Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-01-09
but PARDON put ner hand over her s..-

but PARDON put her hand over her sIs-
ter's liDs:
member it's forbidden
The two girls were washing up the break
1ast disnes the next day in the temporary
absence of Mr.. Darwin, who had strolled off
toward the post-otfice to see if the mail was
In, when Squire Etting crossed the thresh-
old.
Father amt to hum, eh2n said he.
"Weu, reckon l can talk things over lust
as well with.you, Pardon"
''What thingsl' said Pardon. distrustfpl-
ly.
IS That there skatln, rink. down nv the
lake, said Mr.. Etting, 'sthat John James
built. It's goin' to be good hard winter If
there's any truth in signs, and I've notion
TO ouy the concern, just as it stands, and
run the rink myself The land belonged to
your mothers eState, and / s'pose you and
the gal here have the right to sell it.''
Yes" said Pardon, her eyes fixed calm
~ on the Squire's wooden visage. What
will you give for its''
Wal, It amt wuth so dreadful much, -
SAID the squire, evasively. Say a hun
oreo dollars for the building and two acres
o. land.'
Pardon shook her head
cidedly
dunno what you want to keep it for"
said the squire, irritably "Your father
ne amt got the go to run skating
rink"
81 know that said Pardon, firmly
but don't intend to be swindled, all the
same"
The squire stamped out of the room in a
rage.
"Then drive better bargain with some
OO0V else If uOi1 cor ba
Pardon, Pardonl' whispered Fanny,
close to her elbow, call him back! A
hundred dollars is great-great sum of
moneyp'
NO." said Pardon. "I will not call him
back. Let me thinkr'
But what will father say?'
Father need never know, Fanny. 1t is
as Squire Etting says. the land is all that is
left of our poor mothers property. 1t is
! ours to sell or to keep, as we please. The
| lumber alone for that poor building cost
John James nearly one hundred dollars.
! The squire thinks he can safely cheat US,
because we are only women But he will
find himself mistaken'
! She put on her green gingham sun bonnet
that afternoon and went over to the Mer-
ritt farm. Joel Merritt was just driving
through the big gates with u load of wood.
I'm so sorry," said Joel, courteously
lifting his cap. Mother has gone over to
quilting-bee at Mrs. Dikes'. Won't YOU
step in and rest!'
Pardon took off her green sun-bonnet and
famed herself with it. Her cheeks were
pink; her lovely hazel eyes sparkled.
g But it isn't your mother | came to see
JOEL" said she. :" l wanted to speak tc
youp'
Joel jumped off the load, threw the reins
on Ol hao
with a countenance of some surprise.
=" Me!" he repeated, reddening a little
For of all created beings he thought Par
don Darwin the most beautiful and win
ming.
''Yes,'' sSi1 Pardon, still deeply absorbed
in her own plans and ideas. "How would
you like, Joel, to go into partnership witt
me?"
"With you, Pardon!'
He caught his breath.
Yes" frankly spoke the girl "Of al
our neighbors think you are the most hon
est and reliable. I've known you ever since
we were children together, and"
"Say not another word, Pardonr' Joy
ously cried the young man, taking both hel
hands in his, while his whole face grew ra
diant. 'Oh, you dent know how proud
how happy you make mel For I've loved
you this long time, Pardon, only 1 never
dared to tell you so: and mother will be 81
glad to call you daughter. Give me kiss
Pardon-my little shrinking love-just one
kiss, so that l may be sure I'm not dream
ingr'
But to his dismay Pardon struggled to free
herself and began to cry impetuously.
"I-I don't know what you meanr' sale
she. Let me go, Joel Merritt"
But, Pardon, you said yourself"
a1x -. l. ~.
James built on Deep lake!' faltered Par
don, on the verge of new tears. "I-l
wanted you to help me fit it up and manage
it this winter. 1 never dreamed of asking
you to-to Oh, Joel, what must you have
thought of me'''
"Then you didn't mean it after all!,' SAID
Joel, dropping his arms to his sides and
standing with a blank face before her. ''You
don't care for metz
Pardon stood silent a moment, twisting
her apron strings, while the soft glow still
burned en- her cheeks.
A sudden light flashed into Joeps sun
burrsSd face
"My own lover' he cried out, valiantly
'I'll take the skating rink, but you've got
to be thrown into the bargain, tool Say
you'll consent, Pardonp'
And at all events Pardon did not refuse.
"Ehp' said Asa Darwin, when the facts
Of the case became patent to his rather
dense understanding, "young Merit going
to finish up the rink before frost come And
engaged to eur Pardon, tooa Well, de
clare, that is a piece of luckl''
And this time Pardon took no exceptions
to the obnoxious word.-Sdturd1V Mint