Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-03-19
ed pound, and 1 can no more find 1t

dred pound. and can no more find 1t
than
..But can," said Stephen, eagerly.
Eve got that laid by and more; and if
twas thousands, what's mines yours.
And then-Leys Croft won't be mort
gagged beyond its value, of course I'll
speak to my people; they'll only be
too glad to pay off the incumbrance
themselves; they badly want more
mortgages for investment, and Legs
Croft know it by heart, and it's the
best pasture land in England, bar none
why, they'll jump at it; and as for
the interest, they'll take my guarantee;
especially when I'm one of the firm my
self. as I'm going to be. There, farmer,
you can keep the land and Patience,
too"
Patience clutched her fathers arm
with both her hands. and looked up
into his face, while her heart beat SO
fast that it gave her pain. He looked
at Stephen wildly, as if his failing wits
were struggling back again. whats
that? Is that you, Stephen? Who says
the lands not to go?''
Il do. I'm not asking for Patience
now. I'm only asking to do tritie for
you, that have done so much for me
ever since-always- There, farmer.
You shall have the hundred, or what
ever it is, as soon as the post can come
back from Millport; and Prestons there
will make the rest all right in the twink
ling of an eve. It'll be good bargain
for them as well as for you. I'm doing
stroke of business you see; one for
you and two for them; and they re Me.
So there's no need for you to say so
much as thank you; 1 wish there
WERE"
1t was Farmer Marrish' turn to grow
pale. What! this young fellow who
had left the village without a penny of
his own, coming back and talking about
paying off the burdens of Legs Croft as
though it were a mere bagatelle? But
he could not doubt Stephens good
faith: the man of business saw only too
clearly the feasibility of his rivals plan,
and cursed himself for a fool for having,
in his over-assurance, so rashly exposed
his own. And then, too, he had been
watching Patience; and jealousy, mid
die ages jealousy of insolent youth,
was fermenting in his soul.
TOO late, too Later he broke in,
with the strength of concealed passion.
tom Blackthorn has given his wordr'
''But Patience Blackthorn HASN'T
cried she, darling forward, and with
eyes sparkling. ''and Patience Black
thorn wont! I'll do my best for father,
never fear! And as I'm to be bid for,
I'll choose who's to buy. Idon't know
who's the other, and i aOon't know.
Father, I'm going to marry Stephen.
I'm going to marry him for the land
and the money; but he knows I'm go
ing to marry him for something else
besides"
1t is startling thing to see fawn
stand at bay. Even Stephen, who
thought he knew her, was taken aback,
while his heart swelled with pride in
himself and in her. Farmer Blackthorn
raised his hat and wiped his brow.
''Enoch," said he, you see-'tis not
to be. l can't 60 against her. l al
ways did think twas queer of Provi-
dence to part Blackthorn from the
land And though a Harlow's no fit
match for a Blackthorn, I'm proud of
the lad 1 made, and l can't 60 against
the lass, whose mother l welded for
true love-and needs must when the
devil drives. You meant well, Enoch;
but did but give half word, you
know, and that must go. l didn't
know, you see, she'd given her word
before I'd given mine. Give me your
hand, Stephen, my lad. How soon
will you be hearing from Millport!
Lord bless us, what a comfort it is to
be able to hold up ones head again, to
be surer'
He was standing bareheaded, looking
round at the beloved land, already, by
anticipation, enfranchised; Stephen was
! absorbed in Patience; she was lost in
her own thoughts. what ever they were.
Else they would have seen a terrible
sight which few of us, thank God, have
ever seen: the first spasm of batfled
passion and baffled greed on face
made to show it beyond the ordinary
power of the transparent masks that
cover human souls. That Enoch's was
no ordinary soul was proved by the
speed and force wherewith he sup
pressed an agony that must otherwise
have betrayed him, once for all, to the
very simplest eyes.
1t was hard on him, hideously hard;
but how hard has not even yet been
told. And yet he, even he, contrived
to quench the blaze in his own eyes, and
to twist his lips into a curious kind of
smile, as he came forward and shook
Stephen by the hand.
Il wish you-joy" said he.