The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1903-04-24
go 81 HY. it's rediklis"' declared
WNW Aunt, Melzena Mellen.
Il - - 80 . q. 4 l .,.-Ia,fnttc

Il RI e II OWuaclOuS.
agreed Uncle Simeon.
"Does the gal expect to live on grass
an YARDS, like the cowbrutesY" grum-
bled Cousin Gideon.
"She better of took the five hundred
dollars Squire Stafford offered her"
said Uncle Simeon, sagely. ITS more'n
the ole place is wuth half rocks, an
the rest growed up with mullen stalks
an hoarhoun' an wild chamomile."
And so the chorus went on among
the Mellen and Hillacre relations, far
and near, and all because Mollie Hill
acre, self-willed girl, refused to part
with the old homestead and its twenty
acres of sterile soil, which had be-
come hers on the death Of Grandpa
Hillacre, some few months previous.
Among all the clan there was no one
TO take MOllie's side of the question
but old Uncle Dabney Mellen, who oc-
cupied the adjoining farm.
"Mollie amt nobody's fool, | kin tell
ye" he would say, nOddlng his head
wisely. An eff she hangs onter the
old homestead she'll make 1t pay, one
way or anuther, or my name amt Dab
ney Mellen."
But the other relatives only shook
their heads forebodingly and declared
that "a wiLfuI woman must have her
own way" and they washed their
hands of her entirely.
LAS she makes her bed, so she must
lay in it," declared Uncle Simeon, trite-
,y. AN if she comes to grief she
needn't spect us to help her out"
"Of course not" echoed the rest.
But still Mollie persisted in taking
her own head" in spite of their predic-
tons and representations.
Even Steve Kimble, MOllie's af-
famed lover, sided against her. He
was a distant cousin on the Mellen
side.
what could we ever do here, Mol
lie?' he argued. Il couldn't make a
Twin on this old WORKOUT ground!
'Tain't fit fur nothin' but black-eyed
peas. Why, it wouldn't grow bushel
O wheat to the acre. An look at the
ole sheep pastur The amt skeersely
blade o grass on it all summer. But
If we had the five hundred dollars |
could set up store at the crossroads,
an we'd soon Toe IA gittin' rich"
But | love the old place. Steve, $
persisted Mollie. Il was born here,
you know, and"
"Shuck What il you was?" inter
rupted Steve, impationtly. We'll you
kin have your choice. MOllie. If you
think more O the ole place than you do
of me, why. keep it. But you can't
have both, that's all"
Steve" cried Mollie. do you mean
it?"
Yes" returned Steve, sullenly, Il do
mean it."
There's your ring. then" said Mol
lie, quietly, and good. evening"
And she walked proudly up the
grass grown walk to the house, while
Steve slung himself angrily away.
Here was fresh food for the gossips
for the news of Mollie's broken en-
gagement soon spread abroad. and the
tongues wagged and heads were shak
en- more than ever.
But MolIie paid no heed to theiI
faultfinding
Il must cOntriye some way TO make
a living" she told herself and why
not try keeping bOarders? If the place
Is worth five hundred dollars to Squire
Stafford. it's worth that much to me
The old house has rooms enough to
quarter a regiment. nearly. and, if the
furniture is cld-fashiOned it's well pre-
served, and l must make it do.
think | can get grandpa's old house
keeper, Mrs. Hall to stay and hell
me, as she has not made any engage
ment yet And now for ways anC
means. The place is rocky. and worn
out, to be sure. but I'll have the ole
stable torn away-its ready to tumbl,
down anyway-and take that place FOL
my garden. and shed will do for the
COW. can raise vegetables enough
with little outside help. to pay fol
most of my groceries. and the old or
chard and the berry patch, trimmed
up a little. will bring quite crop OF
fruit"
And having laid her plans, like {
skillful general. Mollie went to worl
with will.
Mrs. HulPs services were soon Sc
cured and the old house put into zap
ple-pie" order.
The windows were secured, curtains
taken down, washed and ironed, an,
put up again. Carpets were taken up
cleaned. and put down again.
The old fashioned. ponderOus furni