Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-02-09
THE DEAC0N'S FIX.

: THE DEAC0N'S FIX.
!. II wonder he didn't take the parson,
unused the deacon's housekeeper as the
deacon drove off alone to the annual
conference. Hes commonly mqster-
thoughtful about looking out for folks.
What husband he was !"
Yes, Asa Phoenix had been a good
husband. All the neighbors agreed
with Mrs. Dubbs in that particular. lie
had waited en- his fussy invalid wife by
inches for thirty years, making her as
happy as she would let him ana when
her summons came, he had closed her
dying eyes tenderly, saying, even with
tears
poor sufferer, she is better off 7
That he was better oft he never hinted
by word or look. He wore his widow
er's weeds with sad decorum he reared
in memory of the departed Lucinda a
monument which the most fastidious
deceased might have envied he grieved
faithfully for the full allotted year oi
mourning. If now, from the ashes Of
the funeral pyre, like his feathered
namesake of fable, he was springing NJ
with renewed youth and freshness, was
it not we'll
In truth, though he had not seen fiji
to confde this fact to Mrs. Dubbs, Dea
con Phun1x had sighted the minister
deliberately, and with malice afore-
thought Nor was it Of the conference
he was thinking that fragrant June
morning as he whirled away, tacking q
lap-robe well ubout his glossy new
broadcloth.
For once in his hitherto blameless life
he was essaying to hide the secular
underneath the spiritual He did not
mean to go straight to meeting it was
nls Willy intention to make a wide cir.
the town Of Chester. lie hes4 q s as "
TO ask her, and did not want the parson
with him ; he hoped he might want him
little later.
Pretty, cheerful Olive How fond he
had been OF her years ago, when she
attended his school 1t 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 tfat he had been
enabled by money and influence to help
her family over some hard places Please
God, the dear girl should henceforth
have an easy life. Girl Why, little
Olive must be fifty!
The good deacon laughed at the
amusing recollection. Well, she would
always be young to him. And as for
himself, at sixty odd he was a hale man
yet he could jump fve.rail fence
now as well as ever he could give him
time. T[is thoughts continually reverted
to Olive, so patiently devoted to her
invalid father She should bring the
old gentleman to his home il she
wished, or he would provide for his
mainte, ance at her brother Reuben's
He was inclined to consider that the
better plan. The money woud be an
object to Reuben, and Olive would be
In these cogitations the morning
and noon found Dalctn PGmnix
at a little hotel in Chester Impatient
of delay, after hasty dinner he set out
almost Immediately fer tie Wayne
homestead. Arrived at the gate he
spied Miss Olive at the window and
alighted with a youth.ula j i.y not alto.
gether prudent in a man who had
twinges OF sciatica. And yet, strange
inconsistency OF human nature he dat
lied with the hitching post, and after
ward, with his hand on the very knock
er, he paused to scan the distant hor.
zon, as though he had come mainly for
view of the mountains.
Miss Olive opened the door, her
cheeks flushing like late October peach-
es. She would not have been woman
had she not OWNED the deacon's tender
proclaimed by every detail Of
his immaculate toilet, by the grasp of
his hand, by his nervous, eXpectant air
And, moreover Miss Olive was an attrac-
tive woman, not uuYersed IN lovers
ways
"Happy to see YOU Mr.. Phoenix.
Walk in, !" said she, furriediy Y, ushering
him into the sitting room, where her
aged father dozed in his arm chair.
"Who is it, Olive 2 said the old gen
tleman, waking with a bewildered stare
'Mr. Phoenix, father, You remember
Mr.. Phoenix, I'm sure"
81 don't know as / do, said he, quer-
ulously, fumbling with the guests out.
stretched hand. ''What he come for,
Olive ?"
The deacon looked as if he was sud
denly feeling the hot weather Miss
Olive was positively feverish, but she
deity evaded the troublesome question
by divcrting her fathers attention. His
peppermint tea was ready-would he not
drink it? As she hoyered about the
invalid, Strengthening his footstool, ar
ranging his pillows, steadying the cup
while he drank, Mr.. Phoenix regarded
her admiringly. How young she
seemed still Not a gray thread in her
golden hair scarcely a wrinkle in her
face. That was because Of her excellent
disposition. He waited till she had
soothed the old man into slumber, then
in direct, manly way introduced the
sub,ec that lay next his heart.
Miss Olive interrupted him by an
eloquent glance toward her father.
He is very childish and dependent
He cannot do without me"
"Let me help you care for him, Olive /;
my house is large, my means are am
Pile"
Il couldn't. mr. Phnnix- 1t is like
your generosity to propose such a thing;
but | opuldn's have Mm burden upon
YeE'