Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-11-28
Martha stopped hersex shortly al

Martha stopped hersek shortly nc
his question.
II was going to burn this paper, but
maybe I'd better not" she muttered.
She sat down again, quite spent
from the days p~erplexities. She dia
not coherently plan what she should
do. She let matters drift for the next
few days.
Then n morning Mr.. Creli came
TO her house with a notary and a deed
all drawn up for her to sign. He gave
her the deed to sign. she trembled
and before she could write her name
the pen fell to the floor. She would
not pick 1t up. II won't sell the land"
she said. Let this place go if it will.
and Jacky and l are going to live on
the shack on the river land"
Nothing the perplexed lawyer could
say would alter this decision, and at
last he took the notary away.
However, sincerely DESTROYS OF saw
ing the old woman from the conse-
quences of what seemed a strange
vagary, Mr.. Crell m to her another
day. saying that he had arranged by
NSAS6iaPA " PootpohC bAC ILL VI pay
Ing the mortgage.
But Martha stubbornly refused to
alter her plans. She put a little furni-
ture into the two-roomed log shack
on the river property, and moved
there with Jacky.
There won't be any crime in just
borrowing the land while I live," she
told herself.
One evening, when they had been
In the shack some weeks, as he sat
studying the depressed lines. that had
come into her face, an Idea occurred
to Jacky.
Granny he broke out, "the reason
we're not very cheerful here Is just
because We haven't enough honor
ableness."
Then, as Martha caught her breath,
she glanced at him sharply.
I'VE ought to have grandfather's
medal hanging up as it was at the
cottage" he explained. You see,
Granny. we're always so proud and
happy when we look at it and remem-
Der what a brave soldier he was. Ii
makes us wish to be all honorable and
right ourselves. Why GRANNY"
Martha had suddenly dropped her
face in her hands, and was swaying
her poor old body to and FRO.
"Jacky! Jackyl" she cried out. Go
get the medal. quickly!"
He flew for 1t, quite distracted aS
the remarkable effect of his words. He
had merely repeated things she had
often said to him.
Martha had controlled her agitation
when he came back to her side after
a few minutes. She was sitting up
very straight and calm, and there was
a brightness in her eyes, as IL the
spirit behind them was working
strongly. Her mouth had dropped
from the set look it had recently worn.
1t Crembled slightly.
"Jacky," she said, stand before me,
my a Jacky, you say that think
ing Of grandfather ought to make us
brave and honorable. Do you near
it?"
"Oh, US, Granny"
"And IL he was ready to do his duty
In h's wey, we must do ours in our
way as bravely?"
"Ye-es, Granny"
Then, Jacky, we shall. I'll do mine
and you'll do yours, little lad, even
though it's the hardest trial that
could come for us to be parted"
The next morning Martha carried
the deed to Mr.. Crell and told him the
story Of how she had found 1t and
of her resolve TO restore the land to
Willis.
"Oh, Mrs. Brent!" he exclaimed
when he was through reading 1t.
springing up to grasp her hand. How
glad we are you brought me this at
last! You say you were not able to
read all of it? Well, Frederick Willis