The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-27

VII dlh d piO PdOO'
claw sakes a!ivev' exclaimed the
woman, amazed. ''The deacon's got
suthin' on his mind. sure! It's the first
time ever knew him to disremember 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 sub
stantial 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 sever
al times knocking at the door of Mrs.
Betsey Hills little brown house and the
worthy milliner was overjoyed at the
opening of the brilliant prospect before
her. But the news of the sudden rise
in Western lands caused Mrs. Hill,
with her small possessions, to sink into
insignifcance by the side of the rich
woman with her well-tilled acres, her
overlooking barns and her prospective
thousands of dollars.
The idea of failure in his matrimoni-
a
the Deacon's head. ''The way afore
We is as plain and straight as pipe
stem, Solomon PINCH" he murmured,
as he walked away toward Miss Keziah's
side door. "Women is most alike
eager and willing to embrace matri-
monial opportunities. They'll snap at
On offer like hungry trout at a worm.
no hos hn
the prominence and influence. That's
a pint not to be overlooked, and
deacons isn't to be had every day. Put
her money and my influence together,
and I rather guess we'll stand about
on top of the heap in New Bethany"
Miss Keziah was sitting by the table
knitting, as usual. She had just begun
to narrow for the toe of the stocking
when step sounded on the walk. She
threw down the stocking and opened
the door, and, holding the lamp high
above her head, her eyes rested on the
amazing spectacle Of the deacon in all
the Sunday magnifcence of white shirt
and shiny black broadcloth. ''Well, I
never" she calculated, and then, feel
ing that her reception had been hardly
hospitable, she lowered the lamp and
said, kindly: 'Come in, deacon, come
in"
"Thank ye, thank ye; I don't mind if
dew"
'Take seat, deacon"
THANK We, don't mind if 1 dew"
The deacon surveyed the attractive
room, which, with it's CHEEKY fire and
comfortable cushioned chairs, seemed
veritable paradise in comparison with
his untidy, ill-kept home. He placed
his hat on the floor beside his chair,
displaying his scanty gray locks. in
geniously plastered over the top of his
head, so as to cover as much of the
bald surface as possible. There was a
long pause.
''Any thing going on, deacon?" asked
Miss Keziah, resuming her knitting.
She was greatly puzzled to account for
those Sunday clothes.
"Nothin' within the range of my OBJ
servation. There won't be much a-goin'
on now till lection time; things'll be
pretty lively then"
want to buy any hay this year?'
ehirped Miss Keziah. ''Mine is extra
good this season; my hired man says
it's the best harvest yield in town"
81 rather guess I'll hev' enough to
carry me thro' the winter. If 1 don't l
shall know where to come for hay as is
hay. 1 declare your farm does beat
all! l feel kind O. rugged like when
think the best farm in town is man
aged by a woman"
Miss Keziah smiled graciously, and
the deacon drew his chair little nearer
his hostess. 'It must be great load
for We to carry alone. Such a large
farm is tremendous responsibility for
. lone woman
ooh, 1 don't mind it. It keeps me
proper busy"
The deacon hitched his chair along a
few inches further. eyed ought to
hev' brother or a cousin, or some rela-
tive like, to share the burden with ye."
''My shoulders are plenty strong" re-
piled Miss Keziah, good naturally.
''Tm glad to show fC&ks that there are
women who are good for something be-
sides giddy-gaddying and tattling."
"Yis, yis," answer ed the deacon, "we
can all testify to your valley and worth.
You're real honor to your sex.
You're-you're a bright and shinin'
beacon-light to the trifin' and vain
minded women of the world;" and the
speaker waved his hand at the conclu-
sion of this little oratorical flourish.
Then hitch, hitch, hitch, went the
chair Miss Keziahward. 'Don't you
feel sort O lonely at spells?' he asked,
insinuatingly.
Miss Keziah glanced suspiciously at
the rapidly advancing chair. She
dropped her knitting and went to the
fire and piled up the blazing stacks of
wood. Then she came back to the table
and set her chair on the further side of
it, thus putting barrier between her
and her visitor. Pm never lonely,
deacon; plenty to do is the best medi-
cine for Loneliness
but woman's a tender, dependent
creatur. Woman's vine," here the
deacon took up his weekly prayer meet
ing drawl, land needs suthin' to cling
to when the troubles, desolatin' waves
and winds O. affection and sorrow roll
over her."
''Stuff and nonsensew exclaimed Miss
Keziah, with contemptuous sniff. q
shouldn't have expected that man of
your sense, deacon, would repeat such
silly trash. have no patience with the
people who are always talking as il 2
woman couldn't stand alone, and needed
propping up like a rag doll that hadn'
any backbone. I'm no vine, or such
creeping, helpless thing, can tell you
can stand alone as we'll as anybody, i
the Lord so wills it, altho' I admit
deacon, that it's pleasanter to have some