The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-03-11


I've known Tom Blackthorn before you
were born."
"Good God!" cried Stephen, "has it
come to this, that Patience is to be sold,
like the cowsp By Heaven, it sha'n't
be!' He was forgetting himself; but
who would not have thrown manners to
the windp na aa Ia 4alfs,.
Farmer Blackthorn choked, gasped
and was again about, to speak; but
again Farmer Marrish, ever on the
watch, took the word.
"'Tis hard lines for you, Stephen.
But would you have the heart to drag
the man that's been more than a COM
mon father to you deeper down into the
mirep Look here; Tom Blackthorn
here must choose between losing Pa
tience or losing Legs Croft If Patience
was to marry you, as sure as eggs Tom
Blae kthorn. would have to quit Leys
Croft, that's 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" iEitttU si ilit.i
| Patience and Stephen, though their
hands were now apart, held one anoth-
er by the eyes. In hers was growing
despair. 1t s0aS 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 braced
herself to her duty, thrown away her
girlish dreams, and made herself good
enough wife to whomsoever her pur-
chaser might be- But now!
Stephen read her heart more plainly
than Il it had put itself into words; and
he returned her look bravely.
"a mortgage!' said he. "Ah, it's
my business at Millport to know some
thing about that sort of thing. Every
things all right while the interests
paid. What's dueP"
"a hundred pound = there" said
Farmer Blackthorn, angrily. "a hun
dred pound, and / can no more find 1t
than"
"But can," said Stephen, eagerly
"Tve 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 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 Pm 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 II his falling wits
r were struggling back again. whats
thatP Is that you, Stephene Who says
5 the lands not to go?"
r Il do. I'm not asking for Patience
now. I'm only asking to do triile for
, you, that have done so much for me
r ever since always There, farmer.
: You shall have the hundred, or what
ever 1t 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 eye. It'll be good bargain
for them as well as for you. I'm doing
5 stroke Of business you see; one fol
0 you and two for them; and they're Me
9 So there's no need for you to say SC
Y much as thank you; wish there
!; were"
t It was Farmer Marrish' turn to grow
Q pale. What! this young fellow wht
s had left the village without penny o
: his owu, coming back and talking abou
!; paying off the burdens OF Leys Croft a
d though 1t were mere bagatelle? Blu
9 he could not doubt Stephens goo
Il faith; the man Of business saw only tot
$ clearly the feasibility Of his rivals plan
u and cursed himself for fool for having
a in his over-assurance, so rashly exposes
L his own. And then, too, he had beef
watching Patience; and jealousy, mid
!. die ages jealousy Of insolent youth
was fermenting in his soul. .-.....
9 TOO late, too late!' he broke in
q with the strength OF concealed passion
|, n Tom Blackthorn has given his word!'
/ 'But Patience Blackthorn hasn't,
= cried she, darting forward, and wit
q eyes sparkling. "and Patience Black
q thorn wont! I'll do my best for father
never fear! And as I'm to be bid fol
Z III choose who's TO buy. Idon't kno'
who's the other, and 1 Oont know
;; Father, I'm going to marry Stepher
u I'm going to marry him for the Ian
i and the money; but he knows I'm g
IT ing to marry him for something ell
besides"
Z 1t is a startling thing to see faw
- stand at bay. Even Stephen. WI
- thought he knew her. was taken abacl
= while his heart swelled with pride
u himself and in her. Farmer Blackthor
=, raised his hat and wiped his brow.
'Enoch," said he, ''you see-'tis nj
;s TO be. can't 90 against her. l q
70 ways did think twas queer OF Prov
II dence TO part Blackthorn from Il
n land. And though a Harlow's no
lo match for a Blackthorn, I'm proud
"a the lad made, and cant GO again
- tko lace yvhoaa mother 1 welded Il