Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-01-25
THE DEACON'S WOOING.

The sun had disappeared behind the
hills OF New Bethany and the inger-
ing lights on the mountain tops were
changing from rose to purple, when
Deacon Pinch stopped his melancholy
old mare in front of the village post
Office. 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 fashion of small country
towns remote from railway and manu-
featuring centers.
Whoa, Mary janet" said the dea-
con 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 stumbling 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
night invariably the postoffice, and,
as late variation, an after pause at
the house of Mrs. Betsey Hill, the
milliner, who for quarter of CEN
fury had supplied the women of New
Bethany with headgear fearfully and
wonderfully made.
The moment the deacon stepped in
side the Office he knew, from the unu-
sual buzz of conversation, that some
thing extraordinary had happened.
Heard the news-eh, deacon2"
asked one of the village loungers.
The deacon looked up inquiringly.
Miss Keziah's had an amazin' streak
of luck.
tits been nothing but an amazin'
streak of luck ever since she was
born, returned the deacon. ''If own
in the best farm in town and hevin'
money at interest isn't luck, I'd like to
know what it is"
Eyes; but this is something out of
common. You used to know her bro
ther who died years ago and left his
only child for Miss. Keziah to bring
ups Wa'al, when the old man Mead
died, Miss Keziah took the farm as her
share of the property, and her brother,
bein' of a rovin' turn of mind, took the
few thousand of personal property as
his'n, and invested EN- in western
lands, which turned out to be worth
less, and he lost every cent he put in.
Folks always blamed him for bein' so
foolish and hasty, and they say grief
and modification alike fastened his
death. Wa'al, it turns out that they
put railroad square thro' the lands,
and it's sent real estate way up, no.
body knows where. Miss Keziah's
been offered nigh onto 5000 for the
lands, and they say she'll get ever so
much more if she only holds on"
You don't mean it2"
81 dew; it's as trew as Scripture"
She'll hold out, never fear, said
the deacon, land / hold it to be our
bounden 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 weekly paper-the dea-
con seemed in great hurry to get
home.
1t was the night of the choir rehear-
sal, and in driving by the church he
saw Mary Mead, Miss Keziah's niece,
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. Its mebbe a
long while afore ye'll hev such good
chance ag'in. She'll be sure to be
alone for couple of hours or so-hi,
old ladyl no stoppin' here tonight"
he added, giving the lines sudden
twist as Mary Jane showed an incli
nation to 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
her as usual. Then he entered the
house and hastily swallowing the
scanty supper which the hired woman
placed before him, donned his best
clothes and drove off again at rapid
pace,
Law sakes alivein exclaimed the
woman, amazed. 1.-THE deacon's got
sumthin' on his mind surei It's the
first time / ever knew him to disre-
member to. ask blessing"
Ever sinca the death of his wife
Deacon Pinch had looked on Miss Ke-
ziah 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
several lInes knocKlng at the door OF
Mrs Betsey Hills little brown house,
and the worthy milliner was over
joyed 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 pos
sessions, to sink into insignificance by
the side of the rich. woman with her
well titled acres, her OVERLOOKING barns
and her prospective thousands of dol
lars.
The idea of failure in his matrimo-
NAL venture never entered the deacon's,
head. THE way afore We is as plain
and straight as pipe stem, Solomon.
Pinch" he murmured, rubbing the
palms of his hands together, as he
walked toward Miss Keziah's side door,
Women is mostly alike-eager an
willin' to embrace matrimonial oppor-
tunities. They'll snap at an offer like
q hungry trout at a worm. She has
gcs the money, and ] hev got the
prominence and influence; that's a
pint not to be overlooked; and dea-
cons isn't to be had every day. Put