The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-07-15
THEDEACoN.s WOOING..

The sun had disappeared behind the
hills of New Bethany, and the lingering
light on the mountain tops was chang
ing from rose to purple, when Deacon
.Pmeh stopped his melancholy old mare
In front of the village postoffice. It was
Saturday night, the only time when New
Bethany reused itself from its letharpy
and showed any signs of life and energy.
The rest of the week it drowsed and Ian
gulshed after the fashion of small coun-
try towns remote from railway and man.
dfacturing centers.
Whoa, Mary janet said the deacon
with unnecessary emphasis, throwing
the reins OF. the mares broad back and
spnnging to the ground
But the respondent Mary Jane had al
ready ceased her shambling gait from
sheer force of habit "A ten years SER
vice with the deacon had made her per-
fectly familiar with the accustomed
rounds of stopping places. Wednesday
night It was prayer meeting; Sunday,
the church service; and Saturday night.
invariably the postofice, and, as late
variation. an after pause at the house of
Mrs. Betsey Hill, the miliner, who for a
quarter of o century. had supplied the
women of New Bethany with head-eear
fearfully and wonderfully made.
The moment the deacon stepped inside
the Office, he knew, from an unusual buzz
of conversation, that something extraor-
dinary had happened.
tHeard the news-eh, deaoon?" asked
one. of the village loungers.
The deacon looked up inquiringly.
srMiss Keziah's had an amazin' streak
of luck. -
Its been nothing but an amazin'
streak of luck ever since she. was born, y
retzrned the deacon. sIf ownin' the
best farm in town and hevin' money al
interest isn't luck, I'd like to know what
is.
Eyes: but this is something out Of
common. You used to know her brother,
who died years ago and left his only
Wa'al, when old man Mead died Miss
Keziah took the farm as her share of the
property, and her brother, bein' of q
row, turn of mind, took the few thous-
and of personal property as his'n and
invested them In Western lands, which
turned out wuthless, an he lost every
cent he put in. Folks always blamed
him for bein' so foolish and hasty, and
they say grief and modification like has
tened his death. Wa'al, it turns out they
have put railroad square thro' the lands
and its sent real estate way up, nobody
knows where. Miss Keziah's been of
fered nigh onto So, 900 for the lands, ant
they say she will get ever so much more
if she only holds on"
'eYou don't mean it?''
'1 dew; it's as true as scripture.
s'Shen hold out, never fear" said tn,
deacon; ssand I hold il to be our bounde1
duty as neighbors to advise her to tina
end"
Instead of lingering as usual for tn
village gosslp-for New Bethany post
Office on Saturday night answered tn
purpose of a weekly paper-the deacon
seemed in great hurry to get home.
It was the night of the choir rehearsal
and in driving by the church he say
Mary Mead, Miss Keziah's niece, 60
ing up the steps. He suddenly whiippe'
up his sleepy old mare and drove hom
alta breakneck rate of speed.
''Now's your time, Soloman Pinch,
he muttered to himself, 'it's mebbe
long while afore yell hev such a goo
chance ag'in. She'll be sure to be alon
for couple of hours or so-Hl. old lady
no stoppin' there tonight" he addet
giving the lines sudden twist as Mar
Jane showed an inclination to stop befol
Mrs. Betsey Hills house; "we'ye othe
fish to fry now, old girl.
When he reached home he drove tt
mare under the horse-shed and tied hs
there, instead of embarrassing her |
usual Then he entered the house ar
hastily swallowing the scanty supp
which the hired woman placed befol
him. donned his best clothes and dro'
Oh again at rapid pace.