The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-11-03
''Jes' look at them two housesr' ex-


claimed Aunt Miranda, at last
"Pears like they couldn't get along
without each other, no way. An sup
pose they acted as unneighborly as
you do to John WatsonY It's shame,
Bessie, and You have both got to live
here side by side year in and year out.
''If 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 q
year before. Nothing had altered in
the changeless 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 Mirandy was
right, she thought, soberly; 1T 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 1 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 game
of coincidence, she met old Daddy
again where their trails joined.
"Oh," gasped Bessie, 'you are the
very man wantedp Then she made
an excited explanation. ''Now you
start right away after him." she con-
cluded, land I'll tend to the rest"
Daddy looked down at her with ad-
miring eyes. you're a regular ole
brick, you airl'' he insisted, with rough
gallautry.
"Oh, go along" laughed. the girl,
with q 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
loaf of bread from the table and filed
O Jug with milk. "I'm needed up the
trail" explained Bessie, "I'll be back
tomorrow"
The good aunt gasped as the door
Jared shut behind her niece. "Well,
that beats all Ole Mis- Simpson must
be sick again. Bessie's got good
heart, an awful good heart-except
toward that Watson boy" Aunt Mi
randa shook her head sadly, and went
back to her backing.
An hour later, in passing the win
dow, she stopped to glance at the two
companionable houses. Her glance
became stare of amazement. She
couldn't believe her eyes. She put
on her eyeglasses and looked
again. Yes, somebody had moved into
John Watson's house Smoke came
out of the chimney, and long row of
family washing was already hanging on
the line. Before the door stood two
lean horses, still hitehed to the
strangers emigrant wagon.
"Oh dearl oh dear!" walled Aunt
Miranda. 'His claim is jumped, and
1 can't do anything!" She sat down,
limp and lifeless, and began to cry.
'I could stand it better if Bessie was
homel" moaned the poor woman.
But Bessie had more important work
than comforting Aunt Miranda. When
she climbed into John Watson's
through window, she took brief
survey. 'I've got to make 'em think
some one is living here" she thought,
rapidly. 81 wonder what would seem
most natural9"
She hastily built fire, and then
took every cloth that she could find
and hung it on the line, for it was
washday, Monday. When she added
her own apron and sunbonnet, to give
the line a domestic air, she allowed
herself one brief moment to grin at the
display.
She had almost finished dusting
when she first caught sight of the
emigrant wagon. She knew her hour
had come, and drew a long breath.
Then she watched, aud it seemed
hours before the wagon reached the
house.
A frowsy, brutish-looking man
thrust his head beyond the wagon
cover. SIS that Watson's placer" he
growled, with a jerk of his thumb
toward Aunt MirAnda's deserted sod
house.
"Ob, no." answered Bessie, with a
lump in her throat, ''that belongs to
Miss King"
"King?" he snarled ''They told
me down to Hammeryille that the
empty one belonged to Watson. /
guess you're a-lying to perfect him.
We are going to move in, any way"
"All right" answered Bessie, try
ing to hide her relief.
The man clambered down from the
wagon, followed by a sharp-faced wo-
man and several disagreeable-loo
children.
Thought they said his house was
frame" snapped the woman.
The man looked from one house tc
the other. 'They did say So" he
snarled back, "but you can see foi
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