Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-23
DEACON WOULD A-WOOING GO
BY EMMA II. DEMER1TT.


The sun had disappeared behind the
hill of New Bethany, and the glitterlng
light on the mountain-top was changing
from rose to purple, when Deacon Pinch
stopped his melancholy old mare IN front
of the village post-ofice. It was Satur-
day night, the only time when New Beth
any reused itself from its lethargy and
showed any signs of life and energy. The
rest of the week Is drowsed and languished
after the fashion of small country towns
remote from railways and manufacturing
centres.
"Whoa, Mary Jane!' said the deacon,
with unnecessary emphasis, throwing the
reins on the mares broad back and spring
ing to the ground.
But the Respondent Mary Jane had al
ready ceased her stumbling gait from
sheer force of habit. A ten-years' service
with the deacon had made her perfectly
familiar with his accustomed round of
stopping places. Wednesday night it was
the prayer-meeting; Sunday, the service;
and Saturday night, invariably the post
Office, and, as late variation, and atter,a
pause at the house of Mrs. Betsy Hill, the
town milliner, who for quarter of a CEN
fury had supplied the women of New
Bethany with head-gear fearfully and
wonderfully made.
The moment the deacon stepped inside
the Office he knew, from the unusual buzz
of conversation, that something extraor-
binary had happened.
Euoo M %ho nomc- oh dnonOr 2O oc1roH
one of the village loungers.
The deacon looked up inquiringly.
"Miss Kezia's had an amazin' streak of
luck"
ssIt's been nothin' bit an amazin' streak
of luck ever since she was born" return
ed the deacon. eff owning the very best
farm in town and hevln' money at inter-
est isn't luck, don't know what havin'
luck is"
ssYes, but this is someth1n' out of COM
mon. You used to know her brother,
who died years ago, and left his only
child for Miss Kezla to bring up Wa'al,
when old man Mead died, Miss Kezia
took the farm as her share of the proper
ty, and her brother, bein' of a rovin' turn
of mind, took the few thousands of per-
sonal property as his'n, and invested 'em
in Western lands, which Surned out wuth-
less, and he lost every cent he put In.
Folks always blamed him for being so
foolish and hasty, and they say grief and
modification like fastened his death.
Wa'al, it turns out now, that they have
put railroad square through the lands
and it's sent real estate way up, nobody
knows where. Miss Kezia has been Of
fered nigh onto eight thousand dollars
for the lands, and they say she'll get ever
so much more if she only holds out"
".You don't mean it'll"
1T dew; it's as true as Scripter.'
"She'll hold out, never fear" said the
deacon, sand I 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
post-office on Saturday night answered
the purpose of weekly paper-the dea-
con seemed in great hurry to get
home.
1t was the night of the choir rehearsal,
and in driving by the church he saw
Mary Mead. Miss Kezia's neice, going up
the steps. He suddenly whipped up his
sleepy old mare and drove home at a
breakneck rate of speed.
"Ncw's yer time, Solomon PINCH" he
muttered to himself. sit mebbe long
time afore yell hev' such good chance
ag'in. She'll be sure to be alone for a
couple OF hours or so.-Hi, old lady! no
stoppin' here tonight" he added, giving
the lines a sudden twist as Mary Jane
showed an inclination to stop before Mrs.
Betsy Hills house; ''we've other fish to
fry noo, old girl
When he reached home he drove the
mare under the horse-shed and tied her
there, instead of embarrassing her as
usual. Then he entered the house, and,
hastily swallowing the scanty supper
which the hired woman placed before
him, donned his best clothes and drove
off again at rapid pace.
claw sakes alive!" exclaimed the wo-
man, amazed. "The aeacon's got suth-
in on his mind, sure! It's the first time
ever knew him to disremember to ask
blessin'."
Ever since the death of his wife Dea-
con Pinch had looked on Miss Kezia as
her probable successor. For years he
had gazed with covetuous eyes on the
fine Mead farm with 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 several times knocking
at the door of Mrs. Betsy Hills little
house, and the worthy milliner was over
joyed at the opening of this brilliant
prospect before her. But the news of
the sudden rise in Western lands caused
Mrs. Hill, with her small possessions, to
sink into insignifcance by the side of
this rich woman with her well-tilled
acres, her over-fowing barns, and her
prospective thousands of dollars.
The idea of failure in his matrimoni-
al venture never for an instant entered
the deacon's head. "The way afore ye
is as plain and straight as pipe-stem,
Solomon PINCH" he murm ured, rubbing
the palms of his hands together as he
walked toward Miss Kezia's side door.
"Woman is mostly alike-eager and will
in to embrace matrimonial opportuni-
ties. They'll snap at an offer like q