Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-04-03
Farmer Ph@uix.
HOW HE OFFERED HIMSELF IN HASTE AND
RKPENTEp.

HOW HE OFFERED HIMSELF IN HASTE AND
RKPENTEp.
Asa PbRnix had been good husband.
All the neighbors agreed with his house
keeper In that particular. He had waited
upon his fussy invalid wife for 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 suiferer. she Is
better off,
That he was better Off he never hinted by
word or look. He wore his widower's
weeds with sad decorum; he reared In
memory OF the departed Lucinda q mon
umer.t which the most fastidious deceased
might have envied; he grieved faithfully
for the full allotted year o! mourning.
But II was not OF the conference he was
thinking that fragrant June morning as he
whirled away, tucklng the lsp-rooe well
abou, his glossy new broadcloth. For
once In his life he did not mean TO go
straigh, 10 meeting; II was his willy inten-
ton To make wide circuit, and call on
Miss Olive Wayne In the town of Chester.
Pretty, cheerful Olive. How fond he
had been OF her, years ago, when she at
tended his school, II he had not then been
In love with Lucinda. he was sure he should
have fallen In love with her, mere child
though she Was. He had never lost sigh
OF her, and he thanked Providence that he
had been enabled by money and Influence
TO help her family over some hard places.
Please God the dear girl should henceforth
have an easier life. Girl. Why, little
Olive must be ti!ty The good deacon
laughed at the amusing recollection. Well.
she would always seem youn. 10 him.
And as for himself, at sixty odd he was a
hale man yet.
In these cogitations the morning passed,
aud noon found Deacon Phnuix at the 1T
tie hotcl in Chester. Impatient OF delay,
after a hasty dinner he set out almost i'm
medistely for the Wayne homestead. Ar
rived at the gate, he spied Miss Olive al
the window, and nlighted with youthful
agility not altogether prudent In man
who had twinges OF sciatics. And yet
strange Inconsistency OF human nature =
he dallted at the hitching post, aud alter
ward, with his hand on the very knocker.
he paused 10 scan the distant horizon, as
though he had come mainly for n view OF
the mountains. Miss olive opened the
door. her cheeks flushing Ike late October
peaches. She was an attractive woman,
not unyersed Ia lovers ways.
Happy TO see you, Mr.. Ph9nix. Walk
iu," said she, fiurriedly, ushering him Into
the sitting-room. where her aged father
dozed In his armchair.
Who Is IL, Oliver" said the old gentle
mau. waking with bewldered stare.
Mr.. PhGnix, father. You remember
Mr.. Ph9nix. I'm sure"
II don't know as | do" said he. queru-
lously. fumbling with the guests out
stretched hand What's he come tor,
Oliver
The deacon look ed as II be was suddenly
feeling the hot weather, Miss Olive was
positively feverish, but she deftly evaied
the troublesome question by diyerting her
fathers attention. His peppermint tea was
ready-would he not drink II: As she how
cred about the invalid, Strengthening his
footstool, arranging his pillows, steadying
the cup while he drank, Mr.. Ph9niX re-
garded her admiringly. How young she
seemed still! Not a gray thread In her
golden hair scarcely a wrinkle In her
face. That was because of her excellent
disposition. lie waited till she had soothed
the old man into slumber, then In direct
manly way introduced the subject that lay
next his heart.
Miss Olive interrupted him by an elo-
Quent glance toward her father.
HE is very childish and dependent. He
cannot do without me"
Let me help you care for him, Olive !;
my house Is large, my means are ample
II couldn't, Mr.. PhGnix-it Is like your
generosity TO propose such thing; but |
couldn't have him burden upon you"
"Why, bless your soul, Olive, do you
suppose | should consider friend of yours
q burden?'
You don't know how trying poor isther
would be to anybody but his own daught-
er, aud think he Is likely to live to great
age, as grandfather did"
For that very reason, them
"Besides, 1t would make him wretched
to take him from the old homestead.
But. Olive"
80 you see rm engaged, Mr.. Phenix,'
said Miss Olive, playfully, while she
whisked away q tear. "Im engaged. You
hope you'll be As happy as you deserve to
be-" she added. with little tremor spring.
ing up TO adjust the curtain.
In vain he tried TO bend her 10 his
wishes; she remained Outwardly as frm
as the hearthstone at her feet, till at length
he arrived at the unwelcome COW viction
that she had no liking for him, or she
would have listened to his pleadings. She
had interposed the old gentleman merely
rs . sort Of cushion TO soften the blow Of
her rejection.
Hardly conscious Of rhe reins. he had
driven some miles at an unsancflfied pace,
when he almost ran over Mr.. Torrey,
brother Of the deceased Lucinda, who was
walking behind his carriage up 9 long
ascent.
Going to conferenceg'' asked that gen.
tleman. after an exchange Of greetings.
Didn't you come . roundabout way7"
''I'in inclined to think l did," assented
the deacon. with a prOdigious show Of can
dor. "A roundabout way and hard way.
Is your wife with your
Yes; and the widow Vance. have TO
foot it up hill you see. Horse stepped on
rolling stone back piece and laued him
SELF.
Your load is too heavy; let sister Tor
rey ride with me-
But sister TOrrey being nervous. like
Lucinda before her, and mortally afraid of
the deacon's spirited steed, it was In the
end Mrs. Vance who nestled into the va
cant seat. She was gushing young wild
ow whose mitixated grief manifested itself
In certain coquettish bows Of pale laven-
der. She protested that she felt already
AcQusinted with Mr.. Phoenix through her
late husband, to whom he had been so
kind. She would never cease to be CRATE
full tor the many favors he had conferred
upon dear Charles.
In the morning the worthy deacon would
have smiled inwardly ut this elusive pane
Ryric. This afternoon he hugged it like a
poultice to his aching heart 1t soothed
his wounded self-love. and inclined him
toward his fair eulogisf, 10 whom he re-
counted pleasant anecdotes Of her hus-
bands bOyhO0d. Indeed, be made him.
self 30 agreeable that she was rather sorry
70 reach Churchville. where the whole par
y were cordially welcomed At the house Of
Mr.. ZenaS T0rrey.
Alas what an Insignificant tribe can
turn the scale Of human destiny But fol
Z horses right foref0ot Deacon Phoenix
might hsvs rstarusd . biz home On the