Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-09-10


Reame. but for nearly sixty years
I've watched the birds build their
nests in those trees. climbed those
hickories for nuts when j wasn't big
ger than a pint of cider and it's been
to those naples that I've looked for
the first signs Of sap. Maybe they're
not mine. l don't know. I've always
supposed they were, and they shant
be cut down without fight to save
them"
Out from the house down to the gate
where the men were talking came
girl, dressed all in pink, soft, fluffy
pink which reminded one of cloud
at sunrise. while her hair lay piled
above her head in a great mass OF
golden light. She gave the young man
q simple nod of greeting while passing
q hand through her fathers arm. Her
presence seemed to bring a constraint
upon the recipient Of the nod. for he
spoke with q difidence not noticeable
before.
1--WE supposed when we bought our
place that the trees belonged to us,
and when you said they were your
property father had the land surveyed.
The decision was that the trees were
on our land or. of course. father would
never have touched them. They are
grown so large that the field Is practi-
cally useless because Of their shade.
Nothing will ripen there"
"I've had surveys made myself"
came Reame's ready response. ut has
been done three times to my certain
knowledge and each time in my favor.
Besides, offered to buy the field OF
your father. not because l cared for
the land, but to preserve the trees"
HE doesn't want to sell'-the eyes
Of the young man were on the girl in
pink-"and l presume the only way
out is to let the courts decide. Father
says just what you do-that the
quarrel need not in any way. interfere
with us young folks. Pm sorry that
1t can't be settled In some other way,
but it won't make any difference with
the friendship of our families"
ado you think those trees are on
your fathers land, Ben Holcolm?" de-
manded the girl suddenly.
~ should not have cut one Of them
down if / did not. Winnie" he replied
in surprise.
"It's just like killing an old friend"
Her face was cold, but tears were in
the voice which held so much of pro.
test. II used to build my playhouse
under that one. and I've spent many
an hour in the crotch where the tree
braLched. 1t was there used to study
my lessons, and now you've cut II
down."
"We did not know how you felt
about them. We supposed that they
were ours, and if they are father in
tends to have the ak at them all. Now
that your father has arrested mine for
trespass and destroying property the
only thing left is to fight it out. But,
Jimmie, it won't make any difference
with us. will it,"
She turned resolutely from him. ut
will make all the difference in the
world. Those trees are ours. They
shall not be cut down. Until you are
willing to say that they are ours and
not yours will never speak to you
again-that Is. in the way you have
asked me to-"
"See here, little girl" interposed her
father, turning her face upward with
his hand; ~ have told you that this Is
my quarrel. don't want you young
folks to mix in. Mr.. Holcolm and I
can settle 1t without help"
THAT doesn't make any difference"
she persisted. "I'll never marry Ben
or meet him except as stranger until
he says that those trees are on our
land. He's got to say so before the
'..-~ &C. 49,.