Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-06-05
Lippincott's Magazine.

Deacon Pinch stopped his mel.
ancholy old mare in front of the viii
lage postoftice. 1t was Saturday
night, the only time when New Beth
any reused itself from it's 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 accus-
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 amazin'
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 isl
"ies; 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? Well, 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 Ofmind
took the few thousand 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 grief and modification like
FASTENED his death. Wa'al. it turns
out they have put railroad square
thro' the land, and it's sent real es-
tate way up, nobody knows where.
Miss keziah's been offered nigh on to
$4,000 for the lands, and they say
shej will get ever SO much if she only
holds on"
"You don't mean it,"
II dew; it's as trew as Scripture. "
She'll hold out, never fear" said
the deacon, "und hold it to be yur
bounden duty, as neighbors, to adj
wise her to that end"
Instead OF lingering, as usual, for
the village gossip-for New Bethany
postotfice on Saturday night answer
ed the purpose of a weekly paper
the deacon seemed in n great hurry
to get home.
1t was the night OF the choir rehens-
al. and in driving by the church he
saw Mary Mead, Miss kezinh's neice,
going up the steps. He suddenly
whipped up his sleepy old mare and
drove home at a break-neck rate OF
speed.
"Now's your time. Solomon Pinch. "
he muttered to himself It's meb-
be n long while afors yell hev such a
good chance ag'in. She'll sure to
be alone for a couple of hours
or so-hi, old lady! no stop
PIN here tonight, he added. Civ
ing the lines a sudden twist as Mary
j. IA showed an inclination to stop