The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-04-03
FABLE THE fIRsT.-CoSrINuEp.


said Stephen. 81 wouldn't have said a
word to Patience before speaking to
you-though I've loved her all my DAYS.
But-Tm not much hand at a speech,
yeti wouldn't have asked her. nor
You. if I couldn't keep her: but, thanks
to you, that was the best father a fellow
ever had, can. stand well with the
firm I'm with; I've got good salary,
and Preston. our senior. was talking OF
a partnership only two days ago. I've
had the best of good luck, and I've
saved. besides; aud as | owe everything
to you I've got or ever hope for, what
ever's mines yours. All, sir, if you'll
only give me Patience
Marrish glanced sharply at Farmer
Blackthorn from under his brows.
turned abruptly on his heel. and vent
a few PAGES of, though not out of ear
shot by any means.
Farmer Blackthorn. still armed with
his walking-stick, held out his hand to
Stephen feebly. I'm glad to see YOU
you're doing so well. Its good to hear
of somebody doing well these hard
times. God knows. But as for nv lass
you must put that fancy out of your
head 1t can't be"
Can be?" exclaimed Stephen; while
Patience managed at last to free her
hand. and nesting up close to her
father. laid it upon his arm.
Cant be- repeated Farmer Black
thorn The arm. conscious of his
daughters touch. trem5led little; Gut
the voice was firm.
Il love Patience. and Patience loves
me-" urged Stephen. while Patience
herself gave little pressure of the
fingers upon her fathers sleeve by way
of setting her seal to her lovers words:
land love her | shall till die. want
no help to keep her; you shan't lose
her: you'll only have a'-son, he was
about to add. but checked himself. re-
membering what he had been warned;
and so hurried on. Il love work; and
for her sake and yours I'll work like
ten. I'll either settle in Millport, if
You like to come and live with us
there. or I'll buy or make business of
my own at Manchester. where there's a
tirst-rate county opening, if you'd ra;h-
er not come so far away"
Yes, father" whispered Patience.
ITS all true"
IN tell YOU" said Marrish. coming
forward. why it can't BE. No-dOn' t
look as if twas none of nv business;
it's as much mine as any mans, and
more. Tom Blackthorn's Just prom
iSed Patience to another man-never
mind who"
Father" cried Patience. starting
from him, and with amazement in her
eyes.
"Ay." said Farmer Blackthorn, I've
promised to another man-rayer mind
who
Patience" cried Stspkes- DO yoH
UNDERESTIMATE
Young man." said Marrish, this
Is business. not sweethearting. She
don't understand, but | do. She's got
10 save her father from rIIinat;on. like a
s:utiful daughter: and she won't do
that by marrying a struggling Young
clerk that got to make his way. Eli,
Tom Blackthorn? That's how it
standS9"
That's how il stands. "-chcs3 Farm
er Blackihorn, bringing his stick down
on the ground.
Youth was not likely to suspect hard
featured and Manifested middle age of
wanting to poach on what il fondlv
fancie> Its own preserves. That Enoch
Marsh should be after Patience no
more occurred to Stephen than that
January should mate with May-fcrget-
ting that even that has happened now
and again. Whether Patience had any
inkEng ore can not tell. though one
may guess: but it was assuredly not for
her to say.
Ia mrr." said Stephen to Black
thorn. and ignoring Marrish. I've
asked Patience. and she's said yes; 50
who's the other man? I've 4 right to
know-and from YOU
Farmer Blackthorn was about to
speak: but Farmer Marrish broke in, in
his overmaStering way.
- TiS enough for you, Stephen Har-
low. that Mss Patience will know her
duty and that Tom Blackthorn will keep
his word. Never mind nv business;
I've known Tom Blackthorn before You
were born.
Good GodT' cried Stephen. has it
come TO this. that Patience is TO be sold.
like the cows? By Heaven. it Sha' n t
be- He was forgetting himself: but
who would not have thrown manners to
the wind?
Farmer Blackthorn choked- gasped
and was again about to speak; but
again Farmer Marrish, ever on the
watch. took the word.
It's hard lines for you. Stephen.
But would yo1 have the heart to drag
the man that's been more than a COM
mon father 10 you deeper down into the
mire? Look here: Tom Blackthorn
here must choose between losing Pa
thence or losing Leys Croft If Patience
was to marry YOU. as sire as eggs Tom
Blackthorn would have to quit Leys
Croft. that 5 mortgaged stick and stone,
over head and ears lis my business
that Tom Blackthorn shouldn't be driv-
en- out of house and home at nigh three
score and ten. And won't see il done.
not for all the love nonsense in the
world Miss Patience Is to marry mon
ev: and Tom Blackthorn is to keep the
land"
Patience and Stephen though their
hands were now apart. held one anoih-
er by the eyes In hers was growing
despair Ii UcGs her duty to keep the
land ar any cost-that. not even love
could DENY. But to learn her duty with
in the first minute of giving a-ay her
heart-thst was hard indeed 20 bear. If
only Stephen had never come back.
then, indeed. she might have braced