Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-03-22


not for all the love nonsense in the
world. Miss Patience is to marry mon
ey; and Tom Blackthorn is to keep the
land"
Patience and Stephen, though their
hands were now apart, held one anoth-
er BY the eyes. In hers was growing
despair. II scas her duty to keep the
land at any cost-that not even love
could deny. But to learn her duty with
in the first minute of giving away her
heart-that was hard indeed to bear. II
only Stephen had never come back,
then, indeed, she might have bracod
herself to her duty. thrown away hel
girlish dreams. and made herself good
enough wife to whomsoever her pur
chaser might b. But nowl
Stephen read her heart more plainly
than If it had put itself into words; and
he returned her look bravely.
"a MORTGAGE said he. "Ah, it's
nv business at Millport to know some-
thing about that sort of thing. Every
things all right while tho interests
paid. What's dueP"
"A hundred pound - there" said
Farmer Blackthorn, angrily. "A hun
dred pound, and can no moro fnd n
than"
..But I can," said Stephen. eagerly.
"Tve got that laid by and more; and il
twas thousands, what's mines youra
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 tn pay of tho incumbrance
themselves; they badly want more
mortgages for investment, and Leys
Croft-I 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 20
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?"
II do. I'm not asking for Patience
now. I'm only asking to do . trile foa
you. that have done SO much for mo
ever since-always- There, farmer.
You shall have the hundred. Or what
ever it is, as soon as the post can como
back from Millport; and Prestons there
will make the rest all right in the twink
ling of an eye. It'll be . good bargain
for them as well Is for you. Tn doing
q stroke of business you SEQ; one for
you and two for them; and they're Me.
So there's no need for you to say 80
much as . thank you; wish there
were"
1t was Farmer Marrish' 8 turn to grow
pale. WhatL this young fellow who
had left the village without . penny Of
bis own, coming back and talking about
paying off the burdens Of Leys Croft as
though it were . mere bagatelle? But
he could not doubt Stephens good
faith; the man of business saw only too
clearly tho feasibility Of his rivals plan.
and cursed himself for Afool for having.
in his over-sssurance, 80 rashly exposed
his own. And then, too, he had been
watching Patience; and jealousy. mid
die ages jealousy Of insolsnt youth,
was fermenting in his soul.
TOO late, too later' he broke in.
with the strength of concealed passion.
Tom Blackthorn has given his word!'
..But Patience Blackthorn hasn't"
cried she, darting forward, and with
eyes sparkling. "and Patience Black
thorn won't! I'll do my best for father.
never fear! And as I'm to be bid for,
I'll choose who to buy. Idon't know
who's the other, and l Uon'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 sec 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. Ican't 60 against her. I al
ways did think twas queer ef Provi-
dence to part Blackthorn from the
land. And though Q Harlow's no fit
match for . Blackthorn, I'm proud Of
the lad made, and 1 can't 60 against
the lass. whose mother l welded for
devil drives. You meant well, Enoch;
but I did but give half word. you
know. and that must 60. l didn't
know, you sec. she'd given her word
before I'd given mine. Give mo your
hand. Stephen, my lad. How soon
will you Be hearing from Millport!
Lord bless us, what . comfort it is to
be able to hold up ones head again. to
be sure!'
He was standing bareheaded, looking
round at TIE 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 baff1ed
passion and bafiled greed on face
made to show it beyond the ordinary
power of the transparent masks that
cover human souls That Enoch's was
no ordisary soul was proved by the
speed and fercs wherswith he sup
pressed an a9onv that must otherwise
have betrayed him. once for an, to the
very simplest eyes.
1t was hard on him, hideously hard;
out 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 curious kind of
smile, as he came forward and shook
Stephen by the hand.
Il wish you-joy!" said he.
FABLE THE SECOND.
WHAT AAPYlsED TO HIM WHO HELPED LAM
DOC OVER A sTILE.
Farmer Blackthorn was not the man
to tell tales; and besides Marrish had
made . special and most natural re-
quest that no word should be breathed