The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-02-24

when she took in his mail. Among
the letters was one that caught his eye
at once.
"Dear Friend" Git n),-"My poor
tired father is at rest. He was seized
with paralysis the morning after you
left us and passed away painless in few
hours How little l anticipated this
event when we talked together My
hands were full then; now they are
empty. My work here is done. If
you still believe l could make happy
the kind friend who has always been
our benefactor, l should be glad to see
you. Yours sincerely,
OLIVE WAYNE"
Mr.. Phoenix read this miSsive, re-read
it, shut it into the Book of Job safe from
prying Mrs. Dubbs, and drummed un-
easily on the closed Bible. What d
predicament Must he thrust back upon
Olive this gift for which he had so lately
sued Must he thus humble himself?
Worse than all, must he relinquish this
tried friend of a lifetime? Having
reached life's autumn, must herejeet its
mature and appropriate fruits for the
rhubarb and greens ofspringtime? Alas
yes he must fulfill his engagement, for
was he not an "honorable man ?" He
would write at once to Olive a candid
statement of the case.
But while he idled at his desk on the
morrow, Mr. Torrey came to ask the
loan of a horse till his should be in run
ming order, and the deacon laid down
his pen with sigh of relief
Feeling that he ought to tell his
brother-in-law of his contemplated mar
riage, he led the conversation back to
the Conference and Mrs. Vance.
"By the way, l met the widow this
morning riding with John Vance," re-
marked Mr.. Torrey, casually. "You
remember him-the brother next to
Charles? +? He's just home from Califor-
MIA, with his pocket full"
"Ah?"
eyes. Shouldn't wonder if he took
the widow. Some say they're engaged
already"
OF course the deacon knew better
than that, nevertheless he delayed his
tender confession. And he did not
write the letter. Time enough for that
after he had paid Mrs. Vance the prom
ised visit. The latter lady had certain
ly the first claim upon his attention.
Unfortunately several days of torment
ing pain ensued, during which his pa
tience wasput to pretty severe test; but
he was at last able to seek the object of
his hasty choice. He found her in her
dooryard, playing croquet with we'll
dressed gentleman.
$50 happy to see you, Deacon Phoe-
nix !'' cried she, with voluble embar-
rassment, "and so glad to introduce
Mr.. Vance, dear Charles's brother Do
come in"
81 hope my tardy coming does not
seem discourteous, Mrs. Vance," said
he, with affable formality, while the
stranger fastened to asuddenly recalled
engagement. 'I have not"
"No-oh, no." broke in the widow,
nervously.
81 have not been well. Otherwise,
under our present interesting rela-
TONS"
"Oh, Mr.. Phoenix ~ interrupted she,
throwing herself upon a cricket at his
feet. "Do you know, am so afraid l
am not the one to make you happy?
And my friends say the discrepancy in
our ages is too great. Ought l marry
against their wishes?"
"You must decide that question, dear
madam" responded the deacon, with
suppressed eagernesS. The finger of
Providence was in this. He held his
breath to make sure which way it point
ed.
"Then, if you don't mind very much,
Deacon Phoenix, perhaps it could be
better for us to part as friends. Oh
dear hope you'll forgive me if I've
done wrong"
The deacon hardly heard the closing
sentence for the glad beating of his
heart. "My dear child you done quite
right. I do not reproach you," said
he, with asmile of infinite benevolence
'It is natural that youth should choose
to wed with youth"
"And that age should wed with age"
he added, mentally, as with an adieu
almost paternal, he drove away in the
direction of Miss Olives.
He and Miss Wayne were married the
following October, but Mr.. and Mrs.
Vance waited until Christmas.