Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-02-22
PARDON'S GOOD LUCK.
How She Proposed For and Secured a
Partner.

Partner.
Philosophers say that there-is no such
thing as luck. Asa Darwin thought
differently.
"My luck, exactly said he, despair
ingly. 81 might have known just how it
would be-
He sat on the old stone porch, star
ing out toward the sunset, his chair
tipped back on its two hind legs, his
hands thrust aimlessly into his trousers
pockets.
1t was cold enough to Justify the fire
of beech logs that was blazing on the
hearth in the room inside, where Par
don was lacking up the red moreen cur
tains that she had just sponged and
mended neatly; but it is not an easy
thing for Mr.. Darwin to reiinquish the
habit of outdoor lounging that had
chung TO him all the summer through.
''What is it, father?" said Pardon.
coming brisllly to the door with tack
hammer in one hand and ~ paper of
tacks in the other.
Jones has just gone by said Mr.
Darwin. "Ile says the old cow has got
out on the railroad track again
Pardon bit her red under lip.
Il told you she would, father" said
she, IF you didn't have those bars re-
paired"
And she's got run over" dolefully
added Darwin. I'm sure don't know
what we're doing TO do without COW.
We've always put a lot of dependence
on our milk. But i might have ex-
pected it. Luck has been sheer against
me ever since John James died. A man
with a house full of gals can't expect to
make no Roadway in the world
Pardon colored up.
You didn't expect your girls to
mend the bars. did you, father" asked
she, n little bitterly.
II was calculatin' TO speak to Tim
Parsons about gettin a new pair O.
posts put up" sighed the farmer.
Wouldn't il have been IA safer way
To put them up yourself, father?'
Il amt as young as | used TO be"
said Darwin evasively. And the
rheumatics is twistin' me powerful
these first cool DAYS"
Then" said Pardon, with "a certain
touch of daughterly authority in her
voice, ''you should come into the house
and not sit there, getting chilled
through, and then find fault with your
luck!'
Mr.. Darwin slowly rose and shuffied
into the bright little keeping room.
where Pardon had spread "a neatly
braided rug before the fire. and placed
broken-spouted pitcher of yellow
golden-rod on the table.
She looked after him with a sigh,
half of Impotence, half regret.
Il wish John James had lived" said
Mr.. Darwin, feebly.
$50 do H. assented Pardon.
"Ain't supper most ready?" said
the farmer, looking discontentedly
around.
1T will be in minute. said Pardon
81 had to split all the kindling my
self for the kitchen fire and Fanny has
run to Mrs. Merritt's for little meal
to make some hot corn bread
At the same moment Fanny returned,
"a slight overgrown girl of fourteen
breathless with the haste she has made.
Mrs. Merritt is very sorry" said
she, "but she hasn't any cornneal in
the house."
That's enough" said Pardon, grow
ing scarlet TO the roots of her hair
n don't blame her for getting tired of
lending things TO u.s."
but" added Fanny, "she sends a
pail of graham iour to make gems
Indeed. she's as kind as she can ber'
Pardon laughed Historically.
I'm getting as hard and bitter az a
sour persimmon," said she. "Yes. I'm
very glad of the Graham flour. Father
cant make out his supper without
something hot for relish Perhaps
some day use can return Mrs. Merritt S
kindnesses. BIN oh, Fanny. have you
heard? The red COW got out of the
pasture this afternoon and is killed on
the track
Fanny burst into tears
..Old Pinky!~ she exclaimed. us
there no end 10 our bad luck?"
Pardon stamped her pretty, ill-shod
foot impatiently on the floor.
''Luckr' she repeated. Don't use
that dreadful word! ] believe father
would be better and happier man to-
day IL it wasn't in the dictionary at all
There isn't any such thing as luck. It's
all bad management. 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.
glittering hazel eyes. red-brown hair
and one OF those delicate compilations
where the sun la~s its touch in the
shape OF here nd 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,
il had been generous TO them in the
matter of personal attributes.
They made their frugal supper Of