Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-07-05
I.ippincott's Magazine.

SllTSTzGT tain tops was
hanging from rose to purple when
Deacon Pinch stopped his mel
ancholy old mare in front OF the vii
lage postofice. 1t was Saturday
night, the only time when New Beth
any reused itself from its lethargy
and showed any signs CT life and en-
ergy. The rest ofthe week it drowsed
and languished after the fashion of
small country towns remote from
railway and manufacturing centers.
Whoa, Mary Jane" said the dea-
con, 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 stumbling from
sheer force of habit. A ten years SER
vice with the deacon had made her
perfectly familiar with the aecus-
toned round OF stopping places.
Wednesday night it was prayer meet
ing; Sunday, the church service, and
Saturday night invariably the post
Office, and, as late variation, an
after pause at the house of Mrs. Bet
sey Hill, the milliner, who, for quar-
ter of a century, had supplied the
women OF New Bethany with head
gear feartully and wonderfully made.
The moment the deacon stepped
inside the office he knew, from the un-
usual buzz of conversation, that
something extraordinary had hap.
pened.
Heard the news-eh, deacon?'
asked one of the villagers.
The deacon looked up inquiringly
Miss Keziah's had an amazini
streak Of luck"
Its been nothin' but an amazin'
streak of luck ever since she was
born, returned the deacon. IF ow.
in the best farm in town and havin
money at interest isn't luck, I'd like
to know what is.
''Yes; but this is something out o.
common. You used to know hel
/ brother who died years ago and left
his only child for Miss Keziah tc
bring up? Well, when the old mar
Mead died Miss keziah took the farm
as Ter share of the property, and hei
brother bein' of arovin' turn ofmind
took the few thousand of persona
property as his'n and invested EN- il
western lands, which turned out tc
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 likt
FASTENED his death. Wa'al. it turns
ont they have put a railroad square
thro' the land, and it's sent real es
tate way up, nobody knows where
Miss keziah's been offered nigh on tt
/ $4,000 for the lands, and they SAL
she! will get ever so much if she onll
! holds or"
"You don't mean it?"
II dew; it's as trew as Scripture.
"She'll hold out, never fear, saic
the deacon, ''and / hold it to be WI
boundcn duty, as neighbors, to ad
wise her to that end"
Instead of lingering, as usual, 70
the village gossip-for New Bethan,
! postoffice on Saturday night answer
ed the purpose Of a weekly paper
the deacon seemed in a great hurr,
to get. home.
| 1t was the night otthe chUirreheas
al, and in driving by the church h
saw Mary Mead, Miss Keziah's neice
going up the steps. He suddenI,
whipped up his sleepy old mare an,
drove home at a break-neck rate O
speed.
i "Now's your time, Solomon Pinch,
he muttered to himself. Its meh
be long while afore yell hev such
good chance ag'in. She'll sure t,
be alone for couple of houri
or so-hi, old lady! no stop
pin here tonight, he added, Civ
ing the lines sudden twist as Mar,
JIne showed an inclination to stol