The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-04-15


or he would provide for his maintenance
at her brother Reuben's. He was In
clned to consider that the better plan.
The money would be an object to
Reuben
In these cogitations the morning
passed, and noon found Deacon Phoenix
at the little hotel in Chester. Impatient
of delay, after hasty dinner he set out
almost Immediately for the Wayne
homestead.
Arrived at the gate, e,he spied Miss Olive
at the window, and alighted with a
youthful agility not altogether prudent
in man who had twinges of sciatics.-
And yet-strange Inconsistency of hui
man nature l-he dallied at the hitching
post, and afterward, with his hand on
the very knocker, he paused to scan the
distant horizon, as though he come
mainly for view of the mountains
Miss Olive opened the door, her cheeks
flushed like late October peaches. She
would not have been woman had she
not OWNED the deacon 's tender mission,
proclaimed by every detail of his i'm
maculate toilette, by the grasp of his
hand, by his nervous, expectant air.
And, moreover, Miss Olive was an at
tractive woman, not unversed in lovers
ways.
Happy to see you, Mr. Phenix.-
Walk in,'' said she, flurriedly, ushering
him into the sitting where her
aged father dozed in his armchair.
Who is it, Olive Y'' said the old gen.
tleman, waking with bewildered
stare.
81 Mr.. Phoenix, father. You remem-
ber Mr.. Phoenix, Pm sure"
don't know as 1 do" said he,
querulously, fumbling with the guests
outstretcbed hand "What's he come
for, Olive 7"
The deacon looked as if he were sud-
denly feeling the hot weather; Miss
Olive was positively feverish, but she
deity avoided the troublesome question
by diverting her fathers attention. His
peppermint tea was ready = would he
not drink it AS she hovered about the
ranging his pillows, steadying the cup
while he drank, bir. Phoenix regarded
her admiIingly. How young she seemed
still. Not gray thread in her golden
hair; scarcely wrinkle in her face.
That was because of her excellent dispo-
sition. He waited till she had soothed
the old man into slumber, then in di-
rect, manly way introduced the subject
that lay next his heart.
Miss Olive interrupted him by an elo-
quent glance toward her father.
&C He is very childish and dependent.
He cannot do without me-"
6 Let me help care for him, Miss
Olive; my house is large, my means are
ample"
II couldn't, Mr.. Phoenix - 1t is like
your generosity to propose such
thing; but couldn't have him bur-
den on you"
"Wby, bless your soul, Olive, do you
suppose should consider friend of
yours burden ?'
You don't know how trying poor
father would be to any body but his own
daughter, and think he is likely to live
to great age, as grandfather did,"
For that very reason, then"
Besides, it would make him wretch
ed to take him from the old home
stead.'
4" But, olive"
$50, you see, I'm engaged, Mr.. Phoe-
nix" said Miss Olive, playfully, while
she wisked away a tear. "I'm engaged.
You must marry some lady who isn't.
And hope you'll be as happy as you
deserve 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 remained outwardly firm
as the hearth-stone at her feet, till at
length he arrived at the unwelcome 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 sort of cushion to
soften the blow of her rejection.
If he took smiling leave, 1t was be-
cause pride tugged at his facial muscles,
for, to tell the truth, he had never been
more disappointed and chagrined in his
life.
Of what avail the stylish equipage
upon which he had plumed himself !?
Was it not bearing him on to the tomb ?