Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-02-28

crying.
"FOr we have got TO look after things
very close this winter" she said.
Father seems to have no energy at all
since John james died. 1 am afraid
IL will end III the farm being sold to
clear oil the mortgage"
Fanny opened her big, black eyes.
''But we must live somewhere, Par
DON" she said.
"You and / can go out to service"
said Pardon. "As for father, there is the
poor-house."
Fanny uttered wall OF despair.
mo, no. dear; don't look so dis
trcssed, said the elder sister, repeating
the rashness Of her speech. II don't re-
ally mean IL, I'm cross, that is all. It's
hard doing the work Of hired man,
servant girl and housel1eeper all in one.
| shall feel better tomorrow after I've
had nights sleep. | haven't got TO
get up carly and milk poor old Pink
any more"
And once again the sisters mingled
their tears.
If father had only mended
those bars" said Fanny. at was so UNI
lucky"
But Pardon put her hand over her
sisters lips.
mot that word Fanny" said she. ere
member 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 postotilce
to see if the mail was in. VIII en-
Squire Etting crossed the threshold.
Father amt to hum, eh?" said no.
"Well, reckon can talk things over
just as woll with you, Pardon"
What things?" said Pardon, dis
tIustfully.
That there slIatin' rink, down by
the lake" said Mr. Etting, "that John
James built. It's goin' TO DC good
hard winter If there's any trutj in
signs, and I've notion To buy ire con-
Germ, just as it stands, md run the rink
myself. The land belonged TO your
mothers estate, and l s'pose you and
the gal here have the right to sell it,"
"Yes," said Pardon, her eyes fixed
quietly on the squire's wooden visage.
What will you give for it?"
oval, T. amt with so dreadful
much. eaid the squire, evasively. "Say
q hundred dollars for the building and
two acres o. land
Pardon shook her head.
II won't sell it for that" said she,
decidedly.
IL dunno what you want to keep it
for" said the squire, irritably. Your
father he amt got the go 20 run "a
skating rink
II know that said Pardon. firmly,
1.lN L ,,,tn L.. 81 oil
the same"
The squire stamped out OF the room
in rage.
Then drive better bargain with
somebody else, il you cam" said he,
viciously.
Pardon, Pardon!" whispered Fam
ny, close to her elbow, "call him back!
A hundred dollars is n great great sum
of moneyw
No" said Pardon. 81 will not call
him back. Let me think~
"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 bingham sun.
! bonnet that afternoon and went over to
the Merritt farm. Joel Merritt was
just driving through the big gates with
n load OF wood.
I'm SO sorry said Joel, courteous
! ly lifting his cap. Mother has gone
over TO q quilting-hee 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 / came to
see, Joel" said she. II wanted to
speak to your
Joel jumped Off the load, threw the
roins on old Sorrcls back, and came up
to he;', with a countenance OF some sur
prise. A.
"Me?" he repeated, reddening a 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.
GLOW would you like, Joel, TO go into
| partnership with me?'
with you, Pardon?"
He caught his breath.
"Yes," frankly spoke the girl "Ol
all our neighbors / think you are the
most honest and reliable. I've known
you ever since we were children togeth-
or and"
"Say not another word, Pardonl''
joyously cried tho 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
mel 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 1 nny be sure I'm not
dreamingw
But to his dismay Pardon struggled to
free herself and began 10 cry impetu-
ously.
Ill don't know what you meant
said she. LET me go, Joel Merritt"
"But, Pardon, You said YOURSELF"