The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-04-09
The Deacon's Hunt for Facts,
NEAcoN TARBox, I'm vlr-

~ tOOuS woman, anu Il We bTleu W
be a good and Christian wife, and for me
to be treated In this way, declare it's
burnin' shamel"
The speaker was Mrs. Jerusha, the
wife OF DIR. Amadeus Brown, and the
scene was the library Of the deacon's
house In the village of Oak Hollow
Mrs. Brown had worked herself into
quite heat of scarlet excitement,
and the deacon sat in his armchair,
looking at her with n troubled express
sion through his gold bowed spectacles.
6 SO It's so It's, - said the deacon, "ef
your suspicious are correct. You say
that your husband visits the parsons
wife every day ?"
@ Every individual day for the last
three weeks. Don't l know it Haven't
/ watched him? I've stood 1t jest as
long as / kin, and now Pm going TO
speak out. I'll have divorce, l will
Let him run away with that little pink
and white doll-baby if he wants to. He'll
find out one of these days who kin cook
his vittles best, and mend his clothes,
and take care on him. Ef he'd rather
have her do it, he's welcome to try her.
lit amt that--that l care-hare-
hare-r-r-r."
Mrs. Brown, having restrained her
feelings as long as was possible, at this
iuncture burst into flood of tears, and
became incoherent.
"You say" observed the deacon, when
she had somewhat recovered her self
possession again, "you say that your
husband only visits the parsons house
when that gentleman is absent ?"
Well, he takes those times general
ly. You know the parson is away this
week to Conference. Now, you won't
believe it, mebbe, but the doctor has
been in that house just six times since
the parson went off. It's no more'n L
expected. knew just how it would be
eff Parson Gray went and married n
young wife and brought her here. But
l did not believe, "-and here Mrs. Brown
brought her hand down on her lap with
great emphasis" did not believe my
husband would be the fust one to fall in
love with her.'
sit is greatly to be regretted that Mr..
Gray didn't choose some older person, "
said the deacon, gravely. His wife is
too young for parsons wife, and too
! pooty."
"Pooty ~ exclaimed Mrs. Jerusha,
firing up. "Well, that's matter OF
opinion. i don't admire her style my
SELF"
"This is very serious matter" said
Deocon TarboX, with great solemnity.-
"This must be brought at once afore the
selectmen of the parish-that is, sup
posin', of course, ma'am, that you ken
prove what you say"
prove it'll" replied Mrs. Brown, vio
lently. 8" 1 ken prove it fast enough
Didn't the doctor order the parson tC
send his wife to the city for a change o.
air, as he said, and when that poor un
suspectin' man went an done it, didn't
my husband post right off after her, un
der pretence of having business there
o, don't know it? He little though
as how the eye of his wronged and out
ragged wife was upon him. Then, M
sooner does she come back than Docto
Brown begins his visits to the cottag,
agin. He says she's sick, and Parsor
Gray is fool enough to believe it,"
cit must be looked into," said Dea
con Tarbox. CT promise you, Mrs
Brown, you shall hev justice done t.
you. Now, I'll jest step over'n consul
Elder Pilberry. He's a clear-heade,
man, the elder is, and we'll do whateve
he thinks best about it, Dear, dear !
Why can't folks obey the Scripturs ant
leave other peoples wives alone ?"
Mrs. Brown began to cry again.
"Now you jest go home an neve
mind anything more about it," said thu
deacon. "The elder an will come t.
some conclusion. Itll be dreadful
blow to the parson, though, poor man
But then we must do our dooty, Mrs
Brown"
Mrs. Jerusha dried her eyes and tool
her leave, while Deacon Tarbox, full o
solemn sense of responsibility for tn
secret confided to him, went in search O
Elder Pilberry. He found that worth!
in his backyard, in his shirt sleeves
saving wood, and at once laid the mat
ter before him.
"Wall," said the elder, standing will
one foot on his sawhorse, and res ting hi