Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-12-30


But Will was already ont of hear
ing, having gono 10 the woodshed,
where he was alternately splitting
wood and chuckling with laughter at
the ''good joke he imagined he had
on The Deacon. For he knew well the
mans nature. Bashful TO the last de-
gree In the company Of The opposite
sex, the mere idoa that Miss Serena
might bc coming with matrimonialsin-'
tenlions was enough TO overwhom
him with confusion
Meanwhile Miss Serena, having fin
ished her dinner. thought she'd "bet-
ten set of at once, not thinking bost,"
as she Informed Dolly. ''lo giyc the
Deacon tew long timc 10 think it
over and set his price"
| So from his window, the Deacon,
who was ncryously watching the road
with sinking heart, soon perceived
Miss Serena steadily approaching. In-
deed, had it not been for his lameness,
am not sure but he would have
taken iguominiously to flight. As it
was, he felt lie must ''fsce the situ-
alton"
slIow do ye dew, Deacon?" was
Miss Serena's saIutation. as she cor
daily shook his gingerly outstretched
hand.
"Good AFTERNOON, Miss Damc;
won't yc hev cheerP"
s'Thank ye," said she, "I can't
stop to set long, though amt in no
great of a hurry, either, but seein' as
cum on bizness, | might a. well
cum tew the piutl" The Deacon
WINGED. and Miss Serena, mlsiaking
the expression for ii spasm of pain.
exclaimed: "Your foot's powerful
bad; ain's il, Deacon?"
"Considerable so," tho deacon adj
mitled.
s'What cir you usin' on it9" in
quired Miss Serena.
ssPve been victim 1t in this lini-
mcnt William-got to the village
'Polhecary stuff" said she, sniff
fling Al it couiempluously; "hev ye
goef aay arniky howsts in tho
house7" I
The deacon thought likely thar
might be some sohiewhar, and. having
procured them, Miss Serena
'srcck,ned she'd better lay off her bon
nit aud shawl and set 'cm steepin'."
elbow long afore you expect Mary
Jane back?' asked she.
81 can't tell" said the deacon, "fur
her mothcr's took down with sciatik
roomatiz and thar's no knowin' when
she can get away"
"Weli, you air unfortinit." cx-
claimed Miss Serena ;"seein's Pm here
Eli tidy up.a bit for ye." M
So, little thinking tho words she had
spoken in jest to her niece that morn
ing had reached the dcacon's ears, she
set 20 work and soon restored the
household to its wonted ORDER
..Thar, now,n said shc, shaking up
the pillows on the lounge; ''seems 10
me you'd be more comfortable here,
deacon"
"Mebbe so," said he, hobbling
along to the lounge. lying OH which
lie mentally decided; it had rested
him just to see Miss Serena work.
Then the deacon remembered that
she was called the best housekeeper
for miles around and that her butter
and cheese always took the premium
at the county fair. To be snre. it
must be hard for her to look after
everything in doors and out.
"Tlvre amt many woman,"
thought the deacon, ''could "a done
as well as she has"
'.Now, Deacon" SAID Miss Dame,
having. ,as she expressed it, straight
enel the house out a bit,n ssyou want
to mix equal parts of alkyhol with
the aruiky when it's stepped enough
and it ill be master good for your
foot, I'll warrant. Well declare. /"
she went OH, s'in all the time Pvc
been here, hain't done my arrant
yit. I've been thinking, deacon, see
in your land jincd mine, eff you want
ed
Il do" interrupted the deacon;
''what this place needs is a mistress,
and cf you're miad tew cum
"Whal2' exclaimed Miss Serena.
GAS Mrs. Deacon Brackett," lie
continued.
AS this was the first offer Miss Sc
rcna ever had she behaved creditably,
for she promptly answered: ~
"Plf cum, deacon.n
So Miss Serena left the house where
she had been living SO many years to
pass the remaining ones at Deacon
Braekct's as the deacon's wife. But
the Dame homestead was not long un-
tenanted, for the next year Will and
Dolly were married and moved there.
But neither of them ever knew wheth-
er Aunt Serena proposed to the dea-
con or the deacon proposed to Aunt
Serena.-[Waverly Magazine.
Poison for Apache's Arrows.
We are indebted to L. b. HAWKS,
rncenffv in fha Coyarntnanf Indian