The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1901-09-26
n 5ns 5:,t ; " H. '.'''

~ GORGE thought at first he
would tell hor as soon as he
Ut reached home, but when he
~ came to the house he drove on
to the barn He would put up tho
team and do the chores first The
team was embarrassed and fed, all the
chores we're done, but still be did not
20 to the house. He got a hammer
and mended the gate, ho put another
round Of rails on the pig pen, he
shucked corn for the morning feed,
land then he got the hammer again
Wd hammered awhile-a long while
III G barn door.
We turned to the house at last, walk
ling slowly, as one very weary. He
went into, the sitting room, already
dark with The shadow Of the coming |
night. His wiSe was busy with prep
arations for supper, and singing as
she worked He 6umbled around the
mantel until she called
George, what are you lookin' fort"
and started to bring the, lamp.
"Nothin',H he answered hurlfedly,
and went out through the kitchen
door and carried In an armfuN Of wood,
then took the bucket, already full Of
water, threw 1t out and filed " again.
Then he dropped into a chair )by the
kitchen door and rested his chin in
his hands.
whats the matter, Georgeb Are
A.. you sickY asked his wife
a. aNothin'," was his repl- i'Mollie"
sne sid directly. @SF~~ .,
She set Gown her pan and came over
and stood by his dhaF.
= what GeorgeT
''This place amt ourn," no answered
slowly.
mot ourn?'
"No. When went to prove up they
said my claim had never been put in,
and tho land had been sold several
months. Guess the mans been waitin'
for me to get the crop nearly made
before he makes us git out"
Mollle went back to her work with.
out word. She kept her face turned
from him as she busted herself with
the supper
They both tried to eat, but failed.
He left the table first and went and
sat down on the door step. She tried
for a time to clear the table, but found
she was only carrying the dishes to
the kitchen then back to the table
again. She left them and went and
sat down beside her husband. Neither
spoke The baby was asleep and the
house was very still She slipped her
hand through his arm. At her touch
his head dropped little lower, but be
spoke no word.
The last light Of day had died on
the tops Of the Ozarks highest hills
The moonlight came. From tho for.
est crest OF the mountain to the west
1t crept down until 1t touched the door
step, and then fell upon the grove OF
p wild plum trees that grew along the
branch OF the valley field. Now II
lighted up the whole valley, and the
soft south wind of May brought the
perfume OF the growing corn Still
they sat in silence.
1t had been five years sInce they
came In the Joy OF their simple honey.
moon TO the little cabin George had
built In the wild forest. It was Gov.
ernmont land, and no thought he had
homesteaded It Five years of hard-
est toll and care followed. Now there
was an open field of eighty acres, a
young orchard, barns and a neat. com.
PORTABLE cottage. 1t was their homo.
and a good home they had made IL too.
How plain you can smell the corn !"
Mollie said at last
such good corn" he said brokenly.
"snd forty acres Of It"
George" she said quite calmly
we are young yet; we cleared this
farm and built this house; we can do
1t again"
We only shook his head. Her words
brought no comfort to him. He WINS
thinkingNof the five years of ceaseless
labor, the\pest years of his vonng
manhood, which could never be ID.
called.
George, simple minded, good heart
ed' mad always been the best natu,od
and most harmless fellow in the VIZ, I
During the days that followed he he.
came moroae and Grabbed Ho seemed