The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-04-09

lively then"
want 10 buy any hay this year7'
ehirped Miss keziah. Mine Is extra
good this season my hired man says il
IS the best harvest yield in town
Il rather guess III have enough 10
carry me through the winter. If / don't
/ shall know where to come fur hay as
is hay. declare, your farm does beat
all / feel kind o rigged ike when |
think the best farm in town is managed
by a woman
Miss Keziah smiled graciously and
the deacon drew his chair nearer his
hostess. at must be great load for
We to carry alone. Such large farm IS
tremendous responsibility for lone
woman"
@oh, 1 don't mind it. It keeps me
proper busy"
The deacon hitehed his chair along q
few inches farther.
"Ye'd oughter have brother or eous-
in, or some relative like to share the
burden with you
My shoulders are plenty strong" re-
turned Miss Keziah good naturedly. Il
am glad to show folks there are women
who are good for something besides
giddy -gaddying and tattling-"
yes answered the deacon, 1--WE can
all testify to your valley and worth.
You're real honor to your sex You are
bright and shinin' beacon light 10 the
triain' and yain-minded women of the
world,7 and the speaker waved his hand
at the conclusion of this little oratorieal
flourish.
Then hitch, hitch, went the chair Miss
Keith ward.
@Don't you feel sort O. lonely at spells ~
he asked.
Miss Keziah glanced suspiciously at
the rapidly advancing chair She we1
to the fire and put some wood on. and
then came back and set her chair on the
farther side Of the table thus putting a
barrier between them
I'm never lonely, deacon. Plenty TO
do is the best medicine for loneliness"
But woman's a tender, dependent
ereatur' Woman's a vine" here the
deacon took up his weekly prayer-meet
ing drawI, '-and needs suthing to cling
TO when the troublous, desolatin' winds
and waves of affliction and sorrow roll
over her"
"Stuf and nonsense" said Miss Ke-
ziah, with a contemptuous sniff. Il can
tell you l can stand alone as well as any
body, if the Lord wills it. tho I admit it
is pleasanter to have some one keep you
company"
That's Just it. Now it seems TO me
that it would be good thing if ne could
walk hand in hand through this vale o
tears"
Miss Keziah was dumbfounded, but a
look at her aged admirer excited her TO
say wrathfulIy: 'The old fool p
The deacon started to beat a retreat.
but the yarn was wound around his boots
and he had to remain.
"When you began your talkin," she
said, Il thought you was hintin' about
Betsy Hill, and wanted to take me into
your confidence. l never dreamed you
meant me. l wouldn't give up my free
dom for the best man living. Betsy Hin
Eil make good wife for you, and she
needs home herself And let me tell
you, deacon, if you'll stir around and
pick the stczes out of your lots and NOV
the weeds there's no reason why your
farm shouldn't look as well as mine. II
Eve said anything to hurt your feelings,
deacon, hope yoa'll overlook it. Why
you're all tangled I'D in the yarn III un-
tangle it,
The DELAY caused by this gave Miss
Keziah chance sor further remark
~One word more, deacon have you
heard about the western lands -
The deacon wished he was anywhere
ont OF range Of those merciless black
eyes.
81 think I've heern su.hin' about
en-" he replied, meekly.
Il thought so, | thought So" exciaim-
ed Miss Keziah, savagely "Well, dea-
con, those lands rightfaIIy belong to my
nj, ce, Mary, and osly hold them as her
guardian
The deacon began to look upon his re-
lection as a blessing in disguise, for
without the western lands Miss keziah's 5
attractions seemed tame compared with
those of mild, blue eyed, buxom Widow
Hill Il can trust We not to mention
this ?" he asked, timidly.
Il shall not mention it. Now follow
my advice, deacon make sure Of Betsy
Hill before another week goes by. You
have my good wishes. See to this at
once
Thank ye, thank ye; I don't mind if
1 dew
The good woman followed her crest
fallen visitor to the door. Asa sudden
gust Of cold night air put out the light,
she said The arr is snspping tonight I;
have frost, eh, deacon"
And the discomfittei deacon felt that
be had been nipped by something sharp
er than a frost Liippihcofs Aega-fas-