Daily globe., 1879-04-06
CONTRARY-MINDED.

II wonder he din't take the parson,"
mused the deacon's housekeeper as the
deacon drove off alone to the annual con-
ference. "He's commonly master
thoughtful about lookin' out for folks.
What husband he wasp
Yes, Asa Phoenix had been good
husband. All the neighbo1s agreed with
Mrs. Dubbs IN that particular. He had
waited upon his fussy invalid wife by
dying inches of thirty years, making her
as happy as she would let him; and
when her summons came, he had closed
her dying eyes tenderly, saying, even
with tears ''Poor sufferer, she is better
off"
That he was better of he never limited
by word or look. He woreihis widower's IS
weeds with sad decorum; he reared IN
memory of the departed Lucinda mon.
ument which the most fastidious de-
ceased might have envived: he grieved
faithfully for the allotted year Of mourn
ing. If now, from the ashes of the fu-
neral pyre, like his feathered namesake of
fable, he was springing up with renewed
youth and freshness, was it not well2
In truth, though he had not seen fit to
confide this fact to Mrs. Dubbs, Deacon
Phoenix had sighted the minister delib-
erately and with malice aforethought
Nor was it Of the conference he was
thinking that fragrant June morning as
he whirled away. tucling the lap-robe
we'll about his glossy new broadcloth
For once in his hitherto bla neless life he
was essaying to hide secular underneath
the spiritual. BE did not mean to &c
straig ght to meeting; it was his willy in.
tention to make q wide circuit, and call
on Miss Olive Wayne in the town o.
Chester. he had question to ask her
and did not want the parson with him
he hoped he might want him later.
Pretty, cheerful Olive! How fond he
had been of her, years ago, when she at
tended his school! II ne had not ther
been in love with Lucinda, ne was sure
he should have fallen in love with her
mere child though she was. He had nevel
lost sight cf her, and he thanked Prov
idence that he bad been enabled by money
and influence to help her family owe
some hard places Please God, the deal
girl should henceforth have an easier life
Girl! Why, little Olive must be fifty
The good deacon laughed at the amusing
recollection. Well, she would always
seem young to him. And as tor himself
at sixty odd he was hale man yet; HI
could jump five-rail fence as we'll a
ever he could-give him time. Hi
thoughts continuously reverted to Olive
so patiently devoted to her invalid father
She should bring the old gentleman t
his house if she wished, or he would pro
vide for his maintenance at her brothe
Reuben's. He was inclined to conside
that the better plan. The money woul,
be an object to Reuben.
In these cositations the mornin,
passed, and noon found Deacon Phgni
at the little hotel in Chester. Impatien
of delay, after hearty dinner he set ou
almost Immediately for the Wayne home
stead. Arrived at the gate, he spied Mis-
Olive at the window, and alighted with
youthful agility not altogether pruden
in a man who had twinges Of sciatics
And yet-strange Inconsistency of humal
naturel-he dallied at the hitching- pos
and afterward, with his hand on the yer
knocker, he paused, to scan the distan
horizon, as though he had come mainl
for view of the mountains. Miss Oliv
opened the door, her cheeks flushing lik
late October peaches. She woald NJ
have been woman had she not divine
: the deacon's tender mission, proclaime
by every detail of his Immaculate toilett
by the grasp of his hand, by his nervou
expectant air. And, moreover, Miss DIV
, was an attractive woman, not universe
in lovers ways.
"Happy to see you, Mr.. Phoenix. Wall
in" said she, furliedly, ushering him ir
to the sitting room, where her aged fath
er dozed in his armchair.
} "Who is it, Olive9" said the old gentl,
| man, waking with bewildered stare.
J "Mr. Phoenix, father. You remembt
, Mr.. Phoenix, I'm sure"
! 81 don't know as I do," said he, que1
: ulously, fumbling with the guests out
stretched hand. "What's he come 70
Oive?'
The deacon looked as if he was sudder
| ly feeling the hot weather; Miss Oli1
: was positively feverish, but she deftl
evaded the troublesome question by d
! verting her fathers attention. His pep
permint tea was ready-would he M
drink it? As she hovered about the in
7 valid, Strengthening his feotstool, arrane
ingihis pillows, ,steadying the cup while B