, 1888-12-16

breakfast dishes tho pext day in the tenn
porary absence OF Mr.. Darwin, who had
strolled off coward the postoffice to see if
tho mail was in, when Squire citing
crossed the threshold.
Father amt to hum, eh?' said he.
"Well, l reckon / can talk things over
just as well with you, Pardon"
What things" said Pardon, distTust-
fully.
That there skatin' rink down by the
lake, said Mr.. Etting, that John James
built. It's goin' to be a good hard win
ter, If there's any truth in signs, and I've
q notion TO buy the concern, just as it
stands, and run the rink myself. The
land belonged to your mothers estate,
and l s'pose you and the gal here nave
the right to sell it."
Yes" said Pardon, her eyes fixed
calmly on the squire's wooden visage.
What will you give for it?'
wal, it amt wuth so dreadful
much" said the squire, evasively. Say
a hundred dollars for the building and
two acres o. land"
Pardon shook her head.
II won't sell it for that" said she, de-
cidedly.
II dunno what you want to keep it
for" said the squire, irritably. Your
III III III bOl Nv 81 vi a ohdl-
ing rink"
Il don't know that" said Pardon,
firmly, but | don't intend to be swim
died, all the same"
The squire stamped out Of the
in a rage.
Then drive a better bargain with
somebody else, if you can" said he
~viciously.
Pardon, Pardoni" whispered Fanny.
close to her elbow, "call him back. A
hundred dollars is a great-great sum Of
money"
No" said Pardon, II will not call
him back. Let me thinkl'
But what will father sayf"
Father need never know, Fanny. 1t
Is as Squire Citing says, the land is all
that il left of our poor mothers prop
crty. 1t is ours to sell or 10 keep, rs We
please. The lumber alone for that poor
building cost John James nearly 500.
The Squire thinks lie can safely cheat us,
because we are only women. Blu he
will find himself mistaken"
She put on her green Bingham sun
the Merritt farm. Joel Merritt was just
driving in through the big gates with a
load of wood.
I'm so sorry.' said Joel, c~ourteously
lifting his cap. Mother has gone over
10 a quilting bee at Mrs. Dikes'. Won't
you stop in II restF
Pardon took off her green sun bonnet
and famed herself with it. Her cheeks
yycro pink; her lovely hazel eyes
sparklcd.
But it isn't your mother l came to
see, joel" said she. II wanted to speak
TO your
joel jumped off the load, threw the
1ai.B ON Old Sorrel's back, and came up
10 her. with a countenance of some sur
prise.
"bfe?' he repeated, reddening a little.
For of all created beings he thought
Pardon Darwin the most beautiful and
winning.
Yes" said Pardon, still deeply alb
Tor5cd Ia her w plans and ideas.
-'llovv would you like, Joel, to go into
partnership with meT'
with you. PardonY'
He caught his breath.
Yes frankly spoke the girl. "Of
NIL u neighbors / think you are tho
most honest and reliable. I've known
you ever since we were children to-
retlher apd"-
Say not another word, Pardon," joy
ously cried the young man, taking both
Ter hands in his, while his whole face
Crew radiant. ''oh, you don't know
For I've loved you this long time, Par
,ion-only / never dared to tell you SO.
And mother will be SO glad to call you
daughterl Give me a kiss, Pardon-my
little shrinking love-just one kiss, SO
that l may DO sure I'm not dreamingl"
But to his dismay Pardon struggled to
free herself and began to cry impetu-
ously.
IL don't know what you mean!'
said she. "Let me go, Joel Merrittl'
But, Pardon, you said yourself
'It vas the skating rink that poor
John James built on Deep Lake!' faltered
Pardon, on the verge of new tears. 81
Il wanted you to help me fit it up and
manage it this winter. never dreamed
of asking you toto Oh, Joel. what
must you have thought of me?"
Then you didn't mean it, after ALP
said Joel, dropping his arms to his sides.
n standing with q blank face before
her. "You don't care for me-"
Pardon stood silent for a moment,
twisting her apron strings, while the soft
glow still burned or her cheeks.
a sudden light flashed into Joe's sun
burned face.
my OWL love" he cried out, valiantly.
'I1l take the skating rink, but you've
got TO DO thrown into the bargain, too!
Say you'll consent, Pardonp
And at all vents Pardon did not re-
fuse.
chr said Asa Darwin, when the
facts of the case became patent to his
rather dense understanding. young
Merritt going TO finish up the rink before
frost m And engaged to our Par
don, too? Well, I declare hat is a piece
of luckl'
And this time Pardon took no excep-
tons to the obnoxious words.-Saturday
Night.
Culture Leads to Simple Dress.