Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-30
CONTRARY-MINDED.

UedCOA QlONt OAL dIUli0 w tliO hIlilitti
Conference. Hes commonly master
thoughtful about lookin' out for folks.
What husband he was!
Yes, Asa Phoenix had been q 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 wOrel his wild
overs weeds with sad decorum; he
reared in memory Of the departed LII
cinda a monument which the most fast
idious deceased might have envied; 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
cOnfide 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
nal. 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. lie had question to ask her,
and did not want the parSon with him;
he hoped he might want him later.
Pretty, cheerful OliYei How fond
he had been of her, years ago, when
she attended his school! If 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
tiuence to help her family over some
hard places. Please God, Che girl
should henceforth have an easier life.
Girl! Why, little Olive must be
fftyi 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 q five
rail fence Us 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
Ell 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 Ph@-
nix at the little hotel in Chester. I'M
patient OF delay, after 3 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 q youthful
agility not altogether prudent in
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
or the very knOcker, ne paused to scan
the distant horizon, as though he had
come mainly for D view Of the noun
tains, Mis-. 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 az attractive
woman, not IMMERSED IN lovers'S
ways.
Happy to see you, Nj. Phoenix.
Walk in" she said fiurridly, ushering
him into the sitting-room where her
aged father dozed in his armchair.
''Who is it, Olive q said the old gen.
tleman, waking with a beWildered
stare.
Mr.. Phoenix, father. You remem-
Der Mr.. Phoenix, am sure
Il don't know as I do" said he,
ENORMOUSLY, fumbling with the guests
Outstretched hand. ''What did he
come for. OliveP'
The deacon looked as if he was sud-
denly feeling the hot weather; Miss
Olive was positively feverish. but she
deftiy evaded the troublesome ques-
ton by diverting her father attention
His peppermint tea was ready-would
he not drink it! rs she lowered over
the invalid, straightendRg his footstool,
arranging his pillows Ind steadying
his cup while he drank, Mr.. Phoenix
regarded her admiringly. How young
she seemed still! Not q gray thread
in her golden hair scarcely wrinkle
in her face. That was because of her
excellent disposition. he waited till
she had soothed the old man into slum-
Der, then in q direct, manly way he in
troduced the subject that lay nearest
his heart.
Miss Olive interrupted him by an
eloquent glance toward her father.
He is very childish and dependent
He can not do without me-"
Let me help you care for him,
Olive; my house is large, my means
are ample
Il couldn't, Mr.. Phenix-it is like
your generosity to propose such a
thing; but couldn't have him q bur
den unOn VOu''