The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-06-02
THE DEACON WOULD 4 WOOIYG GO.

The sun had disappeared behind til
hills of New Bethany, and the lingerin
light on the mountain tops was chang
ing from rose to purple, when Deaco
Pinch stopped his melancholy old mar
in front of the village postofice. 1t wa
Saturday night, the only time whel
| New Bethany reused itself from it
lethargy and showed any signs of lif
and energy. The rest of the week i
drowsed and languished after the fash
ion Of small country towns remote from
railway and manufacturing centers
whoa, Mary Jane" said the deacon
with unnecessary emphasis, throwing
| the reins on the mares broad back ant
springing to the ground.
But the respondent Mary Jane haC
already ceased her stumbling gait from
sheer force Of habit. A ten years ser
vice with the deacon had made her per
fectly familiar with the accustomed
round of stopping places. Wednesday
| night it was the prayer meeting; Sun
day the church service, and Saturday
night, invariably the postoffice, and, a.
late variation, an after pause7at the
house of Mrs Betsy Hill, the milliner,
piled the women of New Bethany with
head-gear fearfully and wonderfully
made
The moment the deacon stepped in
side the Office he knew, from the I'M
usual buzz of conversation, that some
thing extraordinary had happened.
Heard the news-eh, deacon ? asked
one of the village loungers.
The deacon looked up inquiringIy.
''Miss Kezia's had an amazin' streak
of luck"
''It's been nothin' but an amazin'
streak Of luck ever since she was born, ="
returned the deacon. IF ownin' the
best farm in town and hevin' money at
interest isn't luck, I'd like to know what
it is"
Yes, but this is something out of
common. You used to know her broth
er, who died years ago, and left his only
child for Miss Kezia to bring up
Wa'al, when old man Mead died Miss
Kezia took the farm as her share of the
property, and her brother, bein of a
rovin' turn Of mind, took the few thous-
and of personal property as his'n and
invested EN- in Western lands, which
turned out wurthless, and he lost every
cent he put in. Folks always blamed
him for bein' so foolish and hasty, and
they say grief and modification has
tened his death. Wa'al, it turns out
they hev put a railroad square thro' the
lands, and it's sent real estate way up,
nobody knows where. Miss Kezia's bin
offered nigh onto IS, 900 for the lands,
and they say she'll get ever so much
more if she only holds on"
''You don't mean it ~
Il dew; it's as true as scripture"
"Shell hold out, never fear" said the
deacon; "and | hold it to be our
bounden duty as neighbors to advise
her to that end"
Instead of lingering as usual for the
village gossip-for the New Bethany
postoffice on Saturday night answered
the purpose of a weekly paper-the
deacon seemed in a hurry to get home.
1t was the night of the choir rehear-
sal, and in driving by the church he
saw Mary Mead, Miss Kezia's neice, go
ing up the steps. He suddenly whipped |
up his sleepy old mare, and drove home
at a break-neck rate Of speed.
"Now's your time, Solomon Pinch, |
he muttered to himself; cit mebbe a
long while afore yell hev' such a good |
chance ag'in. She'll be sure to be alone
for couple o hours or so-Hi, old lady, !
no stoppin' here tonight" he added, |
giving the lines sudden twist as Mary |
Jane showed an inclination to stop be-
fore Mrs Betsey Hills house, we've
other fish to fry now, old girl"
l. l. ! i,
mare under the horse-shed and tied her
here, instead of embarrassing her as
usual Then he entered the house, and, |
hastily swallowing the scanty supper
which the hired woman placed before
lim, donned his best clothes and drove
off again at a rapid pace.
Law sakes alive" exclaimed the
woman, amazed The deacon's got
;uthin' on his mind, sure It's the first
line | ever knew him to disremember
o ask blessin'."
Ever since the death of his wife Dea-
,on Pinch had looked on Miss kezia as
Ter probable successor. For years he
lad gaZed with covetOus eyes on the
inc Mead farm with its substantial
buildings, but he never could screw his
up to the point of facing the
mapping black eyes of its owner. OF
ate he had been seen several times
knocking at the door of Mrs Betsy
Hills little brown house, and the wor-
by milliner was overjoyed at the open
ng of the brilliant prospect before her
But the news of the sudden rise in West
I'm lands caused Mrs. Hill, with her
mall possessions, to sink into insignif-
ance by the side of the rich woman
With her well-tilled acres, her overflow
ng barns and her prospective thousands
# dollars
The idea of failure in his matrimonial
-enture never for an instant entered
he deacon's head 1.-The way afore We
5 as plain and straight as a pipe stem,
solomon Pinch" he murmured, rubbing
he palms of his hands together, as he
walked toward Miss kezia's side door.
Women is mostly alike-eager an will
in to embrace matrimonial opportuni-
les. They'll snap at an offer like
hungry trout at worm. She has got
he money, and | hev got the prcmi-
fence and the influence that's a pint
lot to be overlooked and deacons isn't
o be had every day. Put her money
nd my influence together, and | rather
-uess We will stand about top o the
reap in New Bethany"
Miss Kezia was sitting by the table,
hitting as usual She had just begun
o narrow for the toe of the stocking,
vhen a step sounded ON the walk She
brew down the stocking and opened
he door, and, holding the lamp high
bove her head, her eyes rested on the
mazing spectacle of the deacon in all
hn Sunday magnifcence of white shirt
nd shiny black broadcloth. "Well, l
Iever!" she CALCULATED, and then, feel
ng that her reception had been hardly
she lowered the lamp and
aid kindly, "Come in, deacon-come
n"
Thank We, thank We; don't mind if
dew"
"Take seat deacon" T.