The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-08-31
room windows, dust the cheers, and
let him in, and tell him I'll be there
in q jiffy. And mind you, come
straight back; don't you stand gabbin'

let him III, and tell him III De tnere
in O jiffy. And mind you, come
straight back; don't you stand gabbin'
to him.
Jemimy departed OH her errand;
and the widow pulled down her
sleeves, washed her hands, and
smoothed her "front piece" to meet
the deacon.
Jemimy reappeared.
"Well, what did he say"'
"He wants to see you; and ! guess
it is something particular for his face
is sorter long.
ia me! It must be it! How fluster-
ed feel! Hand me the camphor,
Jemimy; is my cap straight? Sakes
alive! How astonished the folks will
be. If you should hear me sore am,
Jemimy, you needn't come into the
room;n and the widow entered the
presence Of the deacon.
"La, deacon, good morning. Your
comm took me all aback; not ex-
pecting you, you see."
"NO; the notion took me sudden
like. never should have dared to do
it II Zeb hadn't put me up to it. He
said you wouldn't refuse me, so /
thought I'd try. Powerful fine hay
weather."
eyes" She didn't relish getting so
far from the subject, and turned the
conversation back. 81 hadn't an idea
Of it, Deacon"
"No, suppose not. We can't see
what is working into each others
minds. But, let's come to the pint,
widow. Will you let me have
"Stop, stop, deacon. | feel faint"
"Don't take Oh 80. / know it's a
great favor; but 1 will be very kind
~ know it deacon! Iknow it!n
"And take the best care in the
world"
20 deacon, dear deacon"
"And money is no consideration"'
GAS if it could be, deacon, / have
plenty ofmy own."
'Then / may have it?N
eyes, dear deacon, it is yours for
life" and she laid her skinny hand in
his.
The deacon looked startled but said:
"I'll send Zeb to drive her home.'
"What!n shouted the widow, in q
tone that made him jump up, and
snap the back off the chair. "What
will you send Zeb to drive homer"
"Why," faltered he, "what you
have just promised me; the Alderney
calGn
"The Alderney calf! You sleek
faced hypocrite, how dare you say Sc!
How dare you insult a poor lone wo-
man in her own house? How dare
you break her heart, and then sneak
out Of it! o, you villain! You base
hearted villain! l shall die! shall
die! Jemimy! Jemimy!"
But Jemimy obeyed orders, and en-
joyed the scene, with her eye'glued to
the key.hole.
The widow sobbed under her apron.
The deacon looked ill, and began in
a shaky voice: "My dear Mrs. Jen-
kins, you misunderstood--n
"How dare you dear Mrs. Jenkins
me? How dare you talk of 'misun-
derstanding?' 1 understood enough.
| understand you are base deceiver,
a black hearted thief, who would steal
a poor woman's happiness! Out of
my house, you wretch!"
The deacon didn't wait for the al
tentative. The sight of q poker wav-
ing in the air overcame his inertia so
quick, that before it could descend,
the door closed between him and the
widow, and he had "done'' half the
distance between her and his home.
Zeb met him at the gate, but he DASH
ed him aside, ard went to his own
room, where he sat behind locked
and bolted door till night let her sable
curtain down. Then he ventured out
and told his tale to Ieb, who heard it
with grin, and handed him bill
which the widow had sent over for
the broken chair. The deacon paid it
with sigh; and that night at prayers
he dwelt at length on the tenth COM
rlandment.