Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-07-15


and worst behaved boy in school, had
bccn let off from his diurnal half hours
detention, under solemn bonds of never
offending again In the bent pin aud spit
ball question, aud Miss Merritt was
drawing long sigh of relief, when the
door flew open with jerk, and Ircuc
Evans came in, carrying bundle of
books.
Miss Merritt opened her eyes.
"Why, Irene, thought you must be
sick, said she. "You have not been in
school for two days.
Irene was tall and sbapely, with large
blue eyes, black hair growing low on her
brows. and very red checks. Her calico
gown fitted her badly, aud the ribbons
on her coarse straw hat were faded in the
sun, and spotted by many u shower.
NO" said she, jerking out the
words somewhat rs she had jerked open
the door, 81 amt sick. But amt
comm to school any mere. Father, he
says it's waste O. time"
sob, Ircne!"
The girl sat down on one of the hacked
and whitfield benches and burst into
tears.
eff knew anywhere to run" said
she, "Pd run away. Yes, 1 would
Father don't treat me more'n half de-
cent, and he hain't, since mother died.
amt nothin' but drudge, and haiu't
no clothes to wear, and he won't pay me
cent wages, beg and implore rs will.
And I'd sort o set my heart on takin'
summer borders this year, like Ellen
Holt did last season, but he says he's
hired extra farm hands, an" 1've got to
cook for 'em for nothiu'. Oh, Miss Mer-
rift, what shall do2"
Miss Merritt smoothcd down the black,
crinkly hair with kindly touch, as she
stood over the girls dropping form.
"But, Irene" said she, ''if he puts all
this additional work upon you,he surely
should allow you some of the profits"
Irene gave short laugh.
"Catch him!" said she. ''Hc Just
won't!"
"Ireno," said Miss Merritt, s'havcn't
always heard that half the farm was
yoursa"
st was mother's," said Irene. "He
was only mothers second husband, YOU
know, and their farms joined It's mine
by will. But father he don't care moth
ing about wills"
"Isn't there an old house on the
placc2"
eyes," Irene answered. "But it ain t
so modern as the one we live in. Faith.
er's always talkin' about lcttin' it to
some O. them Swede farmers up north O.
here"
us it in tolcrablc repair2"
"For all 1 know it is" Irene an
swered.
"1'hen why don't you fit it up and go
into the boardcr business yourself2
You're eighteen and past, for all you're
so behind in your rule of three and geog-
raphy. And you are an excellent cook
and good housekceper, and you've
managed for Mr.. Parsons ever since your
mother died"
"Mc!' gasped Irene; "all alonel'
81 would come and be your first
boarder," said Miss Merritt. aMy pres.
ent home is too far to walk, now that the
warm weather has set in. / must make
come change"
"But amt got no furniture" said
the girl.
~ will lend you little toward that. "
smiled Miss Merritt. ~ can take it out
in board nfterward. Mating for the
floors, and cheap pine furniture cannot
cost much. City boarders care more
for fresh milk, plenty oil fruit and strict
cleanliness than they do for style"
Ireno's eves sDarkled.
"Two of the Jersey COWS is mine
said she. "And there's nm early straw
berry pasture on the side hill just beyond
the old house, and lots O. blackberry
tangles all along the river shore. Do
you think we could venture, Miss Mer.
ritz"
81 don't know why not" said tho
school teacher, refectively.
"What!" roared old Medad Parsons,
when the first load of furniture passed
under the willows along the road be-