The Delta independent., 1889-01-01
said Pardon. "As for father, there

Fanny uttered a wall of despair.
..No, dear; dom look sodistressed, -
said the eldest sitseT, repenting the
rashness OF her speech. 81 don't
really mean it. I'm cross, thatis all
It's hard doing the work of hired
man servant girl and housekeeper all
in one. shall feel better in the
morning after I've had nights
sleep. haven't got to get up early
and milk poor old Pink any more y
And once again the sisters mingled
their tears.
"If father had only rnended those
bars said Fanny. '1t was so un-
lucky''-=-
But Pardon put her hand over her
sisters lips.
"Not that word, Fanny" said she,
remember, it's forbidden"
The two girls were washing up the
breakfast dishes the next day in the
temporary absence of Mr.. Darwin,
who had strolled off toward the post
office to see if the mail was in, when
Squire Fitting crossed the threshold.
"Father amt to hum, eh?" said he.
"Well, I reckon can talk things over
just as we'll with you, Pardon"
What things, aid Pardon, dis
trustfully.
"That there skatin' rink down by
the lake." said Mr.. Etting, "that
John James built. It'B goin' to be q
good hard winter, if there's any
truth in signs, and I've a notion to
buy 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
calmly on the squire's wooden visage.
"What will you give for it?"
oval, it amt wuth so dreadful
much" said the squires, evasively.
Say a hundred dollars for the build
ing and two acres o. land"
Pardon shook her head.
Il won't sell it for that" said she,
decidedly.
II dunno what you want to keep
it for" said the squire, irritably.
"Your father, he amt got to run
skating rink.
81 don't know that" said Pardon,
firmly, "but l don't intend to be
swindled, all the same"
The squire stamped out of the
room in rage.
"Then drive a better hnrgain with
somebody else, if you can," said he
viciously.
"Pardon, Pardon!" whispered Fam
ny, close to her elbow, "call him
back. A hundred dollars is great
great sum of money"
"No," said Pardon, II will not
call him back. Let me thinkl''
"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 800. 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 Merritt farm. Joel Merritt
was just driving in through the big
gates with a load of wood.
"I'm so sorry" said Joel, court
eously lifting his cap. "Mother has
gone over to quilting bee at Mrs.
Dikes, Won't you step in and rest?"
Pardon took off hergreen sun bon
net and famed herself with it. Her
cheeks were pink; her lovely hazel
eyes sparkled.
"But it isn't your mother 1 came
to see, JOEL" said she. "Iwanted to
speak to youl'
Joel jumped off the load, threw the
reins on Old Sorrel's back, and came
up to her, with a countenance of
some surprise.
"Me7" he repeated, reddening a
little.
For Of all created beings he thought
Pardon Darwin the most beautiful
ard winning.
eyes," said Pardon, still deeply
absorbed in her own plans and ideas.
GLOW would you like, Joel, to go in
to partnership with me?"
with you, Pardon?"
He caught his breath.
eyes," frankly spoke the girl. "Of
all our neighbors l think you are
the most honest and reliable. I've
known you ever since we were chill
dren together and.
"Say not another word, Pardonl"
ioyously cried the young man, taking
both her hands in his, while his
whole face grew radiant. "Oh, you
don't know how proud, how happy
you make me! For I've loved you
this long time, Pardon-only / never
dared to tell you So, And mother
will be SO glad to call you daughter!
Give me kiss. Pardon-my little
shrinking love-just one kiss, SO that
may be sure I'm not dreamingl'
But to his dismay Pardon strug-
gled to free herself and began to cry
impetuously.
I-I don't know what you mean I"
said she. LET me go, Joel Merritt!"
"But, Pardon, you said yourself
"It was the skating rink that poor
] ohm James built on Deem Lake i''