Daily globe., 1879-04-06

drank, Mr.. Phoenix regarded her admir-
ingly. How young she seemed still Not
gray thread in her golden hair; scarcely
wrinkle in her face That was because
of her excellent disposition. He waited
till she had soothed the old man into
slumber, then in direct manly way in
troduced the subject that lay next his
heart.
Miss Olive interrupted him by an clo-
quent glance toward her father.
SIZE 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.
ssI couldn't, Mr.. Phenix-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 a friend of
yours burden2"
"You don't know how trying poor
father would be to anybody but his own
daughter, and I think he is likely to live
to great age, as grandfather did,
ssFor that very reason, them
"Besides, it would make him wretched
to take him from the old homestead"
"But, Olive
$50 you see I'm engaged. Mr.. Phoenix.
sail Miss Olive, playtully, while she
whisked away tear. 'l'm engaged.
You must marry some lady who isn't.
And hope you'll be as happy as you de-
serve to be- she added, with a little
tremor, springing up to adjust the cur
tain.
In vain he tried to bend her to his
wishes; she renamed outwardly as firm
as the hearthstone at her feet, till at
length he arrived at the unwelccme con-
viction that she had no liking for him,
or she would have listened to his plead
ings. She had interposed the old gen
tleman merely as a sort of cushion tc
soften the blow Of her rejection.
i If he took smiling leave, it was be.
cause pride tugged at his facial muscles
for, to tell the truth, he had never beer
more disappointed and chagrlned IN hi
life. OF what avail the stylish equipag,
upon which he had once plumed himself
, Was it not bearing him On to the tomb
) And why should he wish to prolong thi
, earthly pilgrimage? What further at
fractions had life for him, lonely ole
man nearing seventy?
Hardly conscious of the reins, he ha,
driven some miles at an unsanctifed pace
when he almost ran over Mr.. Torrey
brother of the deceased Lucinda, VIA
was walking behind his carriage up
long ascent.
"Going to conference?' asked tina
, gentleman, after an exchange of greet
J, ings. Didn't you come a roundabout
way?"
s1'm inclined to think I did, assente'
the deacon with a prodigious show Q
candor. IA roundabout way and har
! way. Is your wife with you?"
eyes; and the widow Vance. hav
| to foot it up hill, you see. Horse steppe
: on a rolling stone back a piece an
! lamed himself"
! "Your load is too heavy; let Siste
! Torrey ride with me-"
! But Sister Torrey being nervous, lik
r Lucinda before her, and mortally afrai
of the deacon's spirited steed, it was i
] the end Mrs. Vance who nestled into tn
s vacant seat. She was a gushing youn
widow whose mitigated grief manifesto
!. itself in certain coquettish bows of pal
: lavender. She protested that she fe
] already acquainted with Mr.. Pkeni
through her late husband, to whom b
: had been so kind. She would neve
f cease to be grateful for the many favor
i he had conferred upon dear Charles, ct.
In the morning the worthy deaco
0 would have smiled inwardly at this effu
n siye panegy1ic. This afternoon he hug
J ged it like poultice to his aching hear
/. It soothed Ills wounded self love, an
IS inclined him towards his fair eulogis
s to whom he recounted pleasant anecdote
e of her husbands boyhood. Indeed. b
l. made himself so agreeable that she wa
e rather sorry to reach Churchville, wher
b the whole party were cordially welcome
o at the house OF Mr.. Zenas Torrey.
l. A proud man was Mr.. Phoenix. Fl
Il would not for the world have had his re
If cent disappointment suspected by hi
r, wife's relatives, and during those thre
l; days of conference he carried himse]
e times out of meeting, of course-verg
t. ed upon friskiness. Mrs. Vance tol
n Mrs. Zenas Torrey that he was 'jus
e splendid" which compliment Mrs. To-
r, rey repeated to him with signifcan
r smile, limiting that If he thought Of maj
y rving again, he need not search far for
y wife. He looked confused, and hotl
,r disclaimcd any matrimonial intention
II AS to the young widow, was he NJ
e. double her age2 Would June join hanc
7! with Eecember2
g Alas! what an insignificant trife ca
7s turn the scale of human destiny! B,
f, for horses right fore foot Deacon Pho
le nix might have returned to his hume Q
IS the morrow as he left it-a free man.
is was the lame horse that kicked the beal
G, and decided his fate. On Friday NOR
r ing that meddling quadruped havin
to been found lamer than ever, the deacc
J. could do no less than offer to escort Mr.
er Vance home. She could do no less tbs
er to accept the offer gladly. By SON
Id mysterious law of sequence, this led to
second offer and second acceptance, ar
lg almost before he knew it Deacon Phmn
tx had pledged himself to escort the wido
ut for life. When, after gallantlv depositir
ut his promised bride at her own door, he VI
G. surprised at his own precipitancy: b.
IS he told himself over and over again VIII
a fortunate man he was-how happy
Mt ought to be. Contrary to his usual Gu
"a. tom, he had acted from impulse, and Il