The Irish standard., 1889-03-09
PARDON'S GOOD LUCK.


How She Proposed For and Se'
cured a Partner.
PHILOSOPHERS say that there is no such
thing as luck Asa Darwin thought differ
emily.
"My luck, exacty,'' said he, despairing-
ly. II might have known just how it would
be.'
lie sal on the old stone porch, staring out
toward the sunset, his chair tipped back on
It's two hind legs, his hands thrust aimless-
" into his trousers pockets.
It was cold enough to justify the fire Of
beech logs that was Blazing on the hearth
III the room inside, where Pardon was tack
ing UP the red uioreen curtains that she
had Just spougeu and .nended neatly; but
il was not an easy thing for MI. Darwin
to reiipauish the habit OF outdoor lcung-
ing that had chung to him all the sunnmer
through
"NFnat is it. fathers' said Pardon. COM
ing br,skly TO the door with a tack ham
ner in one hand and q, paper OF 1aeks in
tbc other.
.sJones has just gone by" said Atr. Oar
win. "Re says the CID COW has gut o:1t on
the railroad track again.
Pardon bit her red under lip.
81 told you she would, father" said she,
..iy YOU didn't have these bars repalred'
land she's got ruu ogef,'' doletully aided
Darwin. Elm sure ! don't know what
we're going &c DO without COW We've
always put a lot OF dependence on our milk.
But { might have expected it. Luck has
been sheer against Inc ever since Sohn
James died. A man with 81 house ful! OF
gals cart EXPECT to make nc Roadway in
the wcrld.'
Pardon colored up.
"You didn't expect your girls to mend
the bars, did you, fsther?'asked she, Little
bitterly.
Is, was calc,atin' TO speak 80 Tim Par
sons about gettin' new pair q posts pu&
up,fs sighed the farmer.
tiWoulGa't il nave been {. safer way to
put them mp yourself. fsiAer?"
Al Ain;S a.; young as ! used to be- sa1d
Darwin. evasively. And the ghenin2tlcs
is twistlu me powerful these first cool
days"
"Then," said Pardon, with 3: certain touch
of tiaughterly authority liz her voice, You
should come into the house aud not sit
there, getting chilled through. sane' taen mo
fault with your lucS"
L.
the bright little keeping roo1a, where Par
don had spread q neatly braided rug before
the lire, and placed a broken-spouted
pitcher OF yellow golden-rod on the table,
She looked! after him with sigh, half OF
impatience, half regret.
III wish John Ja,nes had liveo" said Mr..
Darwin, feeb]y.
$50 do J." assented Pardon.
Amt supper most rsady:" said the
farmer. looking discontentedly around.
sIt will be in najuute,'' said Pardon. 81
had to split the kindllng myself for the
kitchen fire, and Fanny has run to Mrs.
Merrits's for % little meal TO make some hot
core bread''
At the same moment Fanny returned--e.
slight, oyergrown girl of fourteen--breath-
less with the haste she has made.
.sNIrs. Merritt is very sorry" said she,
shut she hasn't any cornnleal in the house. y
''ihat's enough" said Pardon, glowing
scarlet to the roots OF her hair II don't
blame her for getting tired offending things
tous!"
ssI3ut," added Fanny, ''she sends pail Of
Graham -four to make gems. Indeed, in.
deed, Pardon, she's as kind as she can bei'
Pardon laughed Historically.
"I'm getting as hard and bitter as sour
rersimmon,'' said she. ;'Yes, I'm very glad
Of the Graham -four. Father can I make OUT
his supper without something hot for rel
ism. Perhaps some day we can return Mrs.
Me-.itt's kindnesses. But on, Fanny, have
YOU heard! The red cow got out OF the
pasture this afternoon and is killed on the
track
Fanny burst into tears
sold Pinky!' she exclaimed "Is there nc
end to our bad lucks'
Pardon stamped her pretty, ill-shod foot
nnpatiently Oh the Hoor.
Hl,ucki" she repeated. s'Don't use that
dreadful word! believe father would be q
better and happier man to-day if it wasn't
in the dictionary at all. There isn't any
such thing as luck. It's all bad manage.
nent. shiftlessness-the habit Of putting
every thing off until the last moment"
And then she cried, too, poor little over
burdened Pardon.
She was tall and slender, with large, gilt
tering hazel eyes, red-brown hair and one
OF those delicate compilations where the sun
laws its touch in the shape Of here and there
cluster of freckles.
Fanny was dark, with Spanish eyes,
fringed with long lashes, and hair as black
and lustrous as jet. Whatever else fate had
denied the Darwin girls, it had been gen.
erous 70 them in the matter Of personal at
tributes.
They made their frugal supper Of Graham
gems, very little butter, the Weakes'
brewing of tea, and no milk at all, and thep
Pardon. built up the fire, got her father The
last weeks newspaper, which good Mrs
Merritt had sent over with the Graham
-four, and then sat down in the back kitchen
with Fanny to slice up few peaches fo'
dying.
+. IL Z. '..Fos, wa have got to look after thing'
very close this winter" she said. "Fathe'
seems to have no energy at all since JONI
Jamss died. Lam afraid it will end N u tn !
I. farm being sold to- clear Of the mortgage OF