The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-11-11
MARY cOLToN'S CLAIM
By ELEHoRA E REFER

or the rarest OF those perfect days Ito
Mary Cotton walked along a dim trai
which led to the post ONCE.
Il wish l could decide" she muir
INJURED TO herself Il ought to-One way
or the other, and not keep him in sus-
pense. A year isn't such an awfully
long time, and yet he doesn't want to
wait; and, more than that. he doesn't
want me to take the claim at all because
he says girl ought not TO live that way
all alone But father says it is a fine
piece Of land and have always wanted
to own some real estate. OF course, as
Phil says. might have part of his, but
that isn't the same. And as long as am
not afraid to live on it alone. and il is not
far from fathers, il would be so easy to
get it. | have just about enough money
saved to build shanty and prove up on
the land. and / am sure there is no way
could invest my savings better. or
course it must be hard for man 70 keep
bachelors hall, and all that, and | know
he gets lonesome, and says he needs me,
but" and she heaved big sigh and
stopped short.
| 4 lC L imp w hAtLhoh
drove over to Coltons to take Mary to
Sunday school. as was his custom. 1t was
early when they started, but Philip had
purpose in taking more time than usual,
for he wanted to go out of the way lit
tie to show her something. They drove
along enjoying to their full the music
of the birds and the perfume of the
flowers and talking happily. There came
lull in their conversation, however,
and after short pause Philip said, hesi-
| tatingly:
II suppose you have not decided YETI"
mo, Philip, but please don't let's argue
about 1t this morning. am becoming
thoroughly disgusted with myself, and
yet. just can't make up my mind"
Isn't there anything that would help
your"
mo, l don't know of anything that
will. AS long as the claim is there to be
taken / shall want 1t"
"And II some one else should file on
it," he asked, eagerly.
well, then l suppose would have to
give the idea up, for there isn't another
one anywhere near here" II
Then, Mary l am afraid you will
have to give UP your claim idea. Look
over there" and he pointed toward the
east There is little hollow in plain
view stood brand new shanty, and
from the stove pipe in the roof a thin
curl of smoke emanated
ooh, Philip" she walled. sit is on my 4
claim
Eyes, dear, it is" he replied, and he
could not keep the gladness out of his
voice.
She turned to him suddenly: you
knew 1t all the time, didn't your" she
said accusingly.
Eyes, knew it." he replied, but his
tone changed as he saw her evident pain
and disappointment. Il didn't think that I
you would care so much
Mary's eyes were trimming over with
tears of disappointment, for she had
really wanted the land more than any
one seemed to realize. And because she
knew she could not answer Philip with
up very straight and closed her lips very /
lightly, and he thought it was because
,he was angry at him. The rest of the
drive was completed in silence, for Philip |
lid not know what to say, and she did not 4
speak.
The necessity of greeting their neigh
,ors when they arrived was relief
o both, and by the time the first song I
vas sung Mary began to feel little
shamed. She glanced at Philip from
Ter vantage point behind the organ. He
vas seated in corner of the room and Z
er lips almost smiled at his detected ;
appearance He was taking 1t rather
ard, she thought. when 1t was really
he thing that would give him what he q
ad begged for, the past six months.
81 am really glad that 1t is gone" she
bought to herself, with q lighter feel
lg than she was wont to experience. n
l know could never have decided for
,yself"
Her thoughts ran along in this chan j
ell through the Sunday-school hour,
nd she was so absent-minded that
,me of the numbers had to be given
vice. Philip, however. laid her pre- 7
to an entirely different I,
fuse, and the cloud on his face did not us
It. Silently he unhitched his team and ~ ~
SISTED her into the buggy, when the w,
Getting was finished fu
Mary could hardly contain her spirits, re-
I'd when after they had started off, he tn
Id humbly: OF
81 am SO: sorry, Mary" she interrupt y,
him with a. laugh that rang out clear on a.,
Id happy
mo one would doubt that for a mo- o't
ent, Philip, If they could see that long me
ce you have been carrying around. BIZ
lyone might think you had been to a =.
neral" si
Then you are not angry with me?"
questioned.
Angry with you, why should be?"
e exclaimed. you didn't take my
him." =
scNIo ho cold frrp;po ~ - ....Al O