The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-26
PARD0N'S GOOD LUCK.


II would he.
lie sat on The old stone porch, staring
out toward the sunset, bis chair tipped
back on is two hind legs, his hands
thrust aimIcssly into his trousers pockets.
II was cold enough to justify the lire
OF beech logs that was blazing on the
hearth in The room inside, whore Pardon
was taching Up the red morccn curtains
that she had lust spOngCd and mcnded
neatly: but il was not an easy thing Tor
Nj. Darwin 10 rclinquiSh the habit OF
outdoor iounging that had chung 70 him
all the summer through.
"Nhat is il, father said Pardon, com
ing brisliy TO the door, with a tack ham
sner in one hand and paper Of tacks IN
the other.
Jones has Just gone by" said MIR.
Darwin. ole says the old COW has got
out on the railroad track again.
Pardon bit her red under lip.
Il told }.oa she would. father said
Gle, III you didn't have those bars re-
paired.
and she's cot run over" dolefully
added Darwin I'm sure don't know
what we're 10 do without a COW. We've
always put "a lot Of dependence on ON
milk But might have expected 1t.
Luck has been sheer against mo ever
since John James died. A man with a
house full Of gals can't expect to make
no Roadway III the world"
Pardon colorcd up.
"YOu didn't expect your girls 10 mend
The bars did YOU, father asked she, a
little bitterly
Il was calcula,in' to speak 70 Tim Par
erls about gettm new pair o posts put
up" sighed the former.
wouldn't it have been a safer way to
pit them up yourself, father
IL amt as young as used to be" said
Darwin. evaively. "And the rheuma-
tics is twistin' me powerful these first
cool days"
'Thcn," said Pardon, with n certain
touch of dauShtcrly authority in her
voice, "yOu should come into the house,
aud not sit there, getting chilled through,
and then find fault with your luck!'
Mr.. Darwin slowly rose and shuifled
into the bright little keeping room, where
Pardon had spread 4 neatly braided rag
rug before the fire and placed a broken
spoutcd pitcher of yellow golden rod on
thc sahie.
she looked after him with a sigh, half
Of impstience, half regret.
II wish John James had lived!' said
Dir. Darwin, fcebly.
so do |, agscnted Pardon.
"Ail't suppcr most ready! said the
farmer, looking dlscontentediy around.
at Will be in q minute said Pardon.
81 bad 70 split the hindlings myself for
the kitchen fire. and Fanny has run to
Ers. Mcrritt-s for littIe meal to make
some hot corn bread.
At The same moment Fanny returned
IA slight. ovcrgrown girl of ll-bre2th-
tcss with the haste she had made
Mrs Merritt is very sorry" said she,
"but she hasn't any cornmeal in the
house"
That's enough said Pardon, glowing
scarlet to the roots of her hair. Il don't
blame her for getting tired of lending
things 20 us
But" added Fanny, "shc sends pail
Of Graham -four to male GENT In
Iced, indecd, Pardon, ohc'G as kind rs
she can bcr
Pardon laughed Historically.
'I'm getting as hard and bitter as Il
sour pefsimmOn," said she. Eyes, I'm
very glad of The Graham flour. Father
can't make cut his supper without come
thing hot for q relish Perhaps some
day we can return Mrs. Merritt'5 kind
ncsscs. Dut, on, Fanny, have YOU heard?
The red COW got ont Of the pasture this
afternoon and is killed on The railroad
track"
Fanny hurst into tears.
"Old Pinly" she exclaimed. "Is
there no end 70 or back luckf"
Pardon stamped her pretty, i'll shod
foot lnpationtly on the floor
"Luckr' she repeated. Don't use that
dreadful woldl | believe father would
&c a better and happier man today il it
wasn't in the dictionary at all. There
isn't any such thing as luck. It's all bad
management, shiftlessncss-thc habit of
putting everything off until the last mo-
mcnt."
And then she cried, too, poor little
Overburdencd Pardon.
She was tell and slender. with llrge.
clittering hazel eyes, red brown hair,
and ore of thocc delicate compile ions
where the sun lays is touch in the shape
OF hero and there cluster OF ircckles.
Fanny wa3 DART. with Spanish eyes,
friugcd with long Ilshcs, and hcir -
black and lag.ro,B g jet. Whatever
els fate had 9enied The Darwin girls, 1t
had lcca generous 20 them il the matter
cf personal attributes.
1hcy made thcir frugal ouppcr of Gre
tam Gems, % very little butter, he weak
est brewing Of tea. and no milk at I'll,
aud then Pardon built mp the fire, got
her father thc lat weeks newspaper,
which Gcod Mrs. Merritt had sent over
with The Graham flour, and then sat
down ia thc back ,.itchcn with Fanny 10
slice up a few late peaches for drying.
For we have got to look after things
very close this WINTER eaid she "Fcth-
CT seems 10 have no energy at I'll since
John James died. I'm afraid il will end
in the farm being sold to clear off the
nortcacc."
Fanny opened her BIG, black eyes.
"DUt we must live somewhere, Par
don't Gail she.
"You and can 20 out 20 service"
xail Pardon. AS Tor father. there il
she poorhouso. .
Fanny uttered a wall of despair
"No, no dear; Gon'l look 20 di5;rcsscd.'
said thc cl1cFsistCr, rcpeniing the RASH
ness OF her cpeech. IA don't really mean
IL. In cross, That is all. It's hard doing
The work cf hired man, servant girl and
bauxeise.,lg.. eli Ia ono | eholl feel hot