The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-05-17
OUR STORY TELLER
A Hair Breadth Escape.


nEii lr'7eifltef 7T777-7 VIZ 8si hur . n
sdAsa Phoenix had been good husband.
Ailthe neignbors agreed with his house
keeper ina that Particular He had
waited upon his fussy invalid wife for
thirty years, making her, AS happy rs
she would let him; and when her sum
mons came, he had closed her dying
eyes tenderl ", saying even with. tears;
" Poor sufferer, she is better OFF,
That Ne was better off he never limited
by word or look He wore his widowerss
weeds with sad decorum; he reared in
memory of the departed Lucinda q
monument which the most fastidious
deceased might have envied he grieved
faithfully for the full allotted year OF
mourning. s-ia4ts ,,, ...-
But il was not of. the conference he
was thinking that fragrant June morn
ing as he whirled away, tucking the lap
robe we'll about his glossy new broad
cloth. For once in his life he did not
mean to 60 straight to meeting; it was
his willy intentionto make a wide circuit,
and call ON Miss Olive Wayne in the.
town of Chester. ~
Pretty, cheerful Olivel How fond he
had been of her, years ago, when she al
tended his school! If he had not then
been in love with Lucinda ghe was sure
he should have fallen in love with her,
mere child though she was. He had
never lost sight 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 about fifty The good deacon
laughed at the amusing recollection.
Well, she would always seem young to
him. And as for himself, at sixty odd
he was hale man yet.
In these cogitations the morning
passed, and noon found Deacon Pheuix
at the little hotel in Chester. Impatient
OF delay, after hasty dinner he set out
almost Immediately for the Wayne home
stead. Arrived at the gate, he spied
Miss Olive at the window, and alighted
with a youthful agility not altogether
prudent in a man who had twinges OF
sciatica. Andyet-strange Inconsistency
of human nature 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
had come mainly for a view of the
mountains. Miss Olive opened the door,
her cheeks flushing like late October
peaches. She was an attractive woman,
not unversed in lovers ways. ,
Happy to see you, Mr.. Phoenix.
Walk in,"' said she furriedly, ushering
him into the sitting where her
aged father dozed in his armchair, ~
y "Who is it, Oliver said the old
gentleman, waking with bewildered
stare.
Mr.. Phoenix, father. You remem-
Der Mr.. Phoenix, Pm sure"
81 don't know as I do" said he,
querulously, fumbling with the guests
outstretched hand What's he come
for, Olive p
The deacon looked as II he was sud
denly feeling the hot weather; Miss
Olive was positively feverish, but she
deity evaded the troublesome question
by diverting her fathers attention. His
peppermint tea was ready-would he
not drink it? As she lowered about the
invalid, Strengthening his footsteol, ar
ranging his pillows steadying the cup
while he drank, Mr.. Phoenix regarded
her admi riDgly. How young she seemed
still Not gray thread in her golden
hair; scarcely a wrinkle in her face.
That was because of her excellent dis
position. He waited till she had soothed
the old man into .slumber, then in a
direct manly way Introduced the subject
that lay next his heart -,
y Miss Olive interrupted him by an
eloquent glance toward her father. n
a"He is very childish and dependent.
He cannot do without me-" l,reB /
p Let me help you care for him, Olive (;
my house is large, my means are ample !"
L couldn't, Mr.. aPhenix-it is like
your generosity to propose such thing /:
but couldn't have him burden upon
you" fsn-isj ~ .s-1IIliI'I !
Why, bless your soul, Olive do YOU
suppose should consider a friend OF
yours burden" --bnaaf m .'aiA r
!" You don't know how trying poor
father would be to anybody but his owl
daughter, and ! think he is likely to
i've to great age, as grandfather did"
~ For that very reason, then" y"
BESIDES, it would make him wretched
to take him from the old homestead"
y But, Olive" lsi,sa 40 1,,lg
80 you see Pm engaged, Mr.. Phoenix, -
said Miss Olive, playfully, while she
whiskedv away tear, I'm engaged.
You must marry some lady who isn't.
And l hope you'll be as happy as you
deserve to be" she added with little
tremor, rspringing up to adjust the
curtain. isHi sa F1Hs 9gil ifudS s,i'snt
E In vain he tried to bend her To his
wishes; she remained outwardly as firm
as the hearthstone at her feet, til 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 gentle
man merely as sortof cushion to soften
the blow OF her rejection. ,,., ..,. 1l. e,
Hardly conscious of the reins, he had
driven some miles at an unsanctified
pace, when he almost ran over Mr..
T0rrey, brother of thetieceased Lucinda,
who was walking behind his carriage up
long ascent. E1slaaiF stss ~ a'ssl lSsM :
uGn;uu IN eorfovov,ca 9,si esbad "A. n 4.