Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-07

James QUILT. Its goIn TO be 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 1 s'pose you
and the gal here have the eight to sell
! it."
"Yes," said Pardon her eyes fixed
calmly on the Squirrels wooden visage.
"What will you give for it?'
oval, it amt with so dreadful
MUCH" said the Squire, 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,
decid edly.
Al dunno what you want to keep it
for" said the Squire, irritably. your
father he amt got the go to run
skating rink"
Il know that" said Pardon, firmly,
"but don't intend to be swindled, all
the same"
The squire stamped out of the room
in rage.
"Then drive a better bargain with
somebody else, if you can," said he
viciously.
Pardon, Pardon!" whispered Fan
ny, close to her elbow, ''calI him back!
A hundred dollars is a great-great
sum of money!
"No,' said Pardon. 81 will not call
/ him back. Let me think"
"But what will father sayP"
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 building cost John James near
~ 500. The Squire thinks he can
safely cheat US, because we are only
women. But he will find himself mis-
taken
She put on her green bingham sun
bonnet that afternoon and went over
to the Merritt farm. Joel Merritt was
just driving through the big gates
with a load of wood.
''rm so sorry" said Joel, courteous
ly lifting his cap. Mother has gone
over to quilting bee at Mrs. bikes.
Won't you step in and rest?"
! Pardon took off her green 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. Il want to
speak 12 your
Joel jumped off the load, threw the
reins on old Sorrel's back, and came
up to her, with a cOuntenance of some
surprise.
''Me?" he repeated, reddening lit
tie.
For of all created beings he thought
Pardon Darwin the most beautiful and
winning.
Yes, said Pardon, still deeply alb
sorbed in her own plans and ideas.
''How would you like, Joel, to 60 into
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 children, to-
together, and"
''Say not another word Pardonw JOY
ously cried the young man, taking
bothher 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 a kiss, Par
don-my little shrinking love-just one
kiss, so that l may be sure that I'm
not dreamingr
But to his dismay Pardon struggled
to free herself and began to cry i'm
petuously.
"I-I don't know what you meanw
said she. Let me 90, Joel Merritt"
''But, Pardon. you said yourself"
at was the skating rink that poor
John James built on Deep Laker' fall
tered Pardon, on the verge of new
tears. I'll wanted you to help me
fit it up and manage it this Winter. l
never dreamed of asking you TOTO
Oh, Joel. what must you have thought
of meP"
Then you didn't mean it, after alp"
said Joel, dropping his arms to his
sides, and standing with blank face
/ before her. ''You don't care for meP"
Pardon stood silent moment, twist
ing her apron strings, while the soft
! glow still burned on her cheeks.
A sudden light flashed into Joel's
sun burned face.
My own lover he cried out valiant
", ''rll take the skating rink, but
you've got to be thrown into the bar
gam, too! Say you'll consent, Par
| donr
And at all events Pardon did not re-
| fuse.
"Eh!" said Asa Darwin, when the
facts of the case became patent to his
rather dense understanding. young
Merritt going to finish up the rink be-
fore frost Gomez And engaged to our
! Pardon, too? Well, l declare that is
piece of luck"
And this time Pardon took no ex-
! captions to the obnoxious word
Saturday Night.