The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-07-30

ran back to the river ROAD, marx
ng the boundary line between the Two
arms. Constructed Of rough boWlders'
Ikillfully fitted, for years 1t stood, a
monument to the feud between the
Ashleys and the Raymonds.
Originally the two farms had been
one; three hundred acres of woodland
md rolling meadows, the property Of
Henry Ashley and his father before
him. Asa, Henry Ashley's son, had
grown up with the expectation OF IN
heriting 1t some day, But the elder
Ashley plunged much too heavily one
rear in backing a colt OF his own rails
ing at the neighboring county fair. The
oacer lost by a neck; Mr.. Ashley was
inable to meet his obligations.
Just as this critical juncture John
Raymond happened along, bent on the
purchase of farm. Henry Ashley OF
Tered him hundred acres at reason
lble price, but Raymond, after looking
carefully over the place, decided that
he wanted half the farm G: none
and that half with condition. Ashley
accepted that condition.
John Raymond built house front
Ing on the highway, as the Ashleys had
done, and brought his small daughter
aud housskeeper to live in it, Asa
Ashley, who lived in his fathers home,
had a young wife and a small SON
knowing we'll enough that the blame
Tor the division OF the farm rested OIL
his fathers passion for racing horses,
Asa nevertheless chose to place 1t on
he shoulders of John Raymond. He
never returned the latter's greetings
lie H1vtf In nj
1e!ghbors or his son to speak TO the
Raymond child.
When in the course of time Asa Ash
ley came into the shrunken Inheritance
dis bitterness toward Raymond in
creased; II reached its apex on the day
be learned the nature OF the condition
IN which the land had been purchased
he had not known there was condi-
don.
Midway on the Ashley half of the
,arm, about twenty feet from the boun-
larry line, was a ne'er- failing spr3lg.
It was one of Asa Ashley's dreams TO
some time pipe the water from that
spring into his house. Therefore 1t
was with incredulous wrath that, one
summer day he spied two men dig
ging on his land while John Raymond
stood by. directing the work OF running
4 pipe line from the spring into his
own house.
Only kept from some act OF violence
by Raymond's superior strength, and
only convinced to his neighbours sole
right TO the waters of the spring and
right of way over the Ashley proper
ty by sight Of the deed, Asa's feel
lngs changed from passive dislike to
Upon enmity.
The next day the wall was begun.
and Raymond thereafter was forced to
be constantly on the alert for acts OF
petty malignity on the part OF his
neighbor. Taking no chances, he Wis
tied the spring daily.
The children caught the spirit in thu
air. Annie Raymond's little red
tongue always stuck out its full length
when Harry Ashley appeared, and the
scion of the Ashley family would yell
derlsively, Hello, freckle-faced car
rot-top!" That secretly Harry greatly
admired her mop of red curls Annie
did not know.
At seventeen, just after the death of
his mother, the boy quarreled with his
father and ran away from home Some
time later John Raymond learned from
the gossip of the countryside that Har-
~ had shipped in the merchant ma
rine.
The years passed, bringing their
eternal changes, but Harry Ashley did
memory Of the old place, however, was
mental picture of an auburn haired
girl, with very red tongue perpetual
ly thurst out at him.
Then came the great war, Harry
Ashley enlisted in the navy and speed
lily won commission. During those
anxious days, when young Ashley's ship
formed unit in the conveys which
Travelled back and forth with their dire
responsibility OF thousands of lives,
when he thought OF II. at all the OLD
.teud seemed very petty indeed.
But he thought much of going back
some day-and of the red-haired girl.
Then came a cablegram telling of his
fathers death, at a tense moment
when there was scarcely time for re-
7ret that he had ngver returned home
When the armistice was signed An
; uie Raymond was carrying out her
fathers last request, that she run the
farm TO Its fullest capacity while the
worlds need Of foodstuffs continued
20 urgent. Soon afterward she learned
hom the neighbors that Harry Ash
ley was coming home, and she won
dered what type of man he might have
developed into.
A faithful old farm hand met Harry
1t the station and on the drive home
related ali the news of the county
That Raymond gals a-runntng the
place now, and she comes over the wall
every day, Just like her dad used to.
Here the old man chuckled.
Amt been enjoytn' their spring
water much the last few days, reck-
on. There's a bad leak somewheres in
their pipe and the waters seepin' on
SOS they can't find the bust. Got LOT
{, of stock to water, too, an their wells
most dry" He chuckled again.
Haven't you offered Miss Raymond
any helpr Harry asked without a
smile. The old man looked at him in
Advertisement. us help out Ray
Inondr he exclaimed. Young man
hev you forgot the way your father
felt towards them?"
II haven't forgotten that the world
still needs every bit of farm produce II
can get" replied Lieut.. Ashley.
Starting out to look over the farm
which he hadn't seen since boyhood
Ashley saw two men digging near the