the grave. We farmers
think none the less of him for doing il
either. Did you ever hear the story?
repeated Wells, turning partly around
in his seat.
mo, Inever did," l replied; "tellme
about it,
| leaned back in my seat, pulled my
hat over my eyes to keep out the glare
and prepared to listen, while the team
p!odded slowly along the country road
THE story began somewhere back
in Indiana" began Wells, Il don't
know exactly where. Henry Willis
and Tom Kelsey grew uE together OF
adjoining farms. They attended the
same school, and were almost lnsepa
rable companions. They tished, hunt
ed, fought together. They were rivals
as we'll as friends. They competed
for the same prizes at school, and were
almost equally matched physically
But finally an event happened which
made them bitter enemies until death
Both loved the same girl, Hattie Lee
Hattie was Il sweet girl, with haze
eyes and brown hair. She was prize
worth any mans efforts. Both court
ed her ardently, passionately. a
length Tom Kelsey won her. Why h
was the fortunate one | don't know
Perhaps ne was the stronger charac
ter. Perhaps more importunate. A
any rate he won her, and the engage
ment was announced. Henry took hi
= disappointment bitterly to heart. HI
became reckless and restless, anC
kelsey's bitter enemy. Before tn
marriage took place he disappeared
and went no one knew where.
Tom and Hattie were married ant
lived several years with Toms par
ents. Then the immigration to Kan
sas began and Tom determined to &c