The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-06-04

There!"
ssHe is very bashful man, Mr.. Brod
head is, Bella, and so he got us to hel
/ him a little. Why, he is in love wit
!. you," interposed Mrs. Deacon Shackelfor
She is in love with you down to hi
8 boots"
ssLet it run out of his toes, then, said
|, beginning to feel like new yeast.
ssBut you can't have any thing agains
the man." presisted Mrs. Deacon. cane
think after a while you won't have you
grandfather and your Aunt Susannah t.
talk to, and you will miss it if you don,
have somebody in their place. 1t is bes
to think of these things. And you Won
find kinder man, if you search the worl6
over with a wax candle, than Mr., Brod
head"
''Mr. Brodhead is well enough, Mrs
Shackelford. / don't deny that. But the
idea Of making proposal Of this sort
through middle men!' 1t is too abs1lrdr:
| said, laughing, and put on my hat.
So | went home to my classes in en-
broiderY and drawing and wax-work-to
making Aunt Susannah's caps and grand
fathers coffee. My life was full of mono
tonous work in those days, and sometimes
l had strange, uncomfortable impression
ofa machine wound up and running, with
out any act of its own.
"One evening when was putting away
the silver after supper, and feeling the
usual, as though the machine needed oil
ing, the front gate slammed, and steps
came along up the walk.
81 knoWed some one was coming. I've
knowed all day some one was talking Of
coming" said City Pullen, who, ''to ac-
comm 0date," as she often told us, had
kindly consented to rule over our kitchen
and us with a rod Of pine lin the form Of
a crutch).
/ AS City had no home, no money, and
only one foot of her cwn, but as good as
four ears and two tongues, it might seem
sometimes that the accommodation was two
sided. However, things are not what they
seem.
"I knoWed it was Mr.. Corlss !" pursued
City, triumphantly, as grandfather open
ed the door and disclosed the figures Of our
minister and his wife. ''I can tell his step
as far off as [ can hear it. Did you ever
notice lis eyes?'' she continued. 'sThey
look like two holes burned in blanket.
And lie holds his head just like Deacon
Shackeltord's s old white horse"
And then she disappeared into the kitch-
en- with her crutch and the cat, while Aunt
Susannah put in her teeth, puton her black
silk apron, and went with her meeting step
into the parlor, When | followed her,
soon after, l found her talking in as steady
a flow as the waters came down at Lodore,
to Mrs. Corliss, who sat by the woodbine
window, with hands folded in black netted
mitts across her lap, and her tea-colored
curls shaking their heads, as it were, at
the worlds and its vanities; while grand
father, who had been senior deacon for
fifty years, and who had no idea even the
church edifice could stand without him,
was already in deep discussion with Mr..
Corliss upon the question then absorbing
and disturbing us, as to the whether our
Sabbath-school should hereafter be called
a Sunday-sehool.
II can never consent to have Il religious
organization known by a heather name"
grandfather was saying, as I had heard
him say half a hundred times before. i
And Mr.. Corliss, with his serene white
head bent toward him, was thinking how
he could braid in one of the fossilized
fathers and the versatile sons Of the
church.
So there was nothing for me to do but
to sit and smile and listen; for grandfather
and Aunt Susannah We're not the persons
to yield the floor when it was once theirs
by priority.
''DIr. Corliss, is it not time for us to go?"
said Mrs Corliss, at early star-rising, with
her measured dignity.
'Certainly, my DEAR" replied Mr.. Cor
liss, rising at once, with his head still bent
to catch grandfather's last sentence.
''Bella, put on your hat and walk out
with lis a little way. 1t is Il charming
evening"" said Mrs. Corliss, turning to me
after taking ceremonious leave of Aunt
Susannah.
OF course l went for my hat. / should
as soon think Of insisting on breathing in
an exhausted receiver, as of refusing to fol-
low a suggestion Of Mrs. Corliss. Or so I
supposed then. But l trembled in my
heart, and began to run over in my mind
all my little over-dones and under-dones.
She had such a Lady Superior way that,
though really loved our minister's wife, I
always felt sense Of guilt, and never at
home with her.
But it seemed that it was not that had
been late at church or absent from sewing
society this time. Neither had I bow too
many nor a bow too few on my Sonday
bonnet Worse, though; Mr.. Brodhead
had been to see her.
''By dear,n she began, as sweet and as
cold and rs stiff as dish of frozen custard,
FI want to have a serious talk with you on
serious subject, and perhaps may as well
say at once, Mr.. Brodhead has solicited the
good offices of Mr.. Corliss and myself be-
tween you and himself. He seems to be a
very earnest admirer, but a very diffident
one. WHAT should you say to the idea of
entertaining proposal of marriage from
him?''
II couldn't think of such u thing for a
moment, Mrs. Corliss. | have no expec-
tation OF wish to marrS any one, 7 said I,
feeling much annoyed.
Mrs. Corliss sighed severely. Marriage
is a diVinely appointed institution said
she, 'and not to be lightly set aside with
out due consideration and prayer. You
are not now prepared to give a final an
swer to so important a matter. 1t comes
upon you suddenly. Take time, my dear
friend, to think this over carefully, prayer
fully, and with a view to what is your
duty"
Mrs. Corliss shut her lips tight, as though
to keep her teeth in, and then kissed me
good night-a soft, clammy kiss, which
made me feel as though | wanted lump
Of sugar. Accordingly 7 Wentin the house
and ate one, and thought no more about
Mr.. Brodhead for a month and day.
At the end Of that time Aunt Kent asked
me to go down and do up her caps. Aunt
Kent was 4 dear, good old lady, who lived
in little yellow and white cottage at the
end Of the graveyard, where her husband
and seven children were lying in one pa
tfetic row, under the beds Of heart's-ease