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

woman, but the daughter of London
tradesman with a wharf somewhere
down the Thames. Moreover, the mar
riage under circumstances which,
though discreditable to neither side,
had brought about lasting breach be-
tween the then wealthy yeoman and
the weather. wharfinger, which had
never been healed. Till his unsuccess-
full attempt at begging by deputy, no
word had ever passed between the two;
there had clashed together equal OBJ
stinacy and equal pride. Not even
Mrs. Backbone death had made
them so much as formal friends. 1t
was the Cockney strain, no doubt,
Farmer Blackthorn thought, bitterly,
which had come out in his son Dick,
whose name he had ceased to name,
and who had gone away, his father
and he knew why, and nobody else
knew where. Whereas Patience was
her fathers child.
All such things had Stephen Harlow
ample leisure to observe and to reflect
upon, for his holiday had grown. The
first post enabled him, after trip to
Manchester, to transfer all his savings
to his future father-in-law; not that he
confessed that the very fairly consider
able sum was his all, making light OF
the gift as a loan in the way OF BUSH
ness, out of which he saw his own ad-
vantage; so that the farmer felt as if he
were comforting favor by taking the
money instead of receiving one. Pres
emily came letter from Prestons', au-
thorizing him to report on the land,
the title, and so forth. with view to
their favorably considering what he
had proposed. AS that business could
not be disposed of in hurry, his holt
day became holiday, indeed, with
pleasure enough to make the days
well-nigh too short to crowd it all in.
In the first place. he had to busy
himself with surveys, plans, title-deeds,
estimates, and a hundred other delight
full things of that nature. Then, these
being not half enough, he threw him.
self Zealously into the heavier work of
bringing the farm back again into work
ing order; and this alone took up the
whole of one mans time. But whole
man of him seemed still to remain: and
this he gave to the personal service OF
his old patron, doing his best to cheer
him up, and to restore the farmer even
as he had restored the farm. Then
what. time was left for his love-making?
just all just as much as if he had
nothing else in the world to do.
Under such circumstances Patience
could not find it in her heart to play
the coquette, even for fun. She felt as
if she had just shaved the edge of
precipice: as if she had missed misery
and found happiness by miracle; and,
moreover, being. used to such different
ways, she regarded all this energy with
wondering awe. Stephen going to be
great man indeed! Why, he was
already a great man; there could be
nobody like him in the world. She had
always liked him. and had easily learn
ed to love him; but who had looked for
this from the drunken blacksmith's
boy? 1t was as if their charity to
Stephen, when he was a forlorn little
waif, was being repaid them thousand
fold; and she could only thank God for
him on her knees, and then sit at his
feet in admiration, and thank him for
loving her. If poor Dick had only been
half like Stephen! She did her best to
help him, begging for sums to work
and papers to copy; and though she
hindered him good deal by her blum
ders, there was the pleasure of setting
them right again. What days those
We're! And if only poor Dick had been
there to see! But even that must come
right now. Had not Stephen taken
everything in hand-so how could any
thing fail to come right or 90 wrong?
One evening she had delightful sur
prise. Stephen, having been over on
law business to Manchester, asked her
to come out for stroll before supper.
They passed through the yard gate, and
were going. at snairs pace, along the
quiet path that leads across the fields
| to the village, when Patience suddenly
stopped and pointed.
"Stephen, look! If somebody's COWS
haven't got to our grass again"
Nonsense, Patience. Why, there
isn't broken hedge or a loose gate all
round. Somebody's cows, indeed
Whereof
"Why, where are your eyes? No
| they're not on my nose, Stephen.
They'r re out there"
..Yes; / see some COWS. Naturally,
on farm one does expect to see cows
Not on ours"
"Let's go a bit nearer, and see. Yes;
I see them plain enough now. But
fancy farmers daughter not knowing
her own cows a hundred yards away!"
"Stephen, please don't joke about
cows"
Heaven forbid; they're much too
serious things, I know Never mind,
Patience, I'll never tell.''
"Tell?'
&c That Patience Blackthorn didn't
know her fathers cows"
"Stephen!'
s.Why. darlinu. Won look at me as il
1 were talking treason. Don't you like
the look of the beasts? Is there any
thing wrong?"
Beasts! They're beauties! wish
they Were ours!'
Then. Hey, Presto! yours they are.
You've only got to wish, you see. you
little witch, and the things done.'
Stephen, you'0e been buying those
cows!"
Take care. little girl, if you wrinkle
your brOws like that, or so much as say
one word of money, the charm broke,
and you'll see those cows spread their
wings and fly away-over the moon.
\ on mind the milking; and never mind
how things come. l wish you may new
er have a wish that doesn't come as
quick and as easy as that one!''
.'Stephen-''
''My darling?"
Don't, don't be too good to US all!
Don't ask me to thank you
I'm ask you not to be a goose.
There. Now that's settled; and I've
got a kiss for nothing at all. But I
didn't bring you out to talk of cows.
I've been having a talk with father this
morning, and can't push out nv holt