The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-07-13

time. An who's goin' to cook an wash
an scrub for me. I'd like to know9"
"Not Irene, 1 guess" said old Mrs.
Simmons, who stood by the gate.
'Irene's got sort o. tried O. the way you
manage matters, Deacon Parsons"
"But," suffered the deacon, 'it'll
cost me dollar an harf week to get
Nancy Nutting here"
al shouldn't WONDER" said Mrs. Sim
mons.
'I guess" snarled Parsons, 'Irene1l
find I've got word to say on this 'ere
question"
But Irene had more spirit than he had
given her credit for.
"Ive got to have Clothes" said she,
'tan' I've got to earn little money of
my own. And Pm goin' to earn it this
way"
"You hain't no business in that house
nor on that land" snarled the old man,
sunless you rent it of me-"
"It's my mothers land, not yours2"
| flashed out Irene.
"And Pm your guarieen till you're
twenty -oneW
"Not legally9" cried Irene.
oval, if you want TO take it into the
law courts, Pm willin'," said Parsons.
"I guess you'll find out I'm tight. And
what's more, l leased that land last
week for five years, to Squire Tolland's
son. He's notion to go into the to-
bacco- raisin' business"
"But," gasped Irene, "I've papered
the house and painted it, and furnished
it'll And my city boarders are coming
next weekl"
81 can't help that" chuckled Par.
sons. "You might a-took counsel with
me. But look a-here, Irene. l don't
want to see ye cornered. You can let
your boarders come here to this house.
It's deal coinfortabler 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-"
"And will you allow me for my
work3" eagerly questioned Irene.
''I'll allow ye your board an Clothes"
said the finty- y-hearted old man. San
that's all ye're wuth."
"No," said Irene, firmly. "If I am
to be your maid -all-work, father, l
must have q maid-of-all- wages"
"Well, ye wont" indifTerently spoke
Deacon Parsons, as he put his clay pipe
on the windowsill.
And as he watched Irene go out Of the
room, he muttered to himself:
"I 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 tho dusty
road to the old farmhouse where her
mother had been born.
The windows were all open, the pretty
muslin curtains futtered in the wind, the
| cinnamon roses wer Ill 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. 1t
was Harry Tolland himself-the young
fellow newly returned from Montreal.
"Irene!" he cried, gaily. sis it you1
Well, what do you think of my new
speculation, eh3 Halloal Why, there's
some one living in the house! Your
father never told me-"
"a woman was planning to take sum-
mer boarders," said Ireno, in a choked
voice. "Women hain't many ways of
earnln' livin', you know"
"Well, she'll have to earn hers some
other way" said Tollaud, lightly. "I've
leased this land and I'm going to live in
this house. And l want you to live there
with me. Don't start so, Irene" passing
his arm caressingly around her poor little
calico-clad waist. "Pve always loved
you since was boy, and I've always
looked forward to this time. Will you
marry me, Irenel Well buy the furni-
ture of the boarding house keeper, if it
suits you, dear. l don't want any poor
soul to lose money through me, and wen
move right in. Come, dearest, let us go
through our own house togetherl"
For her head had fallen on his
shoulder. She had burst into an April
storm of smiles and tears.
"Oh," she cried, sit seems as il l
must be dreamingl Do you love me,
Harry3 Do you really care for poor,
stupid, Insignificant me2"
~ love you, Irene, he answered sim
ply. "Don't l tell you that always
loved you3"
"Then, Harry" she whispered, ''let
me tell you a secret, I'm the boarding.
house keeper"
And she confded to his astonished
ears the whole story of her venture.
"And you must let me go on all the
same, Harryl" coaxed she. "Because
you know, dear, we're young people just
beginning the world, and want to con-
tribute my share. Aud Miss Merritt has
assisted me, and she must be paid. And,
oh, Harry, shall be 50 proud to do
something to help-my husband"
"For the sake of those two sweet
words you shall have your own way, my
darling" sald young Holland, exult-
ingly, "But, Irene, what a plueky girl
you are, to be sure. Do you know Pm
proud of you'll"
The city boarders were rather sur
prised when they arrived, in the purple
dusk OF lovely July evening. In all