Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-01-13

/ boardcrs? Why, we've got boarders
here, hain't we? Four on 'em, for haydn
time. An who's goin' to cook an wash
an scrub for me. I'd like to know2"
"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, "it'll
I cost me dollar an a harf week to get
Nancy Nutting here"
81 shouldn't WONDER" said Mrs. Sim
mons.
81 guess" snarled Parsons, "Irene'll
find I've got a word to say on this 'ere
question:"
But Irene had more spirit than he had
given her credit for.
sIve 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,
"unless you rent it of me-"
"It's my mothers land, not yours"
flashed out Irene.
"And I'm your guardeen till you're
twenty one!'
"Not legally?" cried Irene.
oval, if you want to take it into the
law courts, Pm willin'," said Parsons.
81 guess you'll find out I'm right And
what's more, leased that land last
week for five years, to Squire Hollands
son. He's notion to go into the to-
! baccO- raisin' business"
"But," gasped Irene, "Tve papered
the house and painted it, and furnished
it! And my city boarders are coming
next week"
81 can't help that" chuckled Par
! sons. ''You might a-took counsel with
me. But look a-here, Irene. I don't
want to see ye corneredv You can let
| your boarders come here to this house.
It's deal cornfortabler 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
work." eagerly questioned Irene.
"I'll allow ye your board an clothes"
said the finty-hearted old man. can
that's all ye're with"
NO." said Irene, firmly. eff an
to be your aid-of-all-work, father, l
must have maid -of-all- works wages"
"Weil, ye won't!" indifferently spoke
Deacon Parsons, as he put his clay pipe
on the windowsill.
And as he watched Irene 60 out Of the
room, he muttered to himself:
81 guess I've got her this time"
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 futtered 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 plaas
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.
"Irone" he cried, gaify. sis it you?
Well, what do you think of my new
speculation, eh? Halloa! Why, there's
some one living in the house! 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"
"Wen, she'll have 10 earn hers some
other way" said Holland, lightly. "Ive
leased this land and I'm going to live in
this house. And 1 want you to live there
with me. Don't start SO, Irene" passing
his arm caressingly around her poor little
calico-cl waist. 1--WE always loved
you since was a 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, and we'll
move right il. Come, dearest, let US 60
through our own house together!"
For her head had fallen on his
shoulder. She had burst into an April
storm of smiles and tears.