The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-05-27
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it's tn lastw
YES, father the very last" Molly acquiesced,
slipping on n discarded coat of the squire "but
the buck we saw on the Rainbow mountan-we
mustn't miss him !"
Squire" interrupted a shrill voice from the
kitchen, you're raisin' Molly mighty trihin-
shootin' en- trompin' arfter you like es she were
20 boy-kind, es were kilt endurin' tn war;"
"Jes So Hannah Hsrks; jes So" the squire
agreed. II done-Flone lost my boys then Molly's
born SO long arter, and there's no else. But
this aire tn last time, Hannah. Cone along Mol
iy. If yore mother'd lived, she'd raised you es
q female girl oughter be raised"
And the old man, with Molly tripping along be-
side him and laughing softly to herself, wended
his way down the hill path. Every time was "the
last" until Molly wanted to go again. They went
down through the pines. Suddenly the squire
stopped and rubbed his eyes.
"Mebbe your sight aire bettern mine daughter"
he said; "look south in tn cove nelghboring Rain
bow mountaing-aire that Grohsman en- passed.
Of men or no?'
"Its him. father-the stranger on our laDd-
cutting away the brush. oh, father he's going to
take Rainbow and the Fighting Ground!"
Dunno es he wi!' he drawed, striding rap
idly forward.
No one knew much Of the stranger except that
he was from the West and was seeking health
and sport for his grandson Martin in the mountain
country. Molly constantly encountered Martin
low the game oftener on the Gray lands than on
his own Bull Tongue.
''What aire you about, cuttin' brush on my
landY demanded the old squire.
I'm cutting the line between yours and
mine, If you want TO know" the stranger retorted,
extensively. 81 want you to understand fully what
belongs to Gray and what belongs to Grohsman.
You don't seem TO know!"
'Mebbe don't" replied the mountaineer, "but
Rainbow mountain aire mine. I've helt 1t, man
and boy, these sixty year. My father helt it afo'
me, en- my grandpap afo' him. Whenst I'm gone,
my gal therell hold it arter mel"
'Well see about that My claim includes the
Rainbow, and propose to hold 1t. When I'm gone.
my grandson Martin will hold it after me!' Grohs-
man flung back.
AS the two old men eyed each other, the thlckets
parted and, one by one, several men emerged,
They paused, quite naturally, as though drawn by
the discussion and curious to its outcome.
II want to move that grave off my land" Grohs-
man insisted, after scanning theIfaces of the in
truders carefully. "Out west where come from.
people stopped throwing their folks on the prairie
twenty years ago. They bury them decently in
cemeteries and church yards. And tell you right
now I'm not to be chiseled out of part of my pur-
chase because you are too stupid to understand
the line
Seems like I'm mostly too stupid" asserted
the squire in misleading meekness Of voice, ito
understan' how you can get my land, savin you
bespeak me and pass some money long of it,"
I'm western man, used to holding my claim
by main force. This is the dividing line, / say!
I'm no fool, if you are"
"My haid aire monstrous thick stranger But
/ mostly hold to my say-so, which aire that your
line goes tother side tn Rainbow"
"Moy, daughter" he added, without turning
his head "the buck must have gone to tn big
timber. Go arter him."
Molly dropped out of the group without dis
turbing its rigid pose. Looking back as she turned
into the big timber, she the wrathful stranger
advance a step in rash defiance In an instant
every weapon of the mountaineers leveed
at him and his men. Molly averted her eyes and
ran swiftly into the big woods, so Needless that she
ran squarely against Martin Grohsman as he
stepped from behind an immense oak.
wait, Molly wait / came here to see you"
he called 10 her you running like q wild
deer. / wanted to say TO you that you mustn't
blame grandfather. He thinks the land is his"
"How can he when it's been fathers always?"
she flung back with conviction.
"But Molly, we needn't quarrel / don't care
a fig about Rainbow mountain. Let them settle
II as they like, Let US be friends. Won't your
Molly smiled forglvngly. 1t was hard to hold
resentment aehinst Martin.
"You understand don't you, Martin" she ex.
planned that's the Fighting Ground, and Hannah
Hanks says the men killed there were all carried
away saving this one. l can't say rightly how he
came to be left, but mother put wild vioets and
honeysuckle and lilies from the marsh over his
grave because he's lonesome-like, though he
amt one Of our men. I flower his grave now,
Martin, stead of mother, every year. i fault your
grandfather for wantin' the Rainbow and threat
enin' TO have the grave moved-onliest l hope
father won't hurt him."
"Just promise friends with, me, MollyT" he
pleaded.
"Dunno but what WILL" the girl capituated.
When the Squire came home he was unusually
silent and taciturn.
"Molly daughter" he said. ave word TO say
I'VE give warnin es well shoot any prown' folks
nm Rainbow mountain and the stranger has give
hack word as he'll shoot any of weuns ketched
there until arter the survey, which I've greed
70 allow The Grays aire bound to stand In with
one ernother whichever way the survey goes tn