Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-04-09


STN shady country roads and
pastures where sleek
cattle are contentedly
grazing great stacks OF
green alfalfa; farmhouses with flow
ers and vines. as well as thriving
kitchen gardens; windmills that pipe
houses with water as we'll as hll the
barn troughs: automobiles and good
roads-there could hardly be great
er contrast And Il is pleasant to
hear that the pioneers who suffered
Incredible hardships during the lean
years are now reaping the reward OF
their toll. courage and versatile, in
domitable ingenuity.
The frozen soil ratified under the
horses hoofs; the wagon wheels rat
tied on their own account. A Deem
Der wind was keen enough to make
the driver wrap his patched quilt
closer and pull his battered straw hat
Tower over his ears. He was a man
OF thirty. with high, tanned features
and eyes that would have been hand
some but for their sullen frown
Il should call It getting good and
ready for a blizzard" observed the
other man on the board (seat the wag-
on had none); maybe be won't
come"
Hell come fast enough" returned
the driver; you don't catch buzzards
staying In for weather."
Il don't know. He's a pretty luxu-
rious young seoundreL Bixby says he
had letter from him-very particular
about a fire in his room, and plenty
OF hot water and towels. Bixby is
worried lest the boys make fuss
with him In his hotel"
"Bixby Is a coward from Wayback."
was the drivers single comment or re-
ply. The other man eyed the dark
profile at his shoulder. out OF the tail
OF his eye. rubbing his hands up and
down his wrists under his frayed
sleeves He was a young man, short
er Of stature than the driver. He had
round, genial tanned face, and bad
cold on him. His hands were bare
because he had lent his mIttens TO the
driver. but he wore warm. n shah
by greatcoat and a WON fur cap.
Il don't suppose, he said In care
less tone, you fellows mean to do
more than scare the lad we'll"
we scared the last man. Doc Rus
sell got him fairly paralyzed told
him bout the Shylock that turned out
the Kinncys. and Miss kidneys dying
ia the wagon, she was so weak; and
kin-somebedy Ccourse he didn't men,
ton names) shooting that man. and
their arresting Kinney. and the jury
aequitting him without leaving the
box oh, he told a lot OF stories Some
Of EN-. ! guess, he made up out OF
his own head; but that Iowa lawyer
swallered the whole batch, hide and
hoofs and all. And he couldn't git
out of town quick enough But
what's the good2 Here's this young
dude come again Say. did you know
it's his pa that owns most Of the stock
in the trust2"
"No?"
Yes. sir He's got the upper hand
last bit OF foreclosed land round here
Yes. We was so mighty smart, we
nxed II that nohody'd dare to buy: and
nobody round here would dare. even
s'posing they got the money. which
they amt
There certainly amt much loose
money round here, Wesley. At least
when ! ran the paper | didn't find It:
] was glad 10 rent an abandoned farm
and trade my subscription list for
enough corn TO pay the first install
ment on some stock and cultivator.'
Did You pay any more"
No. times got worse instead OF
better I'D have lost the stock and
the oultiyator and every blamed thing
in the way of implement I've got Il II
hadn't been for you fellows running
the implement man out OF the coun.
try; he'd chattel mortgage thai
was terror. But what were you say
ing about the land? Nobody would
buy?"
"0f course nobody would buy. and
we Rugged ourselves we was so burned
slick oh, my, Nov. here comes
along one of them bloody trusts that's
eating this country up. aud goes to
the land company and buys the fore
closed land for a song II goes ali the
cheaper because its known far and
wide that We elected the sheriff not
Ia enforce writs, but 20 resist EN-:
and the same with all the officers; and
were ready, 10 shoot down any man
that tries to push us on the earth.
That scared folks aud the investment
company sold cheap as dirt They
knew they couldn't git anybody TO
take up farm round here Look a
there lie jerked the point OF the
switch that served Tor whip in the
direction 81 q dark bulk looming
against the glowing belt OF red in
The vest. The outlines OF ruined
chimney toppled over the misshaEen
roof The door and window openings
CAPPED forlornly; doors and windows
were gone long since. wrenched or
for other needs Blt by bit the house
had been nibbled at-here porch
platform taken. there patch Of
Misunderstanding shingles pulled from
the roof. the corn crib wreck. the
6lillhuildIngs carried away plecerneal
until. sadder ruin than Are leaves,
Il faced the sunset and the prairie
THAT farm belonged to as hard.
working, smart Teller rs ever han.
died a pillow. Look at thsm hslds