The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-09-16

women are nothing at figures anyhow.
Well he'll see the parson some of these
| days and see about that four dollars
Maybe he'll take some more potatoes.
| He settles back to his paper without
mention of the medicine. But his
wife persists. though half frightened
at her own temerity. Can she have just
enough to get the tonic? She can't
sell butter and eggs at the drug store.
If she can only be carried over till
cool weather. She isn't feeling right
smart. and baby pulls her down
and"
Her husband breaks in impatiently
How much does a bottle cost? Thirty
five cents. He counts out the exact
change into her extended hand. mutter
ing that he doesn't see how he is ever
to improve the Lower Ranch if she
keeps on. Nearly whole half dollar
for q bottle Of patent medicine that
won't do any good either. Women are
always sick or think they are. If they'd
only take care of themselves, He is
never sick. Always money! Does she
full all the time? A man can struggle
along all his days and work like n
slave and never get ahead. And tc
see his money good straight silver,
cash, mind yOI. worse than thrown
away on such fool things as patent
bitters. 1t Is downright outrageous
And two new sickleJ broken and q new
suliy rake TO buy, and stock-well to
dig on the Lower Ranch. and won't
that ranch be hers when lie is dead?
After several such interviews. Mary
Grants aversion to the Lower Ranch
grew into n sort of mania. Not only
did she refuse to see II, but she began
TO tell her nelghbors in boastful way
that she had never seen the big piece
Of land, bought when she was Il bride,
now more than eighteen years ago,
and what was more, she never would
90 near it. It 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 jubllant to remember
petty wrongs. The Branch Road was
to be built. in fact. was being bailt.
The survey was completed, construc.
ton begun. and oh. what fortune. a
station was located right in the south.
west corner of his section. 4 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 go to see their town on their
ranch.
She heard him through with her little
mirthless smile but shook her head.
She could not go; she was always too
tired.
And she clung to her resolution. Tho
road was completed. the town laid out,
lots sold and houses erected by the
magic of all Western booms. Grant.
There We're 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 dogged persistence of her class,
though the town was their neares.
market. She remained at home alto.
gether on Sundays after the services
were transferred from the country
schoolhouse to the new church in town.
And the neighbors whispered that
Mary Grant wasn't the lousekeeper
she used to be. She hadn't entered
butter nor preserves nor patchwork
quilts At the county fair for three
years. Her marlgolds and hollylocks
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"
Jason Grant sat IN his light spring
wagon waiting to go with his wife
and her friends to the Lower Ranch.
She was really going, although she had
vowed that she never would. But they
We're 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.
Presently the minister came ont of
the house, and spoke n word to his
sister who had charge of the children.
Then he came to the side of the spring
wagon and touched the arm of the
dreaming man. If the minister had
been woman. he might have said
something bitter. since he had never
forgotten Mary's vow. AS 1t was. he
climbed to the wagon-seat in silence.
took the relns from Jason Grants hand
and gave the sign for the procession to
start.-Waverley Magazine.