Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1903-05-01
400 HY. it's rediklisr declared
WNW Aunt Melzena Mellen.

agreed | ncIe simeon.
Does the gal expect to live on grass
an YARDS. like the cow -brutes?' grum-
bled Cousin Gideon.
"She better of took the i've hundred
dollars Squire Stafford offered her.
said Uncle Simeon. sagely. ITS more'n II
the ole place is wuth. half rocks, ali
the rest growed up with mullen stalks
an hoarhoun an' wild chamomile'
Aud so the chorus went on among
the Mellen and Hillacre relations. far
and near. and all because Mollie Hill
acre. self-willed girl, refused 10 part
with tie 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 Mollies side OF the question
but old Uncle Dabney Mellen, who oc-
cupled the adjoining farm.
"Mollie ain't nobodys fool, kin tell
ye," he would say, nodding his head
wisely An ef 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 willful woman must have her
own way" and they washed their
hands OF her entirely.
AS she makes her bed SO she must
Ia ~ In, ~ aa,Iara1 JTpnla Sttnann tPita-
ly. An II 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-
tions and representations.
Even Steve Kimble, Mollie's af-
fanced lover, sided against her. He
was distant cousin on the Mellen
side.
What could we ever do here, Mol
llvin' on this old worn-out ground.
'Tain't fit fur nothin' but black-eyed
peas. Why, 1t wouldn't grow Il bushel
o. wheat TO the acre! An look ut the
ole sheep pastur' The ain't skeersely
blade o grass OH 1t all summer. But
II we had the Ave hundred dollars
could set up a store at the crossroads,
an we'd soon be gittin' rich"
But | love the old place, Steve"
persisted Mollie Il was born here,
you know, and
''Shuek! What il you was?" inter
rupted Steve, impationtly. Well you
kin have your choice, Mollie. If you
think more o the ole place than you do
OF me, why, keep 1t. But you can't
have both, that's all"
steve cried Mollie, do you mean
itY
Yes" returned Steve, sullenly, Il do
mean it,
There's your ring, them 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-
ell more than ever
But Molie paid no heed to their
fauttnding.
II must eontrive some way TO make
a living" she told herself. "and why
not try keeping boarders? II the place
is worth Ave hundred dollars to Squire
Stafford, it's worth that much to me.
The old house has rooms enough to
quarter regiment, nearly, and. If the
furniture is old-fashioned it's well pre-
served. and | must make 1t do. |
think | can get grandpa's old house
keeper. Mrs Hall, TO stay and help
me. as she has not made any engage-
ment yet And now for ways aud
means. The place is rocky. and worn
out. TO be sure, but I'll have the old
stable torn away-it's ready to tumble
down anyway-and take that place for
NV garden. and II shed will do for the
COW. | can raise vegetables enough,
with a little outside help, to pay for
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
|, sklllful general. Mollle went to WORK
with will.
Mrs. Hulls services were soon Sc
! cured. and the old house put into zap
/. ple-pie' order.
The windows were secured, curtaih'
7 taken down. washed and ironed, aht
put up again Carpets were taken up
cleaned. and put down again.
: The old-fashioned, ponderous furhl
! ture was rubbed with turpentine I'll
> Won could see yourself In the tall Deu
{ posts and chair backs, and the mirrors
: and brass fire irons were polished I'll
:. they shone again.
Uncle Dabney Mellen, with his hire'
hand. came and pulled down the rick
h ety stable, chopped up the Old log
A into firewood. and plowed and naI
:. rowed the garden. besides helping MOI
10 tn planf II