The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-04-04

( pride tugged at his facial muscles, for, to tel
the truth, he had never been more disappoint
ed and chagrined in his life. OF what avail
the stylish equipage upon which he had once
! plumed himself? Was it not bearing him on
to the tomb? And why should he wish to
prolong this earthly pilgrimage? What
further attractions had life for him, q lonely
old man nearing seventy
Hardly conscious of the reins, he had driven
some miles at an unsanctified pace when he
almost ran over Mr. TOrrey, brother of the
deceased Lucinda, who was walking behind
his carriage up IL long ascent.
Going to Conference?" asked that gen
teman, after an exchange of greeting
Didn't you come roundabout way"
SIN inclined to think did" assen:ed the
deacon, with prodigious show Of candor.-
A roundabout way and hard way, is
your wife with your
"Yes, and the widow Vance. have TO foot
itup hill, you see. Horse stepped ON rolling
stone back piece and famed himself"
Your load is too heavy; let Sister Torrey
ride with me-
But Sister Torrey being nervous, like Lu-
cinda before her, and MORALLY afraid of the
deacon's spirited steed, it was in the end Mrs
Vance who nestled into the vacant seat She
was gushing young widow whose mitigated
grief manifested itself in certain coquettish
bows of pale lavender. She protested that
she felt already acquainted with Mr.. Phoenix
through her late husband, to whom he had
been so kind. She was so glad of this oppor-
tunity to thank him. She should never cease
to be grateful for the many favors he had con-
ferred upon dear Charles, etc.
In the morning the worthy deacon would
have smiled inwardly at this ELUSIVE pane
gyric. This afternoon he Rugged it like a
poultice to his aching heart. 1t soothed his
wounded selflove, and inclined him toward
his fair eulogist to whom he recounted pleas
ant anecdotes of her husbands boyhood.-
Indeed he made himself 50 agreeable that she
was rather sorry to reach Churchville where
the whole party were cordially welcomed at
the house of Mr.. Zenas Torrey.
A proud man was Mr.. Phoenix. He would
not for the world have had his recent disap-
pointment suspected by his wife's relatives,
and during those three days of Conference
he carried himself with resolute cheerful
ness that sometimes-out of meeting, of
course-verged upon freshness. Mrs. Vance
told Mrs. Zenas Torrey that he was "just
splendid" which compliment Mrs. Torrey re-
peated to him with a significant smile, hint
ing that if he thought of marrying again he
need not search far for a wife. He looked
confused and hotly disclaimed any matri-
monial intention. AS to the young widow,
was he not double her age? Would June
join hands with Decemberg
| Alas what an insignificant tri1e can turn
the scale ofhuman destiny! But for horses
right fore foot Deacon Phoenix might have
returned to his home on the morrow as he
had left ia free man. 1t was the lame
horse that kicked the beam and decided his
| fate. On Friday morning, that meddling
| quadruped having been found lamer than
| ever, the deacon could do no less than offer
to escort Mrs. Vance home She could do
no less than to accept the offer gladly. BY
some mysterious law of sequences this led to
q second offer and second acceptance, and
almost before he knew it Deacon Phoenix had
pledged himself to escort the widow for life
| When, after CALAMITY depositing hispromised
bride at her own door, he was alone with his
| thoughts, he felt little surprised at his own
precipitancy; but he told himself over and
| over again what n fortunate mani he was, how
| happy he ought to be. Contrary to his usual
custom, he had acted from impulse, and the
result was highly satisfactory. "Highly sat
| isfactory," he repeated to himselfas he passed
the entrance of the cross-road which led to
Miss Olives. Somehow his reflections were
less cheerful after that. Perhaps the chilly
| rain-storm just setting in depressed him, or
perhaps it was the empty hearse that he met
| face to face-for the best of us have our
superstitions. Certain it is, that as he alighted
| from his buggy that evening with WEAKNESS
of limb and limpness of linen, his counter
ance led Mrs. Dubbs to fear the meetings had
not been profitable.
Next morning, thanks to the ungracious
weather, he was aroused by sciatic tortures.
To an elderly gentleman newly betrothed to
blooming lady greatly his junior, such an
awakening was peculiarly trying. He thought
ruefully of the early visit he had promised
Mrs. Vance. Should these pains increase, he
must defer it indefinitely, or limp into her
| presence on crutches-an alternative too sug-
| gestve ofadvancing age. Flattered as he was
| by the widows acceptance, he could not deny
that it placed him in a position in some re-
spects irksome. 1tadmonished him that he
had no further right to intirmities that hence
| forth it was his bounden duty to be as young
as he could. The reflection wearied him; the
clutching pain wearied him. Mrs. Dubbs af-
terward said she had never seen him so near
| ly out of sorts as on that evening when she took
| in his mail Among the letters was one that
caught his eye at once.
DEAR FRIEND" Git ran) my poor tired
father is at rest. He was seized with paralysis
the morning after you left us, and passed away
painlessly in few hours. How little anti
cpated this event when we talked together
MY hands were full then; now they are
empty. My work here is done. Ifyou still
believe | could make happy the kind friend
be glad to see YOU
Yours, sincerely, OLIVE WAYNE"
| Mr. Phoenix read the missive, re-read it, shut
it into the Book of Job safe from prying Mrs.
Dnbbs, and drummed uneasily on the closed
Bible What predicament Must he thrust
back upon Olive the gift for which he had so
lately sued? Must he thus humble her? He
writheq at the thought. Must he thus hum
BILE himself Bitterer than all, must he rein-
quish this tried friend ola life time? Having
reached life's autumn, must he reject its ma
ture and appropriate fruits for the rhubarb
and greens of spring Alas yes, he
must fulfill his engagement, for was he not an
honorable man." He would write at once
to Olive candid statement of the case
But while he idled at his desk on the NOR
row Mr.. Torrey came to ask the loan of a
horse till his own should be in running order,
and the deacon laid down his pen with sigh
of relief
| Feeling that he ought to tell his brother-in-
law of his contemplated marriage, at dinner he
| led the conversation back to the Conference
and Mrs Vance
| "By-the-way, met the widow this morning
riding with John Vance" remarkedM Mr. Tory,
casually. "You remember hin,-the brother
next to Charles? He's just home from Cali
fornia, with his pockets full"
| "Ah?"
| Eyes Shouldn't wonder if he took the
widow. Some say they are engaged al
ready"
| Ofcourse the deacon knew betterthan that;
nevertheless, he delayed his tender confession
And he did not write the letter. Time enough
for that after he had paid Mrs. Vance the
promised visit. The latter lady had certainly
the first claim upon his attentions.
Unfortunately several days of tormenting
pain ensued, during which the deacons pa