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

boardcrss Why, we've got boardcrs
here, hain'twe2 Four on 'om, for haydn
time. An who's goin' to cook an'wash
an scrub for me. I'd like to KNOWN
"Not Irene, guess" said old 5frs.
Simmons, who stood by the cato.
"Irene's got sort O. tried O. the way you
manage matters, Deacon Parsons"
"But,n suffered tho deacon, ssit'll
cost me dollar an a hRrf week to got
Nancy Nutting here"
81 shouldn't WONDER" said Mrs. Sim
mons.
81 guess" suarled Parsons, "Ircno'll
find I've got word to say on this 'erc
question"
But Irene had moro spirit than he had
given her credit for.
"I've got to have Clothes" said she,
can I've got to earn little money of
my own. And Pm goin' to earn it this
way" 8
"You hain't no business in that house
nor on that land," snarled the old mau,
"unless you rent it of me-"
"It's my mothers land, not yours7"
flashed out Irene.
"Aud Pm your guardeon till you're
twenty-onel"
"Not legally2" cried Irene.
'.Wal, if you want 10 take it into the
law courts, Pm williu'," said Parsons
"Iguess you'll find out I'm right. Aud
what's more, 1 leased that land last
week for five years, to Squire Hollands
son. He's notion to go into the to.
bacco- raisin' business"
IlDuf va,oad Tsooo ttY,.o
the house and painted it, and furnished
it'll And my city boarders are coming
next weehi"
al cau't help that" chuckled Par
sons. "You might a. took counsel with
me. But look a-here, Irene. 1 don't
want tosee ye cornered. You can let
your boardcrs come here to this house.
It's deal coinfortabler an moro slightly
than the other one, aud the hay hands
can hev them little chambers in the barn
loft. Thar's room for all of em."
"And will you allow me for my
work2" eagerly questioned Irene.
"I'll allow ye your board an clothes, !"
said the hinty-hearted old man. can
that's all yo're wuth."
NO." said Irene, firmly. "If 1 am
to be your maid-of-all- work, father, 1
must have maid of-all- work's wages. {"
"Well, ye wont!" indifferently spoke
Deacon Parsons, rs he put his clay pipe
ON the windowsill.
Aud as he watched Irene 60 out of the
room, he muttcred to himself:
81 guess I've got her this time"
Quietly and silently, like one smitten
by deadly blow, the girl put ON her
hat aud walked quietly up tho dusty
road to the old farmhouse where her
mother had been born.
The windows were all open, tho pretty
muslin curtains futtcred in the wind, the
| cinnamon roses were all 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 n
quick, elastic tread down the road 1t
was Harry Tolland himself-the young
fellow newly returned from Montreal.
''Ircne!" he cried, gaily. sis it you7
Well, what do you think of my new
speculation, chi Halloal Why, there's
some one living in the housed Your
father never told me-
ga woman was planning to take sum
mer boardcrs," said Ireno, in a chokcd
voice. "Women hain't many ways of
earnin' n Twin, you know"
tflUolI l.o.. - 49,.
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 carcssingly 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, Irenef Well buy the furni-
turc of the boarding housc keeper, if it
suits you, dear. don't want any poor
soul to lose money through me, and we'll
move right in. Come, dearest, let us go
through our own house togethcrl"
For her head had fallen on his
shoulder. She hal burst into al April
storm of smiles and tears.
"Oh," she cried, ait seems as il 1
must be dreamingl Do you love me,
Harry Do you really care for poor,
stupid, Insignificant me7"
al love you, Irenc," he answered sim
ply "Don't 1 tell you that 1 always
loved youl"
"Thcn, Harry" she whispered, 'slct
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 90 ON all the
same, Hsrry!" coaxcd she. "Bccausc
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, / shall be so proud to do
something to help--my husbandl"
"For the sake of those two sweet
words you shall have your own way, my
darling" SAID young Holland, exult-
ingly, .''But, Irene, what plucky girl
you are, to be sure. Do you know I'm
proud of you'll"