Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-03-20
IHE DEACOES WOOING.

=
ing light on the mountain tops wer
changing from rose to purple vhel
Deacon Pinch stopped his meIanchol
old mare in front OF the village DOS
Office. 1t was Saturday night, tn
only time when New Bethany rouseC
itself from its Iethargy and showeC
any signs of life and energy. Th,
rest of the week it drowsed and Ian
guished after the fashion of small
country towns remote from railway
and manufacturing centers.
Whoa, Mary janet said the deacon
with unnecessary emphasis, throw
ing the reins on the mares back. anc
springing TO the ground.
But the despondent Mary Jane had
already ceased her shambling gait
from sheer force of habit. A ter
years service with the deacon had
made her perfectly familiar with the
accustomed round of stopping places
Wednesday nlghtit was prayer meet
ing; Sunday, the church service, and
Saturday night invariably to the post
Office, and, as late variation, an after
pause at the house of Mrs. Betsy Hill,
the milliner, who for quarter of a
century had supplied the women OF
New Bethany with head gear fesrfully
and wonderfully made.
The moment the deacon stepped in.
side 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 village loungers.
The deacon looked up inquiringly.
Miss Kezlah'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 own
in' the best farm in town and hevin'
money at interest isn't luck, I'd like
to know what it 49,
Yes; but this is something out of
common. You used to know her
brother who died years ago and left
his only child for Miss Keziah to
bring up? Wa'sl, when the old man
Mead died Miss Keziah took the farm
as her share Of the property, and her
brother, bein' of q rovin' turn Of mind
took the few thousand of personal
property as his'n and invested 'em in
western lands, which turned out
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 like hasten
ed his death. Wa'al, 1t turns out they
have put railroad square thro' the
lands and it's sent real estate way up,
nobody knows where. Miss Keziah's
been offered nigh on to $4,000 for the
lands, and they say she will get ever
SO much more it she only holds on
You don't mean it7'
i dew; it's as trew as Scripture
She'll hold out, never fear said
the decon, and I 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 great hurry to get
home.
1t was the night of choir rehearsal,
and in diving by the church he saw
Mary Mead, Miss Keziah's niece, 90.
ing up the steps. He suddenly
whipped up his sleepy old mare and
drove him on at break-neck rate of
speed.
'Now's your time, Solomon Pinch,
he muttered to himself. 'It's mebbe
long whils afore ye'll have such a
good chance ag'in. She'll be sure to
be alone for 3 couple of hours or So
hi. old lady! no stoppin' here tonight,
he added, giving the lines g sudden
twist as Mary Jane showed an lnclina-
tion to stop before Mrs. Betsey 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 usual. Then he entered the
house, and hastily swallowed the
scanty supper which the hired woman
placed before him, donned HE best
clothes and drove off again at rapid
pace.
Law sakes alivel' exclaimed the
woman amazed. The deacon's got
somethin, on his mind sure! It's the
first time / ever knew him to disre-
member to- oask blessing
Ever since the death Of his wife
Deacon Pinch has looked on Miss
Keziah as her probable successor. For
many years he had gazed with covet-
ous eyes on the fine Mead farm with
its substantial buildings, but he never
could screw his coursge up to the
point Of facing the snapping black eyes
Of its owner. OF late be had been
seen several times knocking at tae
door Of Mrs. Betsy Hill's little brown
house, and the worthy milliner was
overjoyed at the opening of the brill