Gilpin observer., 1913-12-18
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FINE MESS OF THINGS
BY o. R. BARTON.

All the beautiful May morning Mary
had wandered over the familiar old
feld-familiar yet new to the recently
graduated. European-finished young
woman who was the actual owner of
these broad acres and stately house.
The last time she had played here,
on orphan of fourteen, her GRANDPA
ther had watched her proudly from his
chair on the terrace. Now he was
gone and the place was hers. She felt
very lonely.
At last she turned toward the creek.
She wanted some quiet place to think
and plan for the future. It had been
an old habit of hers to carry her trou-
bles to the little glen where she could
sit under the old tree and think.
Suddenly the sound of chopping
came over the field. Mary lifted her
head. Clear, regular strokes sound
ed from the direction of the creek.
She paused an instant listening intent
ly; then she hurried on. frowning. She
knew Of no change in the law that the
gardeners had always respected. The
glen with its curving brooks and oak
trees. the big fiat rock and millions of
violets was sacred to her. 1t had al
ways been hers since the days her
nurse had stripped OF the little slip
pers and socks and let her dabble her
pink toes in the water. Surely every
one knew that!
Yet some one was in her glen now
with an ax-and using 1t. She few to-
ward an open space in the low willow
bushes where the old path used to be.
but stopped with startled cry. An
other step would have dropped her ten
feet into rushing current Of muddy
water. With dazed eyes Mary looked
around her. This brown stream with
straight steep banks had never been
there before. Further over, her be-
loved old brook still splashed and bub-
bled over the stones. Near it was a
man with an AK
You'd better keep away there" he
shouted. "The rain washed away five
feet more last night! Watch out!" he
called sharply as Mary didn't move
and several loose stones dropped into
the water. Then seeming to realize
vaguely that something was wrong
and that he was in some way to blame.
he dropped the ak and lifted his cap
moving toward the girl SO high above
him on the other side of the creek.
What do you mean by chopping
down one of my trees? You must go
away at once"
He moved unessily yet appeared un-
able to explain Immediately just why
it had happened. Surprise and amuse-
ment shone in his eyes. Mary's flash
ed in righteous anger. Such impudence
was intolerable! Cant you talk?
Who are you? You are evidently not
one of our own men or you would
know better than to touch my trees.
You are trespassing. and / warn you
now to go away Immediately. Why.
do believe you we're actually chopping
at my playhouse tree!"
III you please, miss. guess you
haven't been here long and don't know
about all the place yet. I'm not tres
passing, neither do | work for the
place yonder." He nodded toward
Mary's estate.
''Well?"
Il work for him." jerking his head
backward toward Lauden Hall. ram.
bling low white house on the crest OF
the opposite hill. Mr.. Willard. you
know. he just bought the place.
mo, don't know and don't care
He didn't buy this. l know that It's
not for sale. You are on my ground
Those are my trees. The creek divides
the two estates and"
Which creek. miss?"
Mary started. why, that one over
there. This one never used to be here
This must be branch that has got
ten loose from the old stream and
swelled with the rain. Please tell your
master what | say and that I shall be
very much obliged II he let's my trees
alone in the future.
The man lifted his cap again. Yes.
miss" He picked up his ak and start
ed to go.
DO you think the tree will die?"
she called after him anxiously.
He stopped. Hardly. miss; only
whacked at a few of the roots" The
look OF amusement was still In his
eyes. "Mr. Willard intended, miss.
II you care to hear it. to clear out this
place and let in the sun. He was talk
ing, | think. Of making It into swim
ming bodybuilding dam you see and
having the sides and bottom OF marble
and making It very nice. He likes to
be outdoors most of the time. they
say Has to be always doing some
thing. and they say too when he takes
a notion to thing he's the very--he's
very set But I have only just come
and l don't"
Tell Mr.. Willard what told you,
please" said Mary. white with fury.
Bathing pool. indeed"
Mary had planned to make few i'm.
provements on the old house and
grounds before settling down In II. Her
present stay had been limited In pros.