Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1880-05-08
lands, and they say she'll get ever so
much more it she only holds out
You don't mean it7'

lands, and they say she'll get ever so
much more it she only holds out
You don't mean itf
Il dew; it's true as Scriptet.'
She'll hold out, never fear said the
deacon; and hold it to be our bound
en- duty as neighbors to advise her to that
end.'
Instead of lingering as usual for the
village gossip the New Bethany
post Office on Saturday night answered
the purpose of a weekly paper-the dea-
con seemed in great hurry t" get home.
It wss the night of the choir rehearsal
and in driving by the church he saw
Mary Mead, Miss Kezia's niece, going up
the steps. He suddenly whipped up his
sleepy old mare and drove homo at
breakneck rate of speed
'N"w's yer time, Solomon Pinch he
mnttered to himself: 1T mebbe long
while afore yen hev sich go d chaEce
agin. She'll he sure to lie alone for
couple O hours or so. Hi, old lady! no
stoppin' here to night he added, giving
the lines n sudden twist as Mary Jane
showed an inclination to stop before Mrs.
Betsy HIPS house; We've other fish to
fry now, old girl
When he reac ied home he drove the
mare under the horse shed and tied her
there, instead of embarrassing her as
usual. Then he entered the house, ard,
hastily swallowing the scanty supper
which the hired woman placed before
him, donned his best clothes and drove
off again at a rapid pace.
Law sakes alye!' exclaimed the wo-
man, amazed. 'The deacon's got su .hin,
o.. his mind sure! It's the first time
ever knew him to disl emember to ask a
blesIin'.
Ever since the death of rs wife Dca.
con Pinch had looked on Miss Kpzil as
her probable successor. For years he had
gazed with co>etous eyes on the fine
Mead farm with its substantial build
ings, but he never could screw his cour
age up to the point of facing the snap
ping black eyes of its owner. Of late he
had been seen knocking at the door OF
Mrs. Betsy Hill little brown house, and
the worthy miliiner was overjoyed at tue
her. But the news of the sudden rise in
Western lards caused Mrs. Hill, with her
small pnse,si"nS, to sink into insigniti-
cance by the side CT this rich woman
with her we'll titled acres, her overflow
ing bar: and her prospective thousands
Of dollars.
Tho idea of failure in his matrimonial
S.,r ;po onkaraI he
deacon's head, The Way afore yc- is as
plain and strai ght as a pipe stem, Solo
| mon Pinch.' he murn,u,ed, rubbing the
palm of his hands together as he walk
ell to" ard Miss Kesia's side door. 'Wo.
| men is mostly a.ike--eagcr an wiiibr t"
| elnbra, matrimonial opp"rtun'tics.
They'll snap at an offer like hungry
trout at a worm. She has, got the money,
aud hev' got tEe prominence and the
influence; that's a put not to be over
looked; and deacon isl, to lie hail every
day. Put her money and my Influence
together, and r,ytl'er guess we'll stand
about top o the heap i'll New Bethany
| Miss Kezia was sitting by the t"b e
knitting us usual. She had just begun
to marrow for the toe of the stocking
when a step sounded on the walk. She
threw down the stocking and opened
rhs door. and, holding the lamp hi n
above her head, her eyes rested on the
am zing spectacle of the deacon III all
the Sunday Iragniticence of white shirI
and shiny black broadcIoth. We'll,
never she ejacualated; and then feeling
that her reception: had been hardly hos
pitable, sh.. lowered the lamp and sait
kindly, Come in, deacon-come in
Thank ye, thank ye; don't mind if
dew
Take a seat deacon
Thank ye; don't mind If dew
The deacon surveyed the attractiv
: room, which, with its CHEEKY fire an
u ! comfortable cushioned chairs, seemed
y veritable paradise in comparison wit
his urtidy. il kept home re placed II
Q hat on the floor beside his char, dspia'
IL ing his scant locks ingenionsly plastere
: over the top of his head so as to cover
much of the bald surface as possibl
III Then there was Il long pause.
'Anything going on, deacon ask
Miss Kezia, resnming her knitting. S
Oh was greatly puzzled to account for tho
Sunday clothes.
lk sNothin' within the range ofmy obs'
H. vation The won't be much agoin
III now till Election time; things1i be pr,
81 ty lively them
Want to buy any hay this yea
II chirped Miss Kezia. Mine is extra &C
H. tbi, season; my hired man says it's
'u heaviest yield in town.
~ Il rayther guess I'il hev' enough to G
ia 49,, -.:,,,ar Jf I,r'