The Newtown bee., 1899-04-07

other. He said then that stuff didn't
grow any better in dirt that happened to
be black" .s-
"But the s'iIe has been analysed,
Anna, and the chemist says it's amazin'
rich. John Lane is kind man, and all
that; never said word agin him; but
he amt scientific, and he's mortal slow
worker, IL must say it. He digs early
and late; but what would Charles think
of the hundred year that he is so sat.
isfied with savin'?"
Anna shut her lips tightly for d mo-
ment, as she had way of doing whenla
sharp retort rose to them. She kept the
words back, and the flush faded from
her cheeks before she again spoke.
81 know that John isn't scientific,
mother" she said, slowly. "But he says
that swamp can never be drained as long
as the surface Of il is lower than May
bry's pond. he has known it all along,
but he hated to speak of it, even to me.
But last night he said that he thought
you ought TO know about it before
Charles cosxed you into raising more
money to thro v away, and giving q
mortgage on the place. Why, mother.
what Is n"
''Nothin', child-nothin', said MRS
Boothby. She had caught at Annals
shoulder for support, and the girl was
startled to see how frail and old hel
mother looked with the sudden palloI
which had come into the tremulous
cheeks.
Anna had almost to carry Mrs Boothby
to the lounge. There the withered face
sank upon the strong young shoulder
They sat so for long time IN silence
In that way, by the sudden hopeless
clinging of her mothers arms, Anns
came TO know that johns warning haG
come too late.
Charles, Louise and the children haC
gone into town that day, and the paper
which Mrs Boothby had signed weni
with them. So much Anna knew anG
inferred, for she asked no questions. He,
mother seemed to have grown so feeble
all at once that she dared not ask for de.
tails. Her father came in later thar
usual; he smoked and meditated in the
swamp instead OF in the chimney corner
since the work there had begun, and
Charles good-naturedly led him to be.
lieve Hiram BoothbY directed the labor.
my idea would be, to aub-drain with
prk
ought to know more about such matters
than I, father; so it'll be as yon say. The
costs are yours and the enhanced value
will be yours, ALSO"
It was so that Charles made Mr. Booth.
by happy, while the money was flowing
out faster than the water was likely ever
to flow from the Doggy lind; as happy,
possibly, as he could have been If the
''gold mine'' were aalready paying divi.
dends.
In those days Mr. Boothby's enthusiasm
kept him chattering like a child, but
when Anna met him at the door there
was an expression on her face that ST.
fenced hin.
"Mother is asieep," she said. ssWhen
she wakes don't go prating in her ears
about that swamp. I'm going over 60 see
John Lane
81 wonder what makes Anna so stuffy
all at once" muttered Mr. Boothby. The
problem kept his mind off the all-absorb-
ing subject OF the swamp while he was
reflilipg and lighting his pipe. Then she
remembered that Charles was in town ne
gotiating for q pumping engine TO force
the water TO higher reservoir, whence
it should be piped TO Mabry's pond.
"sOnce git the water out, says Charles,
In that practical way Of hisn." mumbled
Mr. Booshby, = and then set mp couple
o. windmilla to keep 1t out. That's
Charles's idee. The Lord pervides forces
in natnr'. one to balance tsother. IL men
only have the gumption to use 'em, 30
Charles says"
John Lane was stirred from his usual
calm temper when Anna told him that
Charles Harding had that day gone 10
the city With paper that virtually plac-
ed the Bcethby farm entirely at his dis
posal.
TN follow him, and have back the pa.
per, II II takes grip on his throat to get
ii II bic cried.
sim glad you feel like that, John, .
said Anna. / know you will do all for
the best, and nothing rash, whatever yen
say
.sYou say that he took Louise and the
children ~ John asked.
s'Yea and some OF tbs men who have
been 1t work went this afternoon
ssGood raason whyS be hapnss naaa