Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-03-19
FABLE THE FIRST.-CoNr1NUEp.

IL I'd found things as left Them"
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 speech,
yeti wouldn't have asked her, nor
you. if 1 couldn't keep her; but, thanks
to you, that was the best father fellow
ever had, l can. / stand well with the
flrm I'm with; I've got good salary,
and Preston, our senior. was talking of
partnership only two days ago. I've
had the best of good luck, and I've
saved, besides; and as l 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 went
few PAGES off, though not out of ear
shot by any means.
Farmer Blackthorn, still armed with
his walking-stick, held out his hand to
Stephen feebly. ''Im glad to see you
again, lad. said he, land to hear
you re doing so well. It's good to hear
of somebody doing well these hard
times, God knows. But as for my 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 ber' repeated Farmer Black
thorn. The arm, conscious of his
daughters touch, trembled little; but
the voice was firm.
81 love Patience, and Patience loves
me- urged Stephen. while Patience
herself gave a little pressure of the
fingers upon her fathers sleeve by way
of setting her seal to her lovers words;
and love her l shall till die. l want
no help to keep her; you shan't lose
her; you'll only have a''-son. he was
about to ada, but checked himself, re-
Numbering 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 a business of
my own at Manchester, where there's a
first-rate county opening, if you'd rath-
er not come SO far away"
''Yes, father" whispered Patience
cts all true"
"TH tell you," said Marrish, coming
4
look as if twas none of my 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.
s.Ay,'' said Farmer Blackthorn, 'I've
promised-tO another man-never mind
whor'
Patience!" cried Stephen. '.Do goa
understand"
Young man." said Marrish, ".this
is business. not sweethearting. She
don't understand, but do She's got
to save her father from ruination, like a
dutiful daughter; and she won't do
that by marrying struggling young
clerk that's got to make his way. Eli,
Tom Backthorn? That's how it
stands?H
''That's how it stands" echoed Farm
er Blackthorn, bringing his stick down
on the ground.
Youth was not likely to suspect hard
featured and hard-fisted middle age of
wanting to poach ON what it fondly
fancies its own preserves That Enoch
Marrish should be after Patience no
January should mate with May-forget-
ting that even that has happened now
and again. Whether Patience had any
inkling one can not tell, though one
may guess; but it was assuredly not for
her to say.
Farmer" said Stephen to Black
thorn, and ignoring Marrish, 1--we
asked Patience, and she's said yes; so
who's the other man? I've right to
know-and from you"
Farmer Blackthorn was about to
speak: but Farmer Marrish broke in, in
his overmastering way.
IT'S enough for you, Stephen Har-
low, that Miss Patience will know her
duty and that Tom Blackthorn will keep
his word. Never mind my business;
I've known Tom Blackthorn before you
were born"
Good Godr' cried Stephen. 'shas il
come to this, that Patience is to be sold,
like the cows? By Heaven, it sha'n't
be!'' He was forgetting himself; but
the wind?
Farmer Blackthorn choked, gasped
and was again about to speak; bat
again Farmer Marrish, ever on the
watch, took the word.
IT'S hard lines for you, Stephen.
But would you have the heart to drag
the man that's been more than COM
mon father to you deeper down into the
mire? Look here; Tom Blackburn
here must choose between losing Pa
thence or losing Legs Croft. If Patience
was to marry you, as sure as eggs Tom
Blackthorn would have to quit Legs
Croft. that IS mortgaged stick and stone,
over head and ears. IT'S 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 it done,
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. 1t 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. If
only Stephen had never come back,
then, indeed, she might have braced
herself to her duty, thrown away her
girlish dreams, and made herself a good
enough wife to whomsoever her pur-
chaser might be. But now!
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