Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-09-19
DEACON MANNING,s WIFE.
NJ MARY O. VAUGHAN.
W ell, ! declare!

Well, / declared
The exclamation popped out like a shot
and then the lady pursed her lips and shu,
her mouth uncommonly tight, and folded
her hands, and turned up her eyes till The
white eyeballs glared. and went through
the entire pantomime of exaggerated ns
tonishment, wonder and horror combined.
Aud SO silence fell. broken only by the
slight rustlDg of paper. -s -.
1t was the letter shaking in Deacon
Manping's hand, as, peeting anxlously
through his spectacles, he read it second
and third time. The Deacon was a little,
timid, mouse like man, with thin hair, fee.
ble blue eyes, pallid face. aud attenuated
frame. He was sickly man, and his wife
complained, sometimes, of having to play
the part of nurse to his often infirmities' a
good deal more than was convenient. He
seemed TO be living under protest. as in de.
ference to necessity, though against the
lady's wishes twas so long since he had
dared 10 call his soul bis owu,' that he,
and many of his neighbors, had begun to
entertain faint do BITS as to whether be
possessed one at all. .aa.. ,.ls .
Mrs. Manning had no such doubts, It is
to be presumed since she often spoke with
pious resignation of the time when she
should be bereaved widow, aud the Doa
con happy 10 Heaven, 4
The Deacon had been happier on earth
than be was at present; but it was in his
first wife's time--the wife of his youth.
Since the present Mrs. Manning reigned
over bis, household, he bad been gradually
sinking into a nonentity-so that it he did
not greatly enjoy life. he neither greatly
suffered, except from such physical ills as
his frail health brought upon him.
1t was fortunate that this could be so;--
even Herbert Manning, the Deocon's only
son. had long admitted this, and found in
it bis only consolation after long series OF
annoying and irritating events had made
him almost a stranger beneath the rool
that had sheltered his-nfancy.
The Deacon had not always been what
he now was. 10 his younger days be had
possessed courage. both moral and physical,
and had displayed both on occasion. But,
like many other infatuated old monarchs.
be had tossed bis sceptre into the lap ol
youth and beauty; the fair hands had
clasp j the bsnble close, aud he had never
been able TO regain it.
He bod never been quite himself from
the hSur that made Mira. Hepsibab Lupiu
bis wife, and installed ber, with her three
children and the awinl memory of her de
ceased doctor. in his quiet household.
Decon Manning was only farmer
whereas the departed Lupin bad been ,
professional man. The lady thought sht
had made descent in the social scale, anC
essayed to make up for 1t by added dignity
She scorned the insinuations OF certain bas,
parties, whe ayerred that she had been
easily won TO exchange TIE meagrs poverty
of her widowed household for the overflow
ing affuence of the great farm house. tt
show that luxury was familiar to her. Gh,
administered affairs in her new home righ
royalty. end affected to feel contempt fol
the homsly ways and appliances Of sh'
household. .-...,-...,,..- .,..,
Nevertheless, she had 'an eye to tn,
main chance;' for though she installed hei
own darlings into her home as il Of right
shs soon complained that big boy likl
Herbert. who bad by that time resche,
his fourteenth year, was quite old enough
to earn bis own living, in part, st least !
aud since the boy showed no inclination 70
the pursuits Of agriculture, she gave tb,
Deacon no peace until be had found
place for bis son in store where he was I,
have bis board, and an Insignificant som o
money, 10 payment for bis services. .,,.s 8
Thus while yet mere child. the heir O
the psaeons 6ns estate ives thrust out Q