The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-06-25

| time. An who's goin 70 cook an wash
an scrub for me. Id like TO knowf"
.Not Irene, guess" said old Mrs.
Simmons, who stood by the gate.
.'Irene's got sort o. tried O the way you
manage matters, Deacon Parsons.
aBnt,r suffered the deacon, s'it'll
cost me 4 dollar an harf q week to get
Nancy Nutting here"
81 shouldn't wonder" said Mrs. Sim
mons.
81 guess" enarled Parsons, '.Irene'll
find I've got word to say on this ere
question"
But Irene had more spirit than he had
given her credit for.
4.I've got to have clothes" said she.
Fan I've got to earn little money Of
my own. And I'm goin' to earn it this
| way"
stYou hain't no business 10 tnat house
nor on that land" snarled the old man,
s.unless you rent it Of me.
1 ''It's my mothers land, not yoursi"
flashed out Irene.
"And Pm your guaricea till you're
twenty-onei"
i moi legaliyt crleu irene.
/ "Wal, il you want TO take it into the
law courts, Pm willin'," said Parsons.
81 guess you'll find out I'm right. And
what's more, | leased that land last
week for five years, to Squire Tollard's
son. He's notion to go into the to-
bacco-raisin' business"
"But,' gasped Irene. ''rve papered
the house and painted it, and furnished
It'll And my city boarders are coming
next week J"
II can't help that" chuckled Par
sons. '.You might a-took counsel with
me. But look a.here, Irene. don't
want to see ye cornered. You can let
! your boarders come here to this house.
It's deal cotnfortabler an more slightly
than the other one, and the hay hands
can hev them little chambers in the barn
loft. Thar's room for all of EN-. Z
| Sand will you allow me for my
work." eagerly questioned Irene.
| arm allow ye your board an clothes, "
said the fiinty-hearted old man. "An'
that's all ye're with"
.sNo," said Irene, firmly. s1f am
to be your maid of-all-work, father,
must have maid of ALI works wages. !"
.sWeil, 70 won'tl" indifferently spoke
Deacon Parsons, as he put his clay pipe
on the windowsill.
And as he watched Irene 90 out Of the
room, he muttered TO himself:
II guess I've got her this time.
Quietly and silently, like one smitten
by deadly blow, the girl put on her
hat and walked quietly up the dusty
road to the old farmhouse where her
mother had been born.
1 The windows were all open, the pretty
muslin curtains fluttered in the wind, the
cinnamon roses were all In bloom.
In the kitchen the carpenter was put
ting up the last wooden shelves. Miss
Merritt was hanging buff linen shades
in the parlor window.
Irene stood at the foot of the garden
path, dreading to go in and tell her how
the deacon had frustrated all their plans
by his willy Vaccinations.
Just at that moment there came a
quick, elastic tread down the road. It
was Harry Holland himself-the young
fellow newly returned from Montreal.
, s'Irenelp he cried, gaily. ''ls it youi
Well, what do you think of my new
speculation, ehf Halloa! Why, there's
some one living in the house! Your
, father never told me-
"A woman was planning to take sum
mer boarders," said Irene, in choked
voice. "Women hain't many ways Of
earnln livin', you know"
swell, she'll have to earn hers some
other way" said Tolland, lightly. ''Ive
| leased this land and Pm going to live in
7 this house. And want youto live there
with me. Don't start so, Irene" passing
his arm caressingly around her poor little
t calico-clad waist. ave always loved
you since was boy, and I've always
t looked forward to this time. Will you
$ marry me, Irenel Well buy the furni.
ture Of the boarding house keeper, if il
e suits you. dear. don't want any poor
u sorl to lose money through me, and wei
e move right in. Come, dearest, let Us &C
l. through our own house together!"
For her head had fallen on hi!
&c shoulder. She had burst into an Apr
storm of smiles and tears.
t "Oh, she cried, cit seems as II
i. must be dreamingl Do you love me,
to Harry2 DIP you really care for poor
o stupid, Insignificant met"
~ love you, Irene," he answered sim
ply. "Don't | tell you that l always
i loved youa"
"Then, Harry" she whispered, ale
20 me tell you secret I'm the boarding
q house keeper" \l.~
re And she confided to his astonishet
g ears the whole story of her venture.
* "And you must let me go on all tn
We same, Harry" coaxed she. "Becaus
ur you know, dear, we're young people JUS
beginning the world, and want to con
tribute my share. Aud Miss Merritt ha
rst assisted me, and she must be paid. And
s oh, Harry, l shall be SO proud to d
he Snufnfhino Nn baln hT,ahap1l1