The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-03-01
THE DEACON'S WOOING.

THE DEACON'S WOOING.
The sun had disappeared beyond the
hills of New Bethany and the lingering
lights on the mountain tops were chang
ing from rose to purple, when Deacon
Pinch stopped his melancholy old mare
IN front of the village postoffice 1t was
Saturday night, the only time when
New Bethany reused itself from its
lethargy and showed any signs of life
and energy. The rest of the week it
drowsed and languished after the fash
ion of small country towns remote from
railway and manufacturing centres.
| Whoa, Mary Jane p said the deacon
with unnecessary emphasis, throwing
the reins on the mares broad back,
and springing to the ground.
But the respondent Mary had al
ready ceased her shambling gait from
sheer force of habit A ten years ser
vice with the deacon had made her
perfectly familiar with the accustomed
round OF stopping places. Wednesday
night it was prayer meeting; Sunday
the church service and Saturday Dight
invariably the postofice, and as late
variation, an after pause at the house
of Mrs. Betsey Hill, the milhner. who
tor a quarter of century had supplied
the women of New Bethany with head
gear fearfully aud wonderfully made.
The moment the deacon stopped in
side the office he knew, from the un-
usual buzz of conversation, that some
thing extraordinary had happened.
Heard the news-eh, deaconl asked
one of the village loungers.
The deacon looked up inquiringly.
Miss Keziah's had an amazn' streak
of luck.
It's been nothing but an amazIn'
streak Of luck ever since she was born,
returned the deacon. II ownin' the
best farm in town and hevln' money at
interests isn't luck, like to know what
it is.
| Yes; but this is something out of
common. You used to know her
brother who died years ago and lett his
only child for Miss Keziah to bring up ?
Wa'al, when thgold man Mead died,
Miss Keziah took the farm as her share
of the property, anj her brother, bein'
OF rovin' mind, took the few thous-
and 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 griet and mortifica
lion alike fastened his death. Wa'al,
it turns out that they put railroad
square thro' the lands, and it's sent real
estate away up, nobody knows where.
Miss Keziah's been offered nigh onto
$4,000 for the lands, and they say she III
get ever so much more if she only
holds on.
You don't mean itP
l dew it's as true as Scripture.
| Shell 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 lingering as usual for the
village gosslp-for New Bethany post
| office on Saturday night answered the
purpose of weekly paper-the deacon
seemed in a great hurry to get home.
1t was the night of the choir rehearsal,
and IN driving by the church he saw
Mary Mead, Miss Keziah's neice, going
up the steps. He suddenly whipped
up his sleepy old mare and drove home
at breakneck rate of speed.
Now's your time, Solomon Pinch, he
muttered to himself. It's mebbe long
while afore yell have such a good
chance agin. She'll be sure to be alone
for couple OF hours or so-hi, old
lady NO stoppin' here to night, he ad-
ded, giving the lines sudden twist as
Mary Jane showed an inclination tc
stop before Betsey Hills house; we've
other fish to fry, now, old gal.
When he reached home he drove the
mare under the horse shed, and TIED
her there, instead OF embarrassing hel
i, as usual. Then he entered the house
and hastily swallowing the scanty sup
per which the hired woman had placed
before him, donned his best clothes
and drove off again at rapid pace.
Law sakes alive exclaimed the wo-
man, amazed. The deacon's got sum-
thin on his mind sure It's the first
time | ever knew him to disremembel
to ask blessing.
Ever since the death of his wife Dea-
con Pinch had looked on Miss X Ziah
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. Oh
late he had been seen several times.
knocking at the door of Mrs. Betsey
Hills little brown house, and the worthy
miliner was overjoyed at the brilliant
propect before her. But the news of the
sudden rise in western lands caused
Mrs. Hill, with her small possessions,
20 sink into inslgnifcance by the side
of the rich woman with her well titled
acres. her overhowing barns and hel
prospective thousands of dollars.
The idea of failure in his matrimonial
venture never entered the Geacon's
head. The way atore ye is as plain and
straight as pipe stem, Solomon Pinch,