Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-08-13

knitting, as usual she had Just beBun
TO narrow for the toe of the stocking
when step sounded on the walk She
threw down the stocking and opened
the door, and, holding the lamp high
above her head, her eyes rested on the
amazing spectacle OF the deacon in all
tho Sunday magnifcence of white shirt
and shiny black broadcloth. well, I
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 ye, thank We; don't mind il
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. He placed
his hat on the floor beside his chair,
displaying his scanty gray locks, ia
geniously plastered over the top of his
head, so as to cover as much of the
bald surface as possible. There was a
long pause.
ANY thing going on, deacon9' asked
Miss keziah, resuming her knitting.
She was greatly puzzled to account for
those Sunday clothes
"Nothin' within the range Of my OBJ
servation. There won't be much a-goin'
on now till lection time; things'll be
pretty lively then"
Want to buy any hay this year2"
chirped Miss Keziah. mine is extra
good this seasons 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 If don't |
shall know where to come for hay as is
hay. I declare your farm does beat
all! feel kind o rugged like when
aged by a woman"
Miss Keziah smiled graciously, and
the deacon drew his chair a little nearer
mis- hostess. at must be a great load
for We to carry alone. Such large
farm is tremendous responsibility for
lone woman"
''Oh, / don't mind it. 1t keeps me
proper busy"
The deacon hitched his chair along a
few inches further. ''Ye'd ought to
hev' brother or cousin, or some rela-
tive like, to share the burden with ye."
"My shoulders are plenty strong" re-
piled Miss Keziah good-naturedly.
"1'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, 1--WE
can all testify to your valley and worth.
You're real honor TO your sex.
beacon-light to the triflin' 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 at
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 loneline IS"
But woman's tender, dependent
creatur. Woman's vine," here the
deacon took up his weekly prayer meet
ing drawl, land needs suthin' to cling
TO when the troubles, desolatin' waves
nd xsyinA dc ~ nd Ill
over her"
"Stuff and nonsensew exclaimed Miss
Keziah, with a contemptuous sniff. 81
shouldn't have expected that man of
your sense deacon, woul( repeat such
silly trash. have no patience with the
people who are always talking as If a
woman couldn't stand alone, and needed
propping up like rag doll that hadn't
any backbone. I'm no vine, or such
creeping helpless thing, I can tell you.
| can stand alone as we'll as anybody, /
the Lord so wills it, altho' ] admit,
deacon, that it's pleasanter TO have some
one to keep you company"
That's jest IL; ye hev hit the nail
squar on the head! It's pleasanter to
hev' company in our sojourn on this
mortal yearth."
The Deacon seized his chair with both
hands, and by circuitous line of hitch
ing placed IL within three feet of Miss
Keziah's table. you're fore handed
woman, Miss KeZiah; I'm man Of
prominence and influence in the COM
munity: 1T seems to me that it would be
a good thing If we could walk hand in
hand through this vale of tears Prov
idence seems to point its finger that
way" The deacon was thinking that
very moment of the money he would
save by thrifty manager like Miss
Keziah in the place Of his inefficient,
wasteful hired woman.
Miss Keziah was dumfounded. She
dropped her knitting, and the ball of
yarn rolled across the floor. Mercy"
she finally gasped.
'I'll make ye iirst-rate husband,
and yell make me good wife. We've
been members of the same church for
thirty years or more, and we've been
members of the same spritooal family;
well now be members of the same
human family"
Miss Keziah Strengthened herself up
In her high backed chair and drew in
her chin, while her voice rang out shrill
and clcar IL rather guess it'll take
two to make that bargain"
A second look at the aged admirer.
who was edging up to her with sheep
ish shipper, exasperated Miss Keziah
beyond control.
The old fool!' she said wrathfully.
The color came into the deacon's thin
cheeks, and he started to his feet, look
ing anxiously toward the door, as IL
meditating hasty retreat But the
yarn was wound around his boots, and
he was forced to remain.
Miss Keziah likewise rose. and, fold
ING hnr hands nri1nlu In front nj hnr