The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-09-30
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rocks and worn-out soil to the mercy
Of the winds and weeds. Then had
followed 90 blighting years In Iowa.
Her father was improvident; 1t had
always been drudgery until Jim came
along and married her out Of hand.
They talked the scheme over all
that evening, and 1t ended in their
closing up the house and taking a
trip into New Hampshire to look
around. and then 1t was that they
came upon their ideal village.
1t was tiny. struggling place in a
sheltered valley, with high mountains
all round, and at the end of the long
street was the dearest little place
about IL acres, with a brook at the
foot and little cottage, falling into
decay. but still weather-proof, with
old-fashioned f1replaces and dormer
windows-just the place for them.
I'VE must have 1t, Lucy" said Jim.
Lucy's own spirits rose. Perhaps
farming was different nowadays from
what it had been. She pictured her
self with her flock of chickens, and
Jim writing and digging In the potato
patch. Yes. this place seemed to have
been made for them.
But was it for rent or sale? It had
lain vacant for more than 20 years,
the neighbors said. Nobody remem-
bered its former owner, for the old
people had died of and the young
he fn1 10 fhn nj nn1
one man knew-Ezra Powell, the boss
of the little community, the village
banker, the landowner whose property
adjoined their own AS for the title
deeds-the registrars Office had been
burned out IL years before and there
was no record remaining.
They went to Ezra Powell and found
grim. red-faced, domineering man.
who listened to their request for in
formation with stolid malignity.
That place amt to rent or SELL" he
said. when Jim had ended rs 1t
mine? Young man, don't talk about
my private affairs. say you can't
have It,"
Unless that place is yours we are
going to take it," said Jim, defiantly.
His was the primitive land hunger,
that strong. elemental instinct that
demands more insistently than any
other passion. He would have few
acres for his own. and no Ezra Powell
should balk him. Powell stormed and
threatened and the interview terminal
ed with vague threats on the one
side and defiance on the other.
They moved out to Clearwater a
week later. and by the end of May
the house was in order and the ground
broken up and planted A motherly
hen and brood of chickens laid the
foundation of what promised to be-
come a flourishing industry And soon
they discovered the cause of Powell's
hostility.
1t was the neighbors who told them,
under pledges of secrecy and with
every appearance of fear. There was
rich marble quarry on Powell's
land, and the indications were that
the vein ran obliquely under their own
little farm. Powell had always taken
what he wanted. He wanted the little
farm adjoining, had meant to take
and work it that year when his crush
ing machinery was installed, but he
had believed that they would dare
forestall them, and they had moved in
just before he took possession. He
could not put them out. but they
could not have put him out. They had
only the right of prior possession.
Powell could, however, make life
almost impossible, and did. He in
Rugurated a boycott. and the village
tradesmen dared not serve Jim, who
was compelled to go to Evesham for
his supplies. On his return, loaded
down. he found two rough-looking men
at the door. Inside was Lucy, crying.
They tried to get me to come out, {"
she said But knew that II once /
left the house they would take pos
session. Jim. we are like prisoners"
II was true; they were prisoners.
Jim dared not leave his land. For,
night and day, man fingered upon
the highroad, just outside the cottage
door, ready to take possession for
Powell should the cottage be left
empty for a single moment. Lucy had
to trudge TO Evesham for provisions
twice week, while John kept guard.