The Opelousas courier., 1892-08-13

IILSf AGA " ~
time. An who's goin' to cook an wash
an scrub for me. I'd like to knows'
ssNot Irene, I guess said old Mrs.
Simmons, who stood by the gate.
..Irene's got sort o tried o. rne way you
manage matters, Deacon Parsons"
s.But." suffered the deacon, eth
| cost me a dollar an a harf a week to get
Nancy Nutting here"
II shouldn't wonder" said Mrs. Sim
mons.
"I guess" snarled Parsons4 e'IransU
find I've got a word to say en- this -
question"
But Irene had more spirit than he had
given her credit for.
give got to have Clothes" said shei
stan' I've got to earn a little money o.
nv own. And Pm goin' to earn 1t Till
way"
"You hain't no business in that house
nor on that land" snarled the old man.
"unless you rent it of me-"
"It's my mothers land, not yoursf
flashed out Irene.
"And I'm your guardeen till you're
'twenty.one!"
"Not legallys" cried Irene.
oval, if you want to take It into th'
law courts, I'm willin'," said Parsons,
~ guess you'll find out I'm right. Ane
what's more, I leased that land las
week for five years, to Squire Holland
son. He's a notion to 60 into the to
b~acco~raisin' business"
"But," gasped Irene. "Ive papered
the house and painted it, and furnished
it! And my city boarders are coming
next weekp
81 can't help that" chuckled Par
sons. "You might a-took counsel with
me. But look a-here, Irene. 1 don't
want to see ye cornered. You can LET
your boarders come here to this house.
It's q deal colnfortahlaE an, more siahtl'
than The otner one, and the hay hauds
can hev them little chambers in the barn
loft. Thar's room for all of en-"
"And will you sRlnw me for m!
work2" eagerly questioned Irene.
"Ill allow ye your board an clothes,
said the hinty-hearted old man. "An
that's all ye're with"
"No," said Irene, firmly. '1f | an
to be your maid of-ali-work, father, ]
must have a maid of-all-works wages
"Well ye won't!" indifferently spok'
Deacon Parsons, as he put his clay pip
on the windowsill.
And as he watched Irene go out oil thu
room, he muttered to himself:
81 guess I've got her this time"
Quietly and silently, like n smitte
by a deadly blow, the girl put on he
hat and walked quietly up the dust.
road to the old farmhouse where he
mother had been born.
The windows were all open, the prett
muslin curtains futtered in the wind, tn
cinnamon roses were all in bloom.
IN the kitchen th~Gscarpenter was put
ting up the last wooden shelves. Mis-
Merritt was hanging buff linen shade
in the parlor window.
Irene stood at the foot Of the garden
path, dreading to go in and tell her hoV
the deacon had frustrated all their plan
by his willy Vaccinations.
Just at that moment there came
quick, elastic tread down the road.
was Harry ToIland himself-the youn
fellow newly returned from Montreal.
"Irene!" he cried, gaily. sis it you
Well, what do you think of my ne
speculatioR, eh2 Halloa! Why. there
some one living in the housed You
father never told me-
"a woman was planning to take sun
inner boarders," said Irene, in a choke
voice. "Women hain't many ways {
earnIn' a Twin, you know"
"Well, she'll have to earn hers som
other way" said Tolland, lightly. CIV
leased this land and I'm going to live
this house. And l want you to live ther
with me. Don't start SO, Irene" passin
his arm caressingly around her poor llttI
calieo-clad waist. "I've always love
!, you since I was a boy, and I've alwa!
looked forward to this time. Will yo
marry me Irene2 Well buy the furn
ture of the boarding-hous keeper, if
suits you, dear. / don't want any poo
soul to lose money through me, aud we
move right in. Come, dearest, let US 6
through our own house togetherW
For her head had fallen OF b
, shoulder. She had burst into an Apl
. storm Of SMILES and tears.
"oh," she cried, cit seems as il
must be dreaming! Do you love m
Harrya Do you really care for poo
stupid, insignificant me2"
ST love you, Irene," he answered sir
1 ply. "Don't / tell you that ] alwa
loved youa"
"Then, Harry" she whispered, 81
$ me tell you a secret. I'm the boardin
house keeper"
e And she confided to his astonisht
2 ears the whole story of her venture.
e aAnd you must let me &c or all t
same, Harry" coaxed she. "Becau
you know, dear, we're young people ju
70 beginning the world, and l want to co
tribute my share. And Miss Merritt b
{ assisted me, and she must be paid. An
/ oh, Harry, ! shall be SO proud to
9 something TO help-my husbandl"
, .For the sake of those two swt
words you shall have your own way, n
darling" SAID young Holland, exu
: ingly, tBut, Irene, what a plucky g
you are, to be sure. Do you know I
proud Of your
Z The city boarders were rather 81
g prised when they arrived, in the purT
{ dusk Of a lovely July evening" In
< the negotiations nothing had been 81
g about Mr.. Holland.
81 didn't know there was a mar
the house, said Mrs. De Poyntz.
aWhy, of course there isl" said NJ