Tensas gazette., 1916-12-01
THE MAYBRY SWAMP
BY ERNEST a. YOUNG.


Hiram Maybry's old eyes wandered
over the broad fields and slopes while
he puffed contentedly at'his clay pipe.
"What is the use of worryin'.
Eliza?" he asked.
"Stuff is CROWN like smoke all over
the farm" he chirped. Its growin'
while we're asleep, Eliza. Then there's
the swamp. You minded what your
father said when he give you the deed
of the place the day we was married.
That swamp, after it's been dreened
and the stumps dug out and the sile
plOwed and harrered,' says your IA
ther. will produce bigger crops than
all the rest of the farm put together !"
Dora Maybry sighed anxiously as
she heard what her father and mother
were saying, for she knew that what
she had SO long dreaded was about to
come to pass-George Carson. who
married her sister Louise. was going
to fetch a gang of laborers from the
city and start ditching and draining
the Maybry swamp.
Mr.. Maybry could never see enough
Of George nor hear enough of his dis
course, which was full of the worldly
wisdom of the tOwn-bred man.
Mr.. Maybry disliked farm work. and
it was his luck to have no boys to
grow up and relieve him Of the irksome
chores. Dora was helpful. both In
doors and out, and II was owing to her
willingness to do the milking he did
not sell the last one of his cows.
This was harder for the girl than
she cOnfided even to her mother: but
she told John Porter everything, and
perhaps the things at home becoming
harder to endure. as they did. made
his calm sympathy sweeter than II
would have been had the journey to-
ward their wedding day been smoother.
George Carson sent Louise and the
children out to the Maybry farm every
summer to stay through the season.
No account of the trouble or expense
was ever taken, 1t being understood
that George. in his own good time, was
to superintend the much-talked-of
work of converting the swamp into Q
fertile field. Many summers passed be
fore the work was actually begun.
All that followed came with hurry
that was bewildering to the slow-mov-
ing minds Of the Maybrys. A gang OF
labOrers dug and ditched. while o
choice lot Of standing timber was sold
to pay the first cost of wages and ma
chinery. Even Mrs. Maybry frightened
up when so much seemed to be &C
complished from day to day. 1t was
at the end Of the second week after
the work was started that she said to
Dora:
George says we can sell the swamp
outright for a big sum when he gets
the ground into shape"
"John Porter has no faith In It.
mother" Dora answered.
John never liked George" said
Mrs. Maybry.
1T isn't that" Dora peoteotsA
"John went over the swamp 1 So14
ago. and he says stun doesn't ezUW IN
better In soil that happens to - .bla&
I know. mother, that John dcsGnst -
tend to be seientifc; bnt ~ fSjltI
that swamp can nevet b dzolr&
long as its surface u three feet Nm
than Dargie's pond. He hated Z n
speak of It. but he said last night n
thought you ought to know the, tfu>1
before George wheedled you into fnoe1l
gaging the farm to raise more money,
Why. mother. what is itr" Den ex-
claimed as Eliza Maybry sank back In
her chair, while a sudden pallor cazns
into her face.
Dora let the face Of her mother rest
against her strong young shoulder, and
by the hopeless clinging Of Mrs. May.
.bry to her the girl was told that Johns
warning had come too late.
George. Louise. and the children had
gone into town that morning, and the
paper that he had persuaded the May
brys to sign went with them.
The moment that she was sure Of
the worst. Dora went out to find John
Porter.
In the brief conference between
Dora and John, the latter told her that
the laborers had quit work in the
swamp that forenoon.
"Good reason why" he explained.
"Carson didn't pay their wages last
week. I've been thinking for some
time that ought to step In and stop
George Carson from beggaring your
folks. But didn't want to meddle."
John took the first train to the city
the next morning. In the afternoon,
just before sunset. Dora walked to
the little station to meet him. for she
was anxious to know even the worst.
He met her out by the crossing and 81.
lently drew her hand within his arm
in a way he had never done before.
When they were away from the station
ne bent ond kissed her on the lips. In
that way he told her that he had been
too late to get the paper from George
Carson.
"Tve decided what we win do" he
said as they walked slowly through the
twilight. "First. there will be the
wedding that we have put of too long
already. Then I'll pay of this claim
on your mothers farm and we'll stay
and take care of them. OF course, Il
would be happier for us to take them
to my plaee-Our's I mean. But they
would be homesick there"
"How about your little truck farm
John" Dora pleaded.
'T1l have to sell that for the money.