The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-02-03

unused the deacon's housekeeper, as the
deacon drove off alone to the Annual
Conference. "He's commonly master
thoughtful about lookin' out for folks.
What husband he WASH
Yes, Asa Phoenix had been good
husband. All the neighbors agreed
with Mrs. Dubbs in that particular.
He had waited upon his fussy invalid
wife for thirty years, making her as
happy as she would let him; and when
her summons came, he had closed her
dying eyes tenderly, saying, even with
tears, "Poor sufferer, she is better off,
That he was better off he never hint
ed by Wor ord look. He wore! his wild
overs weeds with sad decorum; he
reared in memory Of the departed Lu-
cinda a monument which the most fast
idious deceased might have enyied; he
grieved faithfully for the full-alloted
year Of mourning. If now, from the
ashes Of the funeral pyre, like the feath-
cred namesake of fable, he was spring
ing up with renewed youth and fresh
ness, WAS it not well!
In truth, though he had not seen fit to
conide this fact to Mrs. Dubbs, Deacon
Phoenix had sighted the minister de-
liberately and with malice afore-
thought. Nor was it of the Confer
ence he was thinking that fragant June
morning as he whirled away, tucking
the lap-robe we'll about his glossy,
new broadcloth. For once in his hith-
erto blameless life he was trying to
hide the secular underneath the spirit
ual. He did not mean to go straight
to meeting; it was his willy intention
to make a wide circuit, and call on
Miss Olive Wayne in the town of
Chester. He had a question to ask her,
and did not want the parson with him;
he hoped he might want him later.
Pretty, cheerful Olive! How fond
he had been Of her, years ago, when
she attended his school! IT he had
not then been in love with Lucinda,
he was sure he should have fallen in
love with her, mere child though she
was. He had never lost sight of her,
and he thanked Providence that he
had been enabled by money and in
tluence to help her family over some
hard places. Please God, the girl
should hencefOrth have an easier life.
Girl! Why, little Olive must be
fifty! The good deacon laughed at the
amusing recollection. Well, she would
always seem young to him. And as
for himself, at sixty odd he was a
hale man yet; he could jump a five
rail fence as we'll as he ever could
give him time. His thoughts contin-
ually reverted to Olive, so patiently
devoted to her invalid father. She
should bring the old gentleman to his
house if she wished, or he would pro-
vide for his maintenance at her broth
er Reuben's. He was inclined to con-
slider that the better plan. The money
would be an object to Reuben.
In these cogitations the morning
passed, and noon found Deacon Phe-
nix at the little hotel in Chester. I'm.
patient of delay, after a hasty dinner
he set out almost Immediately for the
Wayne Homestead. Arrived at the
gate, he spied Miss Olive at the
window, and alighted with youthful
agility not altogether prudent in a
man who had twinges of sciatica
And yet-strange inconsistency OF
human nature-he dallied at the hitch.
ing post, and afterward, with his hand
on the very knocker, he paused to scan
the distant horizon, as though he had
SOllIO lAStllILy lol vlO" vi UllO AAOuA
tains, Miss Olive opened the door
her cheeks flushing like the October
peaches. She would not have been q
woman had she not OWNED the
deacon's tender mission, proclaimed
by every detail of his immaculate tot
let, by the grasp of his hand, by his
nervous, expectant air. And, more
over, Miss Olive was an attractive
woman, not unyersed in lovers's
ways.
"Happy to see you, Mr.. Phoenix
Walk in,'' she said flurridly, usherine
him into the sitting-room where hel
aged father dozed in his arm chair.
"Who is it, Oliye?" said the old gen
tleman, waking with a bewilderet
stare.
''Mr. Phoenix, father. You remem
Der Mr.. Phoenix, am sure.''
81 don't know as do,'' said he
ENORMOUSLY, fumbling with the guest
outstretched hand. ssWhat did h,
come for, Oliver
The deacon looked as if he was sud
denly feeling the hot weather; Mis-
Olive was positively feverish, but sh,
deftly eyaded the troublesome ques
ton by diverting her fathers attention
His peppermint tea was ready would
he not drink it? AS she lowered owe,
the invalid, Strengthening his footstool
arranging his pillows and steadyins
his cup while he drank, Mr.. Phenis
regarded her admiringly. How youn.
she seemed still! Not gray thread
in her golden hair scarcely a wrinkl,
in her face. That was because of he,
excellent disposition. He waited til
she had soothed the old man into slum
Der, then in a direct, manly way he in
troduced the subject that lay neares
his heart.
Miss Olive interrupted him by Al
eloquent glance toward her father.