Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-05-02

browning grass gave Il
tinge of sadness TO the
landscape. and the hum OF
innumcrablc insects which
rcd the summer months well
II were growing fainter and
mic with the advancing sea-
.rops had been garnered and
oh OF frost brought 40 terror
ncrS, but in some indcScriba-
affected the nerves OF the
Sun standing before her rude
= toward the setting sun.
The autumn had always
shade of sadness into her
back in the old New Eng
before this horrible night
transformed her lifc-she had
ed the same feeling of de-
IS it's because | hate to see
wing" she explained 10 her
life back Il rising rebellion of
1.-THE summer was short
pack home. but ont here it's
mort"
was n drcary. homesick OK
in the eyes. and through the
= hair the bronzed forehead
little marks of premature
g. Dorothy Wellington in her
days had been termed "come-
word which just fell short OF
ler good looking or handsome.
II time ard experience her fea-
Il grown harshcr and yet with
ting out certain sweet eX-
I of resignation. Eternal long
the impossible. however. cats
heart and ambition of the
ST. and Dorothy was daily find
burden more uncomfortable.
sn't natural" she confessed TO
many times. I'D rather give
and 20 back without Il cent.
work and make Il living. Not in
ry. but somewhere else-any-
except here"
as q strained and unnatural po-
for young girl 10 find herself
q nothing but Il strong. stern
of duty could hold her To the
N another day. 1t was not home
ie bleak Oklahoma plain. The
quarter section on which they
was in dispute. The shack which
had built for temporary quarters
not he their own. Across the
line" there was another shack
md blot on the landscape. To ore
ie other the quarter section he
d. but 10 which none could say.
slow-moying courts would in time
ie. but for the present there was
an armed truce. and neither side
| venture on the property OF the
:
red Wellington had left DInbary
,he East to cast his lot with the |
" settlers of oklahoma. and when
rush began he had been the first
ettle on a desirable quarter section.
while lie had been busy stalking |
the section another had filed Il
In TO the same piece OF land. There |
; a dispute which threatened TO
In murder. but Dorothy had been |
means of quieiing the two combat |
:. They agreed 10 let the courts |
lie the claim. and meanwhile the |
} owners built on opposite sides of |
dead line" which they drew ex-
" through the centre of the quarter |
lion.
hat was three months ago. and in |
meantime Jared Wellington ana |
lry Egerton had nursed thei: wrath
Silence while they planted and gath |
] their first seasons crops. Each |
erly cnvied the other the crops |
ich Icy right Should belong TO him.
h alert eyes and gun loaded for |
we service. each watched the other. |
prmined To exact thn full pound |
flesh demanded in the agreement. |
. accident or sickness forced either |
: the dead line" the other would |
have shot his enemy
lis tracks the moment lie set foot on
property.
nch We're the bite: conditions under
Ich Dorothy had lived for three
nths. hoping and praying that the
rt's decision would shortly settle the
iroversy. but never did the law
N 10 lag more cXasperatingly.
Iumn was changing the whole face
the landscape and winter was ap-
aching with its long period Of
omy wca Their. but the dead line"
the Egerton shack in the distance.
tinued to make life 70: Dorothy and
father bitter and disagrceahle.
AIRED Wellington was rs hard ard
in his ways as the New England
mite hills among which he had been
red. and Dorothy knew his nature
we'll 20 attempt TO induce him 10
npromise with his lonely neighbor.
,eIy Henry Egerton appeared to he
his shack. for neither wife. mother.
child appeared around his home.
lily he had toiled in the fields all
inner. returning to his rude home ut
Int time TO prepare his own supper,
] smoke quietly and solidarity near
door of his shack until the moon
5 darkened by the blOod-red horizon.
rothy had watched these orderly
from her quiet retreat.
en- wondering at the mans lonely
;. and in he. tender heart hall pity
him.
L. was young and rot hard-looiing
she remembered him OH that event
day when she had inierposcd 10
e both from possible tragedy.
I after all it had been a fleeing
mpsc of the flushed face and eyes
rniuo with anpa,. and uaferminat ion