The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-12-01
1 there was ought Of earthly love IN il, that,

If there was ought Of earthly love IN il. that,
too, was but part Of the heavenly.
They did not say much as they drove old
Suke down to church that evening hush Of
expectancy seemed to hare fallen upon them,
like the hush in the air about them as ii
waited for the snow.
Chrissy had always gone right into Uncle
Sings pew Sunday evenings, and when Deacon
Joel had come in, later, from blanketing
Suke he had gone into his own, which was
three or four seats back of Uncle Sings; but
tonight, when Chrissy heard his step in the
aisle-she did not have to turn to know tit
did not stop at his own pew. hut came on to
where she was sitting With a beating
heart, conscious that she and he deacon had
changed places, and he was the cool, sell pos-
sessed one now, while she was trembling in
every nerve.
sIt's snowin' quite fast" said the deacon,
turning up his overcoat collar as they stood
in the church entry after the service ~'Ta'n't
deep yet it's only step or two to the shed,
and if you don mind comm out there with
me, / can take more time to fix the blankets
under shelter than I could out in the snow
But you better step in by the fire again min
ute, for guess I'll bring Mr.. Owens horse
around for him. 1t allus gives him the rheum-
atcs to be out in the snow!"
sJust like him! Thinks of everybody"
thought ClYrissy, proudly, as she put her toes
up on the stoEe-hearth.
evening, and what few wagons had been in the
shed were gone when the deacon and Chrissy
went to theirs He helped her up into the
high-seated schooner-wagon, and she sat
there, her waterproof drawn close around her,
waiting while he united Sukey with happy
little shiver at her heart that grew into
thrill as she got in and tucked the buffalo robe
carefully around her, wrapping her up to the
chin.
SIN afraid you'll be cold, ridin face to the
wind" said he.
Cold! Chrissy felt as if she had warmth
enough at her heart to keep her warm in an
iceberg!
@Now, Sukey gall Brace up, for you've
got to go out in the storm" he said to the
mare, taking the reins in his mittened hands,
backing her ont from under the shed, and
starting her out into the falling snow.
For time they were silent, listening to the
soft, even fall of Sukey's hoofs, and the
crunch1ng of the wagon wheels on the snow
"Did you mind my comm up and settin'
in the seat with YOU to-night?b the deacon
asked after while, with little hesitation.
@No, said Chrissy, with slight catching of
her breath.
Il dunno what made me-" he went on,
musingly, II didn't mean to, but before /
knew it was there! l guess twas because
allus feel as if | n@lst be where you are.
Perhaps I ought not to write what Chrissy
did then, for know her behavior was highly
improper, and / can offer no excuse for it;
but at those simple, slow-spoken words all
that had been in her heart that day. and all
she had seen in his ever since she first came
to Middleport, swept over her, making the
thrill of happiness within her uncomfortable,
and she bent her face to Deacon Joels coat
sleeve and kissed it four times! Then she
gave little gasp.
Il beg your pardon! L didn't mean to do
It'll" she said, unconsciously using his own
words.
1t was we'll for all concerned that old Suke
was the steady, self-poised animal she was,
Tor that minute the deacon forgot all about
her. He pulled his mitten of his good right
hand, and cropping under Chrissy's waterproof
for hers took it in strong clasp in which
throbbed all unspeakable things.
"Dou't ask my pardon for maxim me so
happy" he said, huskily, a amt got much
to offer you-nothin' but the homestead and
West Farm and old Suke herewith quaint
humor-"but I've wanted to offer what there
is ever since you came to Middleport"
"You-you've offered me fortune, Deacon
Emmett" said Crissy, and then she gave
shy, trembling little laugh and hid her face
again in the deacon's coat-sleeve.
On logged old Suke as steadily as though
she were not driving herself, lazily whisking
the snow from her name and tail once in
while and keeping up her even pace. On she
went by the dark little pond that was greedily
road where Parson Owen had driven few
minutes before Had the deacon known what
she was about he would have said with
laugh that she had her reasons for choosing
the longest way home in the storm That
she had her reasons, and that they
were of far more Importance than even
the deacon would have supposed, do not
doubt for when she got opposite the parson-
age she stopped!
whoa" said Deacon Joel promptly, com
ing out of the buffalo robe; 81 declare if the
animal ant up on the north road and oppo-
site the parsonage!"
Marvellous things were happeningto Deacon
Joel that night, and now another happened
sudden thought struck him.
Il declared" he said slowly, II never thought
of it before, but why shouldn't we go inland
be married now-to-night! I dunno what
Mis- Eben would say!'' he finished, with a
happy little chuckle
@And 1 never thought of it before" said
Chrissy (who had regained her normal self
under the genial influences of the hour, with
laugh, "but declare [ don't see anything
to hinder! amt got any money to spend on
weddin fixin's, and if had I'd rather be mar
ried in the dress I've got on than any other in
the world. It's the one that brought us to-
gether. We can stop and tell the folks,
and I'll give you the best corn bread you ever
ate for breakfast tomorrow mornin."
And she did
swell, WE'LL" said Uncle Siny, when the
thing was made quite clear to his belated COM
prehension. Seems to me the deacon amt
done much courtin'. There was his father,
now, Deacon Elim he courted his wife nigh
onto eight year, and if folks spoke the truth,
like to not got spunk enough to speak out then.
She Want bit like the deacon; he was soft
spoken, and she was kind O. high strung; it
allus beat me to see why she hadn't ha' made
him speak up before. She was Slater-Luke
Skaters daughter-'Docto Luke we allus use
V e w e cause r. %ag fa f S na son
me the deacon ant done much courtin.'
give gen'ally noticed that when old bach
elors once get started they do things up in
hurrY,n remarked Johns wife sententionslY