Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-06-25
THE DEAOON'S ELOPEMENT.

"Good gracious, Betsey, if there don't
come Brother Skeels riding down the
road in his buggy! And as sure as I
live and breathe, he's all dressed up"
Atthis exclamation from Maria, Betsey
banged her flatiron down on the invert-
ed saucer on her ironing table, with q
force that nearly broke it, and with three
strides reached the kitchen porch, and,
putting up her big brawny hand to
shield her eyes from the glare of the hot
sun, gazed down the dusty road, rumb-
ling along which there came rickety
chaise, drawn by placid old mare,
whose gait said as plainly as words : IT
have done with the vanities of the world. !"
In the crazy vehicle, sat Deacon
Skeels, arrayed in his black bombazine
sack-coat, white home-spun linen panta-
looms, and q tall white hat, ornamented
with pathetic Grape band which al
most concealed the crown. This was
dress of state, as it were, with the dea-
con, and was seldom donned except on
Sundays, funeral occasions, and at the
time Of camp-meetings-the hat band
having been purchased especially for
the funeral Of the deacon's wife, who had
passed into the spiritual world three
months previous to the opening OF our
story.
The deacon evidently mad some scheme
in his mind, and clutched at the old
mare impatiently, 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 accustomed digni-
ty, and merely switched her tail DELHI
erately, and went along in her own way.
"My sakes alive, Betsey, he's COM
ing here ~
"Well you needn't go spilling the
buttermilk and things over the clean
floor, Maria, said Betsey, severely.
Betsey had no nonsense about her,
and promptly discouraged any affecta-
ton or sentiment on the part of the
sprightly Maria.
"Like enough he's drove round to git
some flowers to put. on Mrs. Skeels'
grave" added she, sarcastically. "You
lie down there, Tiger, and keep quiet"
But Maria, who saw possible hus-
band in every single man she met, re-
scented this explanation of the deacon's
unexpected visit in holiday attire, and
remarked, with some asperity: "Just as
though man ought to mourn everlast-
ing for poor, weak little thing like her;
she weren't no companion for him, no
way. Such man as the deacon deserves
a real lively partner.
The deacon, after prolonged con-
tention with the offended mare, had per-
suaded her to be tied, and was now
walking up between Maria'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 alive |"
"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? What are you futtering so
about, just like the deacon was keeping
company with you? You do beat all,
Maria. Go along and open the door. :"
And Betsey replaced the cold iron with
q hot one from the stove, giving it a
vindictive spat with her wet finger, and
began savagely ironing her brother An
sons buff linen vest.
"Forthe lands sake, Betsey, you don't
expect me to let in Brother Skeels look
ing like this, do you? You just go and
open the door while I go and slip on my
other Dress"
And before Betsey could demonstrate,
Maria had climbed up the creaky stair
case, and there was no alternative but
for her to receive the deacon.
It does beat all how women do act
when there's men folks around" num-
bled Betsey, as she proceeded to pull up
the Venetian blinds, and open the front
door for the worthy deacon, who had
been lingering some little time under
cover of the honeysuckle vine which
grew on frame over the entrance, to
draw on pair Of black cotton gloves.
"Good-day, Sister Elizabeth. A
warm day."
"Yes right warm, I should think, to
be riding around the country with gloves
and things all on said Betsey with
great ferceness.
"Jess so! !" he replied, abstractedly.
ST reckon you come to see brother
Arson" said Betsey. to his further dis
comfture che is just out in the pota-
to patch. hoeing, I'll call him."
ooh, never mind don't disturb him
Sister Elizabeth" said the deacon, some
what hastily ;"I just dropped in as I
was going past to see how you were all
getting along. I can't stay long. Hem |!
it's quite warm"
Having stranded upon this rock once
before, it seemed strange that the dea-
con should rashly have ventured a re-
mark the second time upon the weather;
but it was an act born of desperation, as
q 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
comfortable in your store, daytimes,
than riding around the country" said
Betsey, in a thorny way thatpricked the
very heart out of what little self-pos-
session he had left and he was about
to withdraw, utterly discounted, when
the low door leading from the CEN
try-way" opened, and Maria appeared,
dressed In manner that would un-
doubtedly have elected some satirical
comment from her sisters sharp tongue,
had not that worthy lady at the moment