The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-11-27
RELENTING AT LAST.

in that old carpet again, and broken
the china milk-iug," said Patience
Plumer. Il do wish, grandpa, that
you would let me hire Dorcas Wood to
make that new carpet of rags. This
one isn't decent, nor safe to walk upon"
Ebenezer Plumer, who was scrutiniz-
ing through his spectacles the ''Finan-
cial Article in the paper, looked up
with snarl of dissatisfaction, which
showed the entire range of his yellow,
stumpy teeth.
Then why don't you mend it9' said
he.
Because, grandpa, it's past mend
ing" declared Patience. 1--WE darned
it and patched it, and patched it and
darned it, until there amt three square
feet of the original material left. And
we haven't dared to take it up and
shake it for the last three years, be-
cause if we did we knew it would fall
to pieces. We are not paupers, grand
pa urged the girl in her vehemence,
''why should we not live like Chris
tians?"
You're very rich, aren't you?"
sneered Mr., Plumer. 'Quite a mill
lionnaire. l wonder you condescend to
cook and wash dishes for an insigniti-
cant individual like me-"
Il know I've nothing of my own,
grandpa" admitted Patience; but"
mo, and you never will have"
growled the old man. You're care
less, wasteful, extravagant creature,
and Charley Mercer is just such an
other. He was here this morning to
ask me to lend him five hundred dol
lars to buy out the goodwill of the store
at Deep Hollow. / told him I'd see
him farther first. I'd just as soon
throw my money into we'll as lend it
to him"
.Grandpar'
"Well, what now?"
you refused him?"
Il just did. And III do it again
Oh yes, know that you are engaged to
him and that you expect to get married
on my money. But you've mistaken
your calculations there
Grandpa" cried Patience in a
choked voice, ''do you remember those
nights Charley Mercer watched with
you, when you had typhoid-fever? Do
you remember that the doctor said his
care and vigilance saved your life?"
doctors are always talking some
such stuff" said Mr.. Plumer. 'And
besides, he was well paid for what he
did. Didn't send him half bushel
of seed-potatoes the very next springP"
Patience turned away with sigh.
Grandpa" said she, ''you are sell
fish and ungrateful. Oh, must say it
i can't keep it in any longer! You
are narrowing down into a perfect
misern
"A miser, am I?" screeched the old
man, fairly foa ing with rage. "And
selfish? and ungratefulp Wen, in that
case, l won't trouble such a very fine
young lady as you are to stay here and
wait on me. Go and get married to
your Charley Mercer. as quick as you
please, and live off crust, il the gut
ter: l won't have you here another
day!"
II spoke too hastily, grandpa" said
Patience, coloring. "But Ispoke moth
ing more than the truth. Yes, l am
going to marry Charley-and we shall
struggle on as best we can. We can
not live a more poverty-stricken life
than lead in this house, where you
have bags of gold and packets of treas
ury bonds hidden away But l do not
want to leave you unprovided for. l
will stay here until you can get some
one else to come"
II tell you," reiterated Mr.. Plumer,
"I won't have you in the house! Clear
out! Pack up your things and 90! I've
given you board and lodging long
enough! Go, sayr'
SO Patience hurriedly packed up her
few belongings, tied on h~r faded bon
net, and took refuge with old Miss
Clocker, who kept a thread -and-needle
store, and let out the upper part of her
house to dodgers.
No sooner had she left the house than
Mr.. plumer hastily trudged upstairs,
with an unwholesome perspiration
breaking out on his forehead.
$50 people know about the bags of
eagles and the leather wallet of govern
ment bonds!" muttered he. People
know everything, l believe! How do
they find it out, the prying, peeping
villains? Well, must find new hid
ing-place. shall invest it all, in day
or two, in tha< Gold Mining Company
on Stony Mountain Creek-but until
then-until then" He pondered a
moment-and then an idea entered his
brain. i've got it!' he cried. I'm
bury it in the stone wall by the CHM
ney of the old house"
At the northern boundary of the
farm, half hidden by overgrown apple
trees and swampy lilac bushes, were
the remains of the old house originally
occupied by Ebenezer Plumer's father.
Nothing remained of it now save a
monster stone chimney, and an angle
of the cellar wall, concealed in rose
briers and wild weeds.
Tramps slept there sometimes of