Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-08-05

boardcrsi Why, we've got boarders
here, hain't wet -Four on 'cm, for hayin'
time. An who's goin' to cook an wash
an scrub for me. I'd like to know7"
"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"
"But," suffered the deacon, eth
cost me dollar an harf week to got
Nancy Nutting here"
III shouldn't WONDER" said Mrs. Sim
mons.
81 guess" snarled Parsons, "Irono'll
find I've got a word to say on this 'ero
question"
But Irene had moro spirit than he had
given her credit for.
eve got to have clothes" said she,
''an' I've got to earn a little money of
my own. And Pm goin' to earn it this
way" 4
"You hain't no business in that house
nor on that land" snarlod the old man,
sunless you rent it of me-"
cts my mothers land, not yours2"
| flashed out Ireuo.
"Aud Pm your guarleon till you're
twenty -onei"
"Not legally3" cried Irene.
"Wal, if you want TO take it into the
law courts, Pm willin'," said Parsons.
az guess you'll find out I'm right. And
what's moro, 1 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, "rve paperei
tho house and painted it, aud furnished
it'll Aud my city boarders are coming
next wcek"
az can't help that" chucklcd 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 deal coinfortabler an more slightly
than the other one, and the hay, hands
can hev thom little chambers in the barn
loft. Thar's room for all Of em."
"And will you allow me for my
worls" eagerly questioned Irene.
''I'll allow ye your board an Clothes"
said the flinty-hearted old man. ''An'
that's all ye're with"
"No," said Irene, firmly. "If 1 am
to be your maid-of-all-work, father, 1
must have maid of-all- work wages"
swell, ye wontl" indiffercntly spoke
Deacon Parsons, rs he put his clny pipe
on the windowsill.
Aud as he watched Irene 20 out of tho
room, he muttered to himself:
al guess I've got her this time"
Quietly and silently, like one smittcn
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.
The windows were all open, the pretty
muslin curtains duttcred in the wind, the
cinnamon roses were all In bloom.
| In the kitchen the carpenter was put
ting up the Inst 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
tho deacon had frustrated oil their plans
by his willy Vaccinations.
Just at that moment there came Il
quick, elastic tread down tho road. 1t
was Harry Tolland himself-thc young
fellow newly returned from Montreal.
"Irenel" he cried, gaily. SIS it you2
Well, what do you think of my new
speculation, eh2 Halloal Why, there's
some one living in the housed Your
father never told me"
"a woman was planning to take sum-
mer boardcrs," said Ireno, in chokcd
voice. "Women hain't many ways of
earnln' Twin, you know"
"Well, she'll have to earn hers some
other way" said Tolland, lightly. "I've
leased this land aud Pm going to live in
this house. And want you to live there
with me. Don't start SO, Irene" passing
his arm caressingly around her poor little
calico-clad waist. "I've always loved
you since 1 was boy, and I've always
looked forward to this time. Will you
marry me, Irene2 Well buy the furni-
turc of the boarding house keeper, if it
suits you, dear. don't want any poor
soul to lose money through o,and we'll
move right in. Come, dearest, let us 60
through our own house togetherl"
For her head had fallen on his
shoulder. She hal burst into an April
storm of smiles and tears.
"Oh," she cried, sit seems aa il 1
must be dreaningl Do you love me,
Harry Do you really care for poor,
stupid, insignificant me2"
II love you, Irene," he answered sim
ply. ''Don't tell you that always
loved you?"
"Then, Harry" she whispered, 'lot
me tell you secret. I'm the boarding.
house keeper"
And she confdcd to his astonished
cars the whole story of her venture.
"And you must let me 20 on all the
same, Harry!" coaxed she. "Becausc
you know, dear, we're young people just
beginning the world, and want to con-
tribute my share. And Miss Merritt has
assisted me, and she must be paid. And,
oh, Harry, l shall be SO proud to do
something to help-my husbandl"
"For the sake of those two sweet
words you shall havo your own way, my
darling" SAID young Holland, exult-
ingly. "But, Irene, what plucky girl
you are, to be sure. Do you know Pm
proud of you'll"