Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-03-02
A MAN OF
EXTREMES
VIII Usually Swing as Far
One Way as the
Other
BY MARGARET BRoTHERroN


talk was considered peculiar. AS a
little boy he evinced distaste for lit
tie girls. and az a youth his antipathy
for the opposite sex Increased rather
than dlminished. BY the time he
came OF age he was hardened won.
an hater. Such men usually are de-
voted 10 their own sex. Not so Crane.
He had but little more use for men
than women.
An aunt vainly endeavored to get
what she called "this nonsense" out
OF him and. failing, told him that he
would some day become q convert to
her views and surrender under cir
cumstances no more sensible than was
his opposition. When she died her
nephew was still OF the same opinion.
Tho old lady left him her fortune,
100000. with the stipulation that II
no married half the amount was to go
to a foundlings' home. Thus did she
arrange to show her spleen after her
death,
Edgar Crane had $4,000 of his own.
and, taking bis fortune with him. he
went west TO become a rancher. He
bought a large tract of land and built
q house In the middle OF 1t. thus keep
ing as far as possible from neighbors.
His house was comfortable. and his
domain was attractive, being made up
of plains and rolling land, partly
wooded. He stocked It with a few
sheep. but spent more money for
books to put In his library than for
sheep TO stock his ranch.
His lands were so extended that It
was some time before he had visited
every part of them. Indeed, he spent
most of his time at home reading
When he did ride out It was for the
purpose of seeing II there were tres
pasners on his grounds. Several years
passed and he showed no signs of dis
satisfaction with his mode of life
Then one day when riding up on an
eminence he saw a little shanty built
Of few logs, some boards and con.
siderable brush on spot that he
knew was within his bounds.
with blood in his eye he put spurs
to his horse and rode to the cabin.
Refining up before the door, he called
for the 'trespasser to come out. Re
ceiving no reply, he dismounted and
put his head within the door. He sur
veyed one room, all there was. A mud
chimney with an open fireplace stood
ut one side. Instead of bedstead
bunk was built in corner. There were
a chest OF drawers. table and several
chairs. the bottoms Of the latter being
imperfect.
Crane went inside with view to
leaving notice for the trespasser to
quit A charred stick he found on the
clay hearth served bis purpose. and
board which constituted part OF the
wall stood In lieu Of writing paper. He
Leave at once.
OWNER OF PROPERTY
ne WAS turning 70 leave wnen on the
DUNK ne saw neap tnat excited mis-
curiosity. Removing q light covering,
no looked upon the race OF sleeping
pape Tne covering nao evidently
Deem iaid 20 protect II from Mes ana
otner insects' inere was something In
snis nttie lump OF unconscious nonre-
ststance that was Numerically diner-
ent nom Edgar Cranes combative-
ness.
me child slept on, unmindfui or
being at ehe mercy or the man on
whose property It had illegally squat
TED
AZ Crane IooEed down upon the
innocent race his pugnacity began to
ooze ont ny lit on the SOFT round
cneek. causing slight twitching on
me part OF the sleeper. Crane brush
"a It away. Then. carefully replacing
me covering, he tptoed from the bunk
est he should awaken the baby. Leav-
ng the cabin. he mounted his horse
and rode away.
no mao no sooner LETT the influence
u the innocent little squatter than
ne haDit OF MS life regafned Its mas
cry. He was pleased at remembering
iaving ieff ms notice to quit--not that
70 expected the child on awakening to
'ay any attention TO 1t. but when the
'arentn. VINO were away Doubtless pro-
.laing IN some way the necessartes OF
,nAns-ufn M that thav v,,xu& y,,-v. -,