Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-02-10
The DeacOn's WOOing.

was changing from rose to purpI
when Deacon Pinch stopped his mel
ancholy old mare in front of the vii
lage post office. 1t was SATURDAY
night, the only time when New Beth
any reused itself from its lethargl
and showed any signs of life and
energy. The rest of the week il
drowsed and languished after the
fashion of small country towns re-
mote from railway and manufacture
ing centers.
"Whoa, Mary janet" said the
deacon, with unnecessary emphasis,
throwing the reins on the mares
broad back, and springing to the
ground.
But the respondent Mary Jane had
already ceased her shambling gait
from sheer force of habit. A ten
years service with the deacon had
made her perfectly familiar with the
accustomed round of stopping places.
Wednesday night it was prayer meet
ing; Sunday, the church service,
and Saturday night invariably the
post office, and, as a late variation,
an after pause at the house of Mrs.
Betsey Hill, the milliner, who for
quarter of a century had supplied the
woman of New Bethany with head
gear fearfully and wonderfully made.
The moment the deacon stepped
inside the office he knew, from the
unusual buzz of conversation, that
something extraordinary had hap
pened.
ssHeard the news-eh, deacon ?"
asked one of the village loungers.
The deacon looked up inquiringly.
ssMiss Keziah's had an amazin'
streak of luck
''It's been nothing but an amazin'
streak of luck ever since she was
born" returned the deacon. ''If
ownin' the best farm in town and
hevin' money at interest isn't luck,
I'd like to know what it is
eyes; but this is something out of
common. You used to know her
brother who died years ago and left
his only child for Miss Keziah to
bring up? Wa'al, when the old man
Mead died Miss Keziah took the farm
as her share of the property, and her
brother, bein' of a rovin' turn of mind,
took the few thousand of personal
property as his'n and invested 'em in
Western lands, which turned out to
be worthless, and he lost every cent
he put in. Folks always blamed him
for bein' so foolish and hasty, and
they say grief and modification like
fastened his death. Wa'al, it turns
out they have put railroad square
thro' the lands and it's sent real es-
tate way up, nobody knows where.
Miss Keziah's been offered nigh onto
$1,000 for the lands, and they say
she will get ever so much more if she
only holds on
''You don't mean it,
81 dew; it's as true as Scripture"
''She'll hold out, never fear," said
the deacon, ''and l hold it to be our
bounden duty as neighbors to advise
her TO that end"
Instead of ling ering, as usual, for
the village gossip-for New Bethany
Post Office on Saturday night answer
ed the purpose of a weekly paper
the deacon seemed in hurry to get
home.
1t was the night of the choir re-
hearsal, and in driving by the church
he saw Mary Mead, Miss Keziah's
niece going up the steps. He sud-
denly whipped up his sleepy old mare
and drove home at break neck rate
of speed.
"Now's your time, Solomon PINCH, .
he muttered to himself. "It's mebbe
a long while afore yell hev such 81
good chance ag'in. She'll be sure to
be alone for couple of hours or so
hi, old lady! no stoppin' here to-
night" he added, after giving the
lines sudden twist as Mary Jane
showed an inclination to stop before
Mrs. Betsey Hills house "we've
other fish to fry now, old girl
When he reached home he drove
the mare under the horse shed and
tied her there, instead of unharness-
ing her as usual. Then he entered
the house, and hastily swallowing the
scanty supper which the hired woman
placed before him, donned his best
clothes and drove off again at rapid
pace.
"Law sakes alive - exclaimed the
woman, amazed. "The deacon's got
sumthin' on his mind sure It's the
first time / ever him to dlsrember to
ask blessing
Ever since the death of his wife
Deacon Pinch had looked on Miss
Keziah as her probable successor.
For years he had gazed with covetous
eyes on the fine Mead farm with its
substantial buildings, but he never
could screw his courage up to the
point of facing the swapping black
eyes of its owner. OF late he had
been seen several times knocking at
the door of Mrs. Betsey Hills little
brown house, and the worthy milli-
ner was overjoyed at the opening of
the prospect before her. But the
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