The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-08-05
SELECTED STORY
The Deacon's Elopement.

IN MS buggy! Auu do ouIc as l. live anu
breathe, he's all dressed up"
At this exclamation from Maria, Betsey
banged her nat iron down on the inverted
saucer on her ironing-table, with force that
nearly broke it, and with three strides reach
ed the kitchen porch, and putting up her Dig
brawny hands to shield her eyes from the
glare of the hot sun, gazed down on the aus
ty road, rumbling along which there came
rickety chaise, drawn by placid Old mare,
whose gait said as plainly as words: II have
done with the vanities of the world"
In the crazy vehicle sat Deacon Skeels, ar
rayed in his black bombazine sack coat,
white homespun linen pantaloons, and tall
white hat. ornamented with a pathetic Grape
band which almost concealed the crown.
This was dress of state, as it were, with
the deacon, and was seldom donned except
on Sundays, funeral occasions, and at time
of camp-meetings- hat-band having been
purchased especially for the funeral of the
deacon's wife, who had passed into the spir-
itual world three months previous to the OPP
ening of our story.
The deacon evidently had some scheme in
his mind, and clucked at the old mare impa-
tiently, Jerking energetically at the reins, in
the vain endeavor to urge her pace more
in accordance with his feelings. But the
beast was not to be nagged out of her accus-
toned dignity. and merely switched her tail
"Mv sakes alive, Betsey, he's coming
herep'
well you needn't go spilling the butter
milk and things ever the clean floor, Maria, -
said Betsey, severely.
Betsey had no nonsense about her, and
promptly discouraged any affectation or SEN
timent on the part of the sprightly Maria.
sLike enough he's drove round to get some
flowers to put on Mrs. SkeePs grave" added
she, sarcastically. "You lie down, there,
Tiger. and keep quiet"
But Maria, who saw possible husband in
every single man she met, resented this ex-
PLANTATION of the deacon's unexpected visit in
holiday attire, and remarked with some as
perity:
'Just as though man ought to mourn
everlastingly for poor, weak little thing
like her; she weren't no companion for him
no way. Such man as the deacon deserves
real lively partner"
The deacon, after prolonged contention
with the offending mare, had persuaded her
to be tied, and was walking up between Ma
ria's beds of pinks and larkspurs, straight
toward the front door, instead OF coming
around to the kitchen, as folks usually did
except on very ceremonious occasions,
which proceeding on the part of the deacon
caused Maria to exclaim:
"My sakes aliver'
''What does all you, Maria? Do set down
that bucket of milk and go and open the
front door for the deacon, can't you? You
do beat all, Maria. Go along and open the
door, And Betsy replaced the cold iron
with hot one from the stove, giving it
yindctiye spat with her wet finger, and be-
gan savagely ironing her brother Ansons
buff linen vest.
''For the lands sake, Betsy, you don't ex-
pect me to let in Brother Skeels, looking
like this, do you? You just go and open the
door while / 60 and slip on my other
dress"
And before Betsy could demonstrate, Ma
ria had climbed up the creaky stair case, and
there was no alternative but for her to re-
ceive the deacon.
sit does beat all how women do act when
there's men folks around,' mumbled Bet
sey, as she proceeded to pull up the Vent
tian blinds and open the front door for the
worthy deacon, who had been lingering
some little time under cover of the honey
suckle vine which grew on frame over the
entrance, to draw on pair of black cotton
gloves.
"Good day, Sister Elizabeth. A warm
day."
''Yesl right warm, should think, to be
riding around the country with gloves and
things all on" said Betsy, with great fierce
ness.
''Jess sop he replied, abstractedly.
'1 reckon you come to see Brother An
son." said Betsy, to his further discontinue
she is just out in the potato patch, hoeing.
Tll call him."
.'Oh, never mind! Don't disturb him, Sis
ter Elizabeth" said the deacon, somewhat
hastily; 81 just dropped in as was going
past to see how you were all getting along.
can't stay long Hem! it's quite warm"
Having stranded upon this rock once be-
fore, it seemed strange that the deacon
should rashly have yentured remark the
second time upon the weather, but it was
an act born of desperation, as drowning
man will grasp at thorn bush or singing
nettle when he finds himself going down. As
might have been expected he found himself
stung.
''You seem to feel the heat amazing, Mr..
Skeels. Pears like you'd be more comfort-
able in your store, daytimes, than riding
round the country" said Betsy, in thorny
way that pricked the very heart out of what
little self possession he had left; and he was
about to Withdraw discomftted, when the
low door leading from the ENTRY way open
ed, and Maria appeared, dressed in a man
ner that would undoubtedly have elected
some satirical comment from her sisters
sharp tongue, had not that worthy lady at
the moment espied family of vagabond pigs
entering the front gate, which the deacon.
in his excitement, had forgotten to fasten,
bonnet wildly, 'Shool HE, there, shoe
therer'
Maria seemed little embarrassed, and the
deacon, too, at first, not having recovered
bis equilibrium, was not quite at his ease,
and occupied himself some little time with
his hat.
"Like as not, Pm hindering you from
you chores, Sister Maria,'' said the deacon,
finally, having deposited his hat on copy
of "Fox's Martyrs which lay on the ia
BILE.
sob no not the least, Brother Skeels; Pm
right glad to see you,' said Maria, in such a
modest, coy, coquettish way that the deacon
felt encouraged at once. and moved his chair
little nearer TO the settee on which Maria
was sitting.
The deacon felt that the'course of his WOO
ing had run rather roughly at the outset.
but now he was evidently sailing into smooth
waters, and his countenance assumed be-
nign expression, habitual to it when goods
were selling well and life seemed at its BEST
ssYou have been quite regular to prayer
meetings of late, Sister Maria; its very sooth-
ing like to my soul to see you there so fire.
quently."
No doubt it was, for the deacon, if he had
any of Betsy's keen insight, must have no.
ticed that Maria's interest in religious mat
tiers had become suddenly awakened soon
after Sister Skeels had been laid in the ST.
lent tomb; and her regular attendance at
prayer meeting was attributed by few ma
licious persons to other motives than those
of pious nature.
Whether the deacon had also OWNED Ma
ria's motives, and attributed her religious
enthusiasm to his eloquent prayers and ex-
hortations sin meeting" cannot be known,
but certainly the tender and and sympathe-
tic chances she had cast over to his side of
the church had their effect upon his suscep-
tible bosom, and now that she sat on the set
tee so near him, in the cool and quiet seclu-
sion of Squire Parrots front room with the
honeysuckle odors stealing in at the low
door he felt moved to tenderness.
''Sister Marier," said he, "this is miser-
able world"
Eyes, Brother Skeels," said the mai den,
alphabetically.
81 don't take ne sort of pleasure in moth
ing since l lost my partner; life seems so
lonely like" said the deacon. Scripture
says it amt good for man to be alone"
II don't reckon as how you'll never find
no one to take her place." said Maria, timid-
ly.
"Ah! sister Marier, there is them as could
-. L.