Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1880-07-29

opening OF the brilliant prospect before
her. But the news of the sudden rise In
western lands caused Mrs. Hill, with her
small possessions, to sink into insignif-
cance by the side of the rich woman with
her well-tilled acres, her overaowing barns
and her prospective thousands of dollars.
The idea of failure in his matrimonial
venture never for an instant entered the
deacon's head. "The way atore ye is as
plain and straight as pipe stem, Solo
mon Pinch" he murmured, rubbing the
palms of his hands together, as he walked
towards Miss Kezia's side door. Women
is mostly alike-eager an wlllin' to EN-
brace matrimonial opportunities. They'll
snap at an offer like hungry trout ut a
worm. She has got the money, and hev
got the prominence and the influence;
that's a pint not to be overlooked; and
deacons isn't to be had every day. Put
her money and my influence together, and
| rather guess we'll stand about top O. the
heap in New Bethany"
Miss Keza was sitting by the table,
knitting as usual. She had just begun to
narrow for the toe of the stocking, when a
step sounded on the walk. She threw
down the stocking and opened the door,
and, holding the lamp high above her
head, her eyes rested on the amazing spec
tacle Of the deacon in all the Sunday
magnlfcence of white shirt and shiny
black broadcoth. "Well, | never!" she
calculated, and then, feeling that her re-
ception had been hardly hOspitable, she
lowered the lamp and said kindly, Come
in, deacon-come in"
Thank ye, thank ye; ! don't mind if |
dew"
Take seat, deacon"
"Thank ye; don't mind ii | dew"
The deacon surveyed the attractive
room, which, with its cherry fire and COM
fortably cushioned chairs, seemed verit-
able paradise in comparison with his un-
tidy, i'll kept home. He placed his hat on
the floor beside his chair, displaying his
scant, gray locks ingeniously plastcred
over the top of his head SO as to cover as
much of the bald surface as possible.
Then there was long pause.
Anything going on, deaconf" asked
Miss Kezia, resuming her knitting. She
was greatly puzzled to account for those
Sunday clothes.
"Nothin within the range Of my obscr-
vatlon. There won't be much agOin on
now till lection time; things'll be pretty
lively then"
want TO buy any hay this year2'
chirped Miss Kezla, Mine is extra good
this season; my hired man says it's the
heaviest yield in town"
81 rayther guess I'll hav' enough tC
carry me thrO the winter If | don't
shall know where to come for hay as is hay
| declare your farm does beat ALL fee
kind O. rugged like when think the best
farm in town is managed by woman"
Miss kczia smiled graciously, and the
deacon drew his chair little nearer hi,
hostess. at must be a great load for VI
to carry alone, Such a large farm is 8
tire menjous responsibility for a lone wo'
man."
"Oh | don't mind it, it keeps me proper
} busy"
The deacon hitchcd his chair along O
few inches farther. eyed oughter hev
a brother or cousin, or some relative like
to share the burden with ye."
MY shoulders are plenty strong" re
turned Miss Kezia, good nlturedly. "lm
glad to show folks that there are wOmer
who are good for something besides giddy
gaddying and tattling."
"Yls, yis," answered the deacon, "wt
can all testify to your vally and worth
You're really honor to your sex. You're
l-you're bright and shinin beacon high
to the tnain' and vain-minded women o.
the world" and the speaker waved hi
r band at the conclusion of this little orator
ical flourish
Then hitch, hitch, hitch went the Chai
r Miss Kezla ward. Don't you feel sor! o
, lonely at spells" he asked, insinuatingly
Miss Kezia glanced suspiciously at tn,
9 rapidly advancing chair. She dropped
e her knitting, and went to the fire and pileC
S up the blazing sticks of wood. Then sh,
came back to the table and set her chail
on the farther side of it, thus putting
: barrier between her and her visitor. "l'n
y never lonely, deacon; plenty to do is tn,
$ best medicine for loneliness.
"But womans a tender, dependen
! ! creatur. Woman's a vine there tn,
deacon assumed his weekly prayer meet
y ing drawD 'and needs suthin to cling h
e when the trob'ous, desolatin' waves AM
winds O. affection and sorrerroll over her.
"Stuf and nonsense!" exclaimed Mis-
Rezia with contemptuous sniff. Z"
shouldn't have expected that man o
c your sense, deacon, would repeat sucl
n silly trash. have no patience with tn
# people who ae always talking as it
woman couldn't stand alone, and needle,
propping up like a rag doll that hadn'
e any backbone. I'm no vine-or sucI
!. creeping, helpless thing, can tell you
@ | can stand alone as well as anybody,
n the Lord SO wills it, altho' | admit, deacon
that it's pleasanter to have some one kce
you company"
|, "Thats Jest it, ye hev' hit the mai
y squar' on the head! 1t is pleasanter +
n hev company in our sojourn on this MOI
e tai earth"
y The deacon seized his chair with DOT
k hands, and by circuitous line of hitchin
placed it within three feet OF Miss Kezia'
10 table. You're fore-handed woman
y Miss Kezia; I'm man of prominence an
Z influence In the community; it seems
,e me that it would be q good thing if W
a could walk hand-in.hand thro' this vale G
10 tears. Providence seems to pint its fnge
y. = that way" The deacon was thinking q
y that very moment of the money he wouI
ie save by a thrifty manager like Miss Kezi
8. in place OF his inefficient, wasteful hire
IN woman.
Miss Kezia was dumbfounded. Sh
dropped her knitting, and the ball Of var
le rolled across the floor. "Mercy!" sh
Or finally gasped.
IS "I'll make ye o first rate husband. an
4 yell make me good wife We've bee
members Of the same church for thirt
Ct year or more, and we've been members @
a, the spiritooal family, we'll now be men
1 l. .fl L n