Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-03-01
CHAPTER /.

Oscar Benefits farm spread its acres
along the face of West Hin between
the Lehigh Valley tracks and the high
way leading to Johannesburg. Oscar
Bennett was what the country people
and even the Ithaca folks called fine
farmer. His farmhouse faced lane
that led to the west shore of Lake
Cayuga, and from the front porch he
could see. much to his dislike, the few
struggling squatter shacks that
brought to an end northward the 81
lent City. Like all other substantial
citizens. Oscar detested the squatters
In his estimation they were set of
thieving loafers and sneaks, and many
times he had wished that he owned
the ground they squatted on instead
Of Marcus Mackenzie.
OF course il was no secret that
Mackenzie never let an opportunity
slip to pop a fisherman into jail. but
in BENEFITS opinion that treatment
was not severe enough, and besides, it
did not accomplish anything Mae
Kenzle's idea was to Jail the men
whenever the chance came and for a
period as long as the law would allow.
But what good did that do? Fierce
hatred famed in the haggard faces of
the women, and they held to their
squatter rights with the tenacity of
leeches until their husbands were
given back to them. Bennett would
have done away with the wives and
mothers if the job of breaking up the
Silent City had been his. No man
would hang to hut long without
woman in IT,
One morning in the early spring Os-
car was finishing his breakfast when
the door opened slowly. A girl with
a small tin pain in her hand stepped
into the room. She smiled at him al
most humbly
Shut the door, he shouted at her.
where's your manners, Polly Hop
kins? Can't YOU see the rains rom
ing in after you?"
The smile faded from the girls face
Mechanically she turned. closed the
door and. uninvited, seated herself in
a chair and placed the. pail at her
side.
$50 you've come begging. Pollyop"
went on the farmer, wiping his lips
on the sleeve Of his gingham shirt
"Well. you might as wen turn tail
and run home again. for you're not GO
ing to get anything more from nae.
don't want poacher's brat around
here"
The girls bare vet feet drew tense
Iy backward under the chair but she
remained discreeiIy silent Oscar al
ways abused her and called her names
but that was because she was squat
ter After a while. he'd change his
mind. and then she would take home
what she came for She noted with a
quick breath that Oscars eyes softened
during the time he was silent That
bodied well for her errsnd; but Ben
nett's mind was not on milk or any
Of those suffering for the want Of IT,
He had Just discovered that Polly
Hopkins was beautiful even II she
we're barefooted and ragged. Her
straight young shoulders were covered
with wet curls that seemed 10 have
given 10 the vide eyes their shade of
ripe chestnuts
Polly expected every moment that
and, though with bad grace, he'd give
her the milk just the same. She fid-
geted in her chair and drew long
sigh-he was staring at her IN such
peculiar manner from under his heavy
brows.
Why had he not Noticed before that
Polly Hopkins was 50 pretty, Oscar
wondered, and slow smile parted his
lips Polly's eyes lowered. and the
long dark lashes only added to Ben
nett's sudden admiration quick
drawn breath slipped audibly past the
mans teeth. PolIyop sensed In his at
titude toward her new quality thai
she recognized intuitively as danger
Gus. To bring his attention back TO
the purpose Of her visit. she ventured
to say
~ thought II wouldn't hurt you
none. Oscar. to gimme q little milk for
Granny Hope an Jerry. I'm always
runnln' errands for you an your
woman
Benefits heavy farm boots made
scraping sound under the table.
'What good does that do me7" he
returned. upon my soul. might as
well be without a wife as TO have one
who wont live with me or let anyone
know I'm her husband I'm gettin
sick. good and plenty sick, can tell
you. Miss Polly Hopkins"
This speech did not disturb Polly
over much. for he'd made IT a dozen
times before. 1t vas only the expres
sion in his gaze. she did not quife
Ike. Her mind "a ent TO Evelyn Ro',-
ertson, the girl that Oscar had mar
ried As II II were but yesterday. she
remembered how two years ago she
had gone with them under protest to
a minister far back In the hills. Eve
Ign had explained that for some time
to come no one but the three must
know Of the marriage.
PoIlyop had learned a great many
things in two years. What girl does
not after she's passed her fifteenth
birthday! One Of the things she had
found out was that Oscar was a dread
full person, more dreadful than most
Of the squatter men. OF course the