The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-09-24

| slave and never get ahead. AnQ 10
see his money, good straight silver,
cash, mind you, worse than thrown
away on such fool things as patent
| bitters! It is downright outrageous!
| And two new sickles broken and new
sulky rake to buy, and a stock-well to
dig on the Lower Ranch, and won't
that ranch be hers when he is dead?
After several such interviews, Mary
Grants aversion to the Lower Ranch
grew into a sort of mania. Not only
did she refuse to see 1t, but she began
to tell her neighbors in boastful way
that she had never seen the big piece
Of land, bought when she was bride,
now more than eighteen years ago,
and what was more, she never would
60 near it. 1t was the one subject
upon which she was talkative. The
habit grew upon her. She would tell
the same story to every one, even to
chance acquantances. She went so far
as to repeat her VOW to the minister
in the presence Of her husband-a VOW
which the minister never forgot and
which the husband never forgave.
But one day, after a weeks absence
at the county-seat. Jason Grant re.
turned home too jubilant to remember
petty wrongs. The Branch Road was
to be- built, in fact, was being built.
The survey was completed, construc-
ton begun, and oh! what fortune. a
station was located right in the south
west corner of his section. A town,
rejoicing in the name Of Granville,
was to be laid out, and he would be the
Town Company, with the price Of lots
to be fixed at his discretion. Now she
must so to see their town on their
ranch.
She heard him through with her little
mirthless smile, but shook her head.
She could not 60; she was always too
tired.
And she clung to her resolution. The
road was completed, the town laid out.
lots sold and houses erected by the
magic of all Western .boems. Grant
vile fourshed that summer and fall.
There were the smell of new lumber
and fresh paint and the sound Of saw
and hammer. A quarry was opened
within two miles Of the town. The
new cemetery, with it's two fresh
graves, was laid out In the northeast
corner of Jason Grants ranch, and
even there was boom in lots.
But the Town Company's wife never
saw the town. She kept her VOW with
the logged persistence Of her class,
though the town was their nearest
market. She remained at home alto
gether on Sundays after the services
We're transferred from the country
schoolhouse to the new church in town.
And sthe neighbors whispered that
Mary Grant wasn't the housekeeper
she used to be. She hadn't entered
butter nor preserves nor patchwork
quilts at the county fair for three
years. Her marigolds and hollyhocks
died from want Of attention, and
Mandy took the entire care Of the last
baby. Even the minister's sister had
to acknowledge that Mrs. Grant didn't
seem to take any interest" -- .
iR%za
-. Jason Grant sat in his tight spring
wagon waiting to 90 with his wife
and her friends to the Lower Ranch.
She was really going, although she had
vowed that she never would. But they
were not ready yet, and he bowed his
head on his hands and allowed his
mind. to wander over all the years Of
their married life.
z Presently the minister came out Of
the house, and spoke word to his
sister who had charge of the children.
Then lie came to the side Of the spring
.wagon and touched the arm of the
dreaming man. If the minister had
been n woman, he might have said
something bitter, since lie had never
forgotten Mary's VOW. AS it was, he
climbed to the wagon-seat in silence,
took the reins from Jason Grants hand
and gave the sign for the procession to
start.-Waverley Magazine.