The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-05-22

tho door, and, holding the lamp high
above her head, her eyes rested on the
amazing spectacle OF the deacon in all
the Sunday magnificence of white shirt
and shiny black broadcloth. well,
never" she CALCULATED, and then, feel
ing that her reception had been hardly
hospitable, she lowered the lamp and
said, kindly: Come in, deacon, come
in"
Thank We. thank yc; l don't mind II
/ dew"
Take seat, deacon"
Thank We, don't mind If dew"
The deacon surveyed the attractive
room. which, with its CHEEKY fire and
comfortable cushioned chairs, seemed
veritable paradise in comparison with
his untidy. ill-kept home. lie placed
his hat on the floor beside his chair,
displaying his scanty gray locks. in
geniously plastered over the top Of his
head, SO as to cover as much Of the
bald surface as possible. There was .
long pause.
ANY thing going on, dcacon?" asked
Miss keziah. rcsuming her knitting
She was greatly puzzled to account for
those Sunday clothes.
"Nothin' within the range Of my Oh
servation. There won't be much a-goin'
on now till lection time; things'll be
pretty lively them
want to buy any hay this year?''
chirped Miss Keziah. milne is extra
good this season; my hired man says
it's the best harvest yield in town"
II rather guess I'll hev' enough to
carry me thro' the winter. II / don't l
shall know where to come for hay as Is
hay. l declare your farm docs beat
all. feel kind o. rugged like when
| think the best farm in town Is man
aged by woman
Miss Keziah smiled graciously, and
the deacon drew his chair little nearer
his hostess. 1t must be great load
for We to carry alone. Such . large
farm is tremendous responsibility for
lone woman"
'sOh, don't mind it It keeps me
proper busy"
The deacon hitched his chair along q
few inches further. 'sYe'd ought to
hev' brother or cousin, or some rela-
tive like. to share the burden with We.
My shoulders arc plenty strong" re-
piled Miss Keziah, good-naturedly
I'm glad to show folks that there are
women who are good for something be-
sides giddy-gaddying and tattling."
.Yis, yis," answer ed the deacon, I'VE
can all testify to your valley and worth.
You're . real honor to your sex.
You're-you're . bright and shinin'
beacon-light to the trifiin' and vain.
minded women of the world" and the
speaker waved his hand at the conclu.
sion of this little oratorical flourish.
| Then hitch, hitch, hitch, went the
chair Miss Keziahward. Don't you
feel sort o lonely at spells?' he asked,
insinuatingly.
Miss keziah glanced suspiciously II
the rapidly advancing chair. She
dropped her knitting and went to the
fire and piled up the blazing stacks Of
wood. Then she came back to the table
and set her chair on the further side OF
it. thus putting barrier between her
and her visitor. I'm never lonely,
deacon; plenty to do is the best medi
cine for loneliness"
but woman's tender, dependen,
creatur. Woman's a vine," here the
deacon took up his weekly prayer meet
to when the troubles, desolatin' wave.
and winds O. affection and sorrow roll
over her.
''Stuff and nonsense" exclaimed Mis-
keziah, with contemptuous sniff. =
shouldn't have expected that q man o
your sense, deacon, would repeat sucl
silly trash. have no patience with tn,
people who are always talking as II ,
woman couldn't stand alone, and needle.
propping up like q rag doll that hadn'
any backbone. I'm no vine, or sucl
creeping, helpless thing, can tell you
can stand alone as we'll as any b. dy.
the Lord SO wills it, altho' admit
deacon, that it's pleasanter to have SOM
one to keep you company"
That's jest it; ye hev hit the mai
squar' on the head! It's pleasanter {.
hes' company in our sojourn on thi
mortal yearth.'
The Deacon seized his chair with boil
hands, and by circuitous line of hitch
ing placed it within three feet of Mis-
keziah's table. You're q fore-handee
woman, Miss KeZiah; I'm q man O
prominence and influence in the com
munity; it seems to me that it would b
q good thing If we could walk hand il
hand through this vale Of tears. Prov
idence seems to point its finger tina
way" The deacon was thinking tina
very moment of the money he woul
save by a thrifty manager like Mis-
Keziah in the place Of his inefficient
wasteful hired woman.
Miss Keziah was dumfounded. Sh
dropped her knitting, and the ball {
yarn rolled across the floor. Mercy.
She finally gasped.
'.Pll make We hrst-rate husband
and yell make me good wife. View
been members Of the same church Il
thirty years or more, and we've bee
members Of the same spritooal family
well now be members of the sam
! human family"
Miss keziah Strengthened herself u
in her high backed chair and drew i
her chin, while her voice rang out shri
} and clear: II rather guess it'll tax
, two to make that bargain"
A second look at the aged admirel
who was edging up to her with sheep
tsh simper, exasperated Miss kezia
beyond control.
THE old FOOL" she said wrathfully.
The color came into the deacon's thi
cheeks, and he started to his feet, lool
ing anxiously toward the door, as
meditating hasty retreat But tn
yarn was wound around his boots, an
he was forced to remain.
I Miss Keziah likewise rose, and, folG
Ing her hands primly in front Of hel
| remarked, grimly: "Whcn YOU firs