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

1 0Oh hhOW Whl hOS1 ouiN WIZ
school teacher, reaectively.
| "Whatl" roared old Medad Parsons,
when the first load of furniture passed
under the willows along the road be-
yond his doorway; "Irene furnishin' up
that old ramshackle shell of house for
boardcrs9 Why, we've got boarders
here, hain't WEI Four on 'em, for hayin'
time. An who's goin' to cook an wash
an scrub for me. I'd like to know9"
"Not Irene, l guess" said old Mrs.
Simmons, who stood by the gate.
"Ircnes got sort o. tried O. the way you
manage matters, Deacon Parsons"
"But," suffered the deacon, sit'll
cost me dollar an harf week to get
Nancy Nutting here"
81 shouldn't WONDER" said Mrs. Sim
mons.
''I guess" snarled Parsons, sIrene'll
find I've got word to say on this ERE
question"
But Irene had more spirit than he had
given her credit for.
"I've got to have Clothes" said she,
"an' 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 guardeen till you're
twenty-onei"
"Not legally9" cried Irene.
| "Wal, if you want to take IL into the
law courts, Pm willin'," said Parsons.
"I guess you'll find out I'm tight. And
what's more, / leased that land last
week for five years, to Squire Tolland's
son. He's a notion to go into the to-
bacco- -raisin' business"
"But," gasped Irene, "Tve papered
the house and painted it, and furnished
it'll And my city boarders are coming
next weeki"
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 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 flinty- hearted old man. SAN
that's all ye're wuth."
"No,H said Irene, firmly. "It I am
to be your maid-of-all- father,
must have maid-of-all-works wages"
"Well, ye won'tl" 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 a 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 1uttered in the wind, the
cinnamon roses wero 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
quick, elastic tread down the road. 1t
was Harry Tolland himself-the young
fellow newly returned from Montreal.
"Irenel" he cried, gaily. "Is it you3
Well, what do you think OF my new
speculation, eh3 Halloa Why, there's
some one living in the housel Your
father never told me-"
ga woman was planning to take sum-
mer boarders," said Irene, in a 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. "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. "Tve always loved
you since / was boy, and I've always
looked forward to this time. Will you
marry me, Irene9 Well buy the furni-
ture Of the boarding house keeper, if it
suits you, dear. 1 don't want any poor
soul to lose money through me, aud 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,
HarryG Do you really care for poor,
stupid, Insignificant me9"
81 love you, Irene," he answered sim
ply. "Don't 1 tell you that l always
loved you9"
"Then, Harry" she whispered, ''let
me tell you a secret. I'm the boarding
house keeper"
And she confided to his astonished
ears the whole story of her venture.
Sand you must lei me 60 on all the
same, Tarry" 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 husbandp
"For the sake of those two sweet
words you shall have your own way, my
darling" sand young Holland, exult-
ingly, ''But, Irene, what plucky girl