The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1899-10-13


One morning Frank Gregg saddled
up his horse and rode out across Pos
sum ridge on his way to the little town
OF Scrouge0ut. Just after lie had
passed John Th0rntons house, and
while he was still on Thornton's farm,
he met old man Barton.
Gregg and Barton were neighbors
and friends, and neither OF them being
in any hurry, they stopped for little
friendly chat. They spoke of the
weather and the crops, exchanged a
few items Of local news and discussed
the prices Of farm products. Then,
by and by, when the common subjects
had been disposed Of, Barton said:
II don't know whether there is any
thing in il, Frank, but / hear it whis
pered about that you've got some no
tion of getting married?"
Gregg chuckled softly, half-close(
his eyes and nodded his head, with ;
knowing air.
swell, II did have a notion of tha
kind" he replied, II reckon ther'
wouldn't be nothing wrong about 1t
I'm old enough to marry, Iguess."
IL judge you are, Frank" Bartor
agreed, with laugh. "Most ole
enough at least"
Gregg was a little above 40.
There was a short pause, then Bar
ton said, interrOgatively:~
$50 reckon that report is true
then?"
"Wcll l guess it amt altogether
false" answered Gregg.
"Just so. Have you gone so tar as
to select the woman you are going tt
marry?"
Yes"
"Uh, huh! What mout her name
be, Frank?"
"Brown. She Is a widow"
Neither Gregg nor Barton was
aware of the fact, but nevertheless
just over the fence which ran by the
side OF the road, there was a man
crOuched among some bushes listen
ing to every word they uttered.
"Widow Browne" Barton said, ques-
tioningly to himself. widow Brown?
l don't know her, guess. Leastwise
l can't call any such woman to mind
now. Don't live in tins neiyhborhOod
does she?"
mo, she lives down toward Coon
rum"
"Ah! Is she young and good look
ing?"
"Shc is young enough and good
looking enough for me-"
Got apy money or property"
"Oh, ten Thousand dollars In cash
and a small farm. She just received
the money last week. Got it from her
fathers estate back east. But I'm
not marrying her for that, under
stand"
"Of course not. But still, the mon
ey will come in handy. Well, l must
jog on. Got little plowing to do
this afternoon"
Barton had started forward, but
when he had gone u few steps he STOP
ped again.
"Oh, say" he called back, you bet
ter not let old Thornton know you are
going to marry, for If you do he will
cut in and upset your plans"
81 guess there's no danger Of that"
Gregg replied, with a laugh. mo
doubt he would II he could, but fortu-
nately he can't
"Maybe he can't, but I'm not so sure
OF it. He's a long-headcd old cuss and
a powerful schemer."
Gregg and Barton rode away and nc
sooner were they out Of sight than
the man behind the fence arose to his
feet and danced about with Joy. 1t
was John Thornton himself and he
would not have missed what he had
heard for good deal.
Thornton was Grcgg's hltterest enc.
my and a more vindictive and unre.
lenting enemy no man ever had. For
years he had worked against Gregg
and had been quick to embrace every
opportunity to injure him and thwart
him 10 his undertakings. Why he was
90 bitter against Gregg doesn't mat
ter. 1t is sufficient to say 1t was not
Gregg's fault.
When Thornton learned from the
conversation which had just passed
that Gregg was going TO marry his
first thought was how to prevent 1t;
and he was not long In hitting on q
plan.
Now, It 60 happened that Thornton
was a widower, and consequently, In
a shape TO do a little something 10 the
matrimonial way himseli. He thought
Of this and the plan on which b hte
was 3ust TO 60 TO the Widow Brown
ahsad a Grsg6 and try % iadses - l..