The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-04-09
THE DEAcoN's wooINo.

The sun had disappeared behind the
hills of New Bethany and the lingering
light on the mountain tops was chang
ing from rose TO purple when Deacon
Plach stopped his melancholy old mare
in front Of the village post office.
It was Saturday night, the only time
when New Bethany reused itself from
its lethargy. and showed any sign of
life and energy The rest of the week
it drowsed and ,anguished after the
fashion of small country towns remote
from railway and manufacturing cen
tres.
-'whoa, Mary Jane" said the deacon,
with unnecessary emphasis throwing
the reins on the mares broad back, and
springing to the ground.
But the despoudent Mary Jane had al
ready ceased her shambIing gait from
sheer force of habit A ten years ser
vice with the deacon bad made her per-
fectly familiar with. the accustomed
round of stopping places. Wednesday
night it was prayer meeting Sunday,
the church service, and Saturday night
invariably the post Office, and, as late
variation, an after pause at the house of
Mrs. Betsy Hill, the milliner, who for a
quarter of a century had supplied the
women of New Bethany with head gear
fearfally and wonderfully made.
The moment the deacon stepped inside
the Office he knew, from the unusual
buzz of conversation, that something
extraordinary had happened.
~Heari the news, deacon asked one
of the village lenngers.
The deacon looked up in an inquiring
manner.
Miss 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
I best farm in town and hevin' money at
interest isn't luck, would ike to know
what is"
'sYes; but this is somethin' out of COM
mon. You used 10 know her brother
who died years ago and left his only
child for Miss Keziah to bring up? Wal,
/ when the old man Mead died Miss Kez-
iah took the farm as her share of the
property, and her brother being of a
rovin' turn of mind, took the few thou
sand of personal property as his'n and
/ invested EN- in Western lands, which
turned out 70 be worthless, and he lost
every cent lie put IN Folks always
blamed him for bein' so foolish and
hasty, and they say grief and mortifca-
ton hastened his death. Wal, it turns
out they have put railroad straight
through the lands and it's sent real es-
tate way up, nobody knows where. Miss
Keziah's been offered nigh onto IS .000
for the lands, and they say she will get
ever so much more if she only holds
or
You don't mean il ?"
Il dew it's trew as Scripture
"She'lI hold out, never fear, said the
deacon. and ! hold it to be our bound
er duty as neighbors to advise her to
that end
Instead Of lingering as usual for the
village gossip-for New Bethany post
Office on Saturday night answered the
purpose Of a weekly paper-the deacon
seemed in a great hurry to get home.
1t was the night Of the choir rehearsal,
and as the deacon drove by the church
be saw Mary Mead. Miss Keziahs niece,
( going up the steps.
He suddenly whipped up his sleepy
old mare and drove home at hreakneck
speed.
-Nox's your time. Soioman Pinch" !"
he muttered to himself ~It's mebbe a
long while afore yell have such good
chance again Shell be sure to be alone
for i couple OF hours or so-hi. old lady,
no stoppin' here tonight" he added,
giving the lines sudden twist as Mary
Jane showed an inclination to stop be-
fore Mrs. Mary 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 Embarrassing her as
was his usual custom
Then he entered the house, and has
tily swallowed the scanty supper which
the hired woman placed before him.
d )nned his best clothes, and drove off
oncs more at a rapid pace.
aLaw sakes alive" exclaimed the wo-
man, amazed. The deaeon's got suthin'
on his mind, that's sure. It's the first
time that ever knowed him to disre-
member to ask blessing
Ever since the death of his wife Dea-
con Pinch had looked on Miss Keziah as
her probable successor.
For years he had gAzed on the fine
Mead farm with It's substantial build
ings. but he never could screw his cour-
age up to the point Of facing the snap
ping black eyes OF It's owner.
Oflate he had been seen several times
knocking at the door Of Miss Betsy Hills
little brown house. and the worthy mil
liner was overjoyed at the opening Of the
brilliant prospect before her.
But the news of the sudden rise in
western lands caused Miss Hill TO sink
into insignifcanee by the side of the
rich woman with her we'll tiled acres.
herover-aowing barns, and her prospect
iv. thousands Of dollars.
The idea 70 failure in bis matrimonial