The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-04-09
was an attractive woman, not unversed
ia lovers, ua 20 is.55s 49, ,'-~

"Happy to see you, Mr.. Phoenix. Walk
H." said she, furliedly. ushering him in.
TO the sitting room, where her aged faith.
or dozed in his armchair.
"Who is it, Olive9" said the old gentle
man. waking with q bewildered stare.
"Mr. Phoenix, father. You remember
Mr.. Phoenix, I'm sure"
~ don't know as do" said he, quer
ulously, fumbling with the guests out
stretched hand. "What's be come for
Oliver" = ~"
The deacon looked as if he was sudden.
~ feeling the hot weather; Miss Olive
was positively teverish, but she deftly
eVaded the troublesome question by di
Vertlng her fathers attention. His pep
permlnt tea was ready-would he not
drink lts AS she lowered about the in
valid, strengthening his footstool, arrang-
ngihls pillows, steadying the cup while he
orank' Mr.. Phoenix regarded her admir-.
mgly. How young she seemed still Not
gray thread in her golden hair; scarcely
wrinkle in her face. Thai was because
or her excellent disposition. He waited
till she had soothed the old man into
slumDer, then in a direct manly way in.
troduced the subject that Law next bis
heart.
Miss Olive interrupted him by an elo-
quent glance toward her father.
"He is very childish and dependent.
tie cannot do without me.''
"Let me help you care for him. Olive
my house is large, nv means are annie
III couldn't, Mr.. Pheaix-it is ike
your generosity to propose such thing:
but | couldn't have him a burden upon
you" OA
"Why, bless your soul, Olive, do YOU
suppose I should consider a friend of
yours burden?"
"You don't know how trying poor
father would be to anybody but bis own
daughter, and I think he is likely to live
to great age, as grandfather did,
For that very reason, them
"Besldes, it would make him wretched
to take him from the old homestead"
"But, Olive''--
"So you see I'm engaged. Mr.. Phenix".
SAIL Miss Olive, playfully, while she
whlsked away a tea-. "I'm engaged.
You must marry some lady who isn't.
And hope you'll be as happy as YOU de.
serve TO oe." she added, with little
tremor, springing up to adjust the cur
tain.
In vain be tried to bend her to his
wishes; she renamed outwardlv as firm
as the hearthstone at her feet, till at
length he arrived at the unwe!cCme con-
Vlctlon that she had no liking for him.
or she would have listened to his plead
lngs. She had interposed the old gen
tleman merely as a sort of cushion to
soften the blow Of her rejection.
If he took smiling leave, it was be-
cause pride tugged at his facial muscles,
for, to tell the truth, he had never been
more disappointed and chagr1ned IN his
life. OF what avail the stylish euuipage
upon which he had once plumed himself!
Was 1t not bearing him on to the tomb?
And why should he wish to prolong this
earthly pilgrimage? What further at
fractions had life for him, a lonely old
man nearing seventy?
Hardly conscious of the reins, he had
driven some miles at an unsancti6ed pace,
when he almost ran over Mr.. Torrey,
brother of the deceased Lucinda, who
was walking behind his carriage up a
long ascent.
"Going to conference?' asked that
gentleman, after an exchange of greet
ings: Didn't you come roundabout
way?"
I'm inclined to think I did," assented
the deacon with prodigious show of
candor. "a roundabout way and hard
way. Is your wife with you?"
eyes; and the widow Vance. have
to foot it up hill, you see. Horse stepped
on a rolling stone back a piece and
famed himself"
"Your load is too heavy; let Sister
Torrey ride with me.''
But Sister Torrey being nervous, like
Lucinda 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 would never
cease to be grateful for the many favors
he had conferred upon dear Charles, etc.
In the morning the worthy deacon
would have smiled inwardly at this effu-
sive panegy1ic. This afternoon he hug
ged it like poultice to his aching heart.
1t soothed his wounded self love, and
inclined him towards his fair eulogist,
to whom he recounted pleasant anecdotes
of her husbands boyhood. Indeed. he
made himself so agreeable that she was
rather sorry to reach Churchville, where
the whole party were cordially welcomed
at the house of Mr.. Zenas Torrcy.
A proud man was Mr.. Phoenix. He
would not for the world have had his re-
cent disappointment suspected by his
wife's relatives, and during those three
days of conference he carried himself
with resolute = cheerfulness that some
times-out of meeting, of course-verg-
ed upon freshness. Mrs. Vance told
Mrs: Zenas Torrey that he was 'just
splendid" which compliment Mrs. Tor
reg repeated to him with a significant
smile, limiting that If he thought of mar
rying again, he need not search far for a
wife. He looked confused, and holly
disclaimed any matrimonial intentions.
As tc the young widow, was he not
double her ages Would June join hands
with December2