Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-01-18


at all except to look att"
"No; I do not believe in such
women"
III felt sartaln yOu didn't. My
two gals, Pm sorry to say, are
CROWN up INTO show wimmin.-
They need ma to pint out their
folly 10 'em. Wouldn't you like to
be their ma, Miss PelleV?"
The question was totally un-
expected by the young school.
teacher. Bounding to her feet,
with a very red face, she cried
emphaticaily:
"No, indeedp
The old deacon caught hold Of
her gown. "Hold on minute" he
entreated. 81 need a wife wOrse'n
the gals need a ma. I've got to
have somebody IN the house to see
to things, and that, too, right
along. Come, nOw, be sensible aud
promise mo that you will be Mrs.
PUffer just as quick as your sch OOl
is done with.
II will make no such PROMISE
"YOu must be ont OF your head
WHY, Tn the richest man in the
whole tOwnw
Miss PelleW's lip cuTled.
And you're poorer'n jobs
turkeL 40 I hear"
Miss Pellew's face flushed.
"And l felt certain that you'd
Jump at me! What reason can you
possibly have tor refIsin' such a
good offrr?"
81 have the best reason IN the
world, Deacon Puffrr-I do not
love you. Good afternoon" and
twilching her grownfrOm the grasp
of her sutor Mss Pellew departed
with ner speclacles turned sky.
ward. The deacon followed her
with his eys.
"Beggar on horseback he NUT
tered. lie fell to scratching his
head The operation set his brains
a jog ging.
=" didn't 90 to work abOnt Il
right" he declared. "I can see
that now, when it's too late. Her
mind runs TO love and po'try and
sich nonsense, aud | OTTER have
humOred her. | Orter have told
her that she was as pretty az a
pictur and that | couldn't sleep
nights thinkiu' abou her, and that
If she would only marry me she
might have it all her own waY af
terward. | believe I'll stop her L.
morrow when she goes along-and
why, she's coming back~
"Ha! ha! Shes changed her
mindw chuckled the deacon.
81 forgot my book,' SAID Miss
Pellew, as the came mp.
The deacon'sjaw fell. She pick
ed up the book from the pile Of
boards and turned to 60.
"Hold on minute, cried Deacon
Puffer, grasping her wrist. 81
s'pose yon think that because l
don't say anything to YOU abont
love that l don't care anything tor
you, but l do care heap. l can't
sleep nights thinking about Sou,
for you see you are az purity as a
pictur-yes, darn sight purifier
than any pictur ever sot my eyes
on. Why, Betsy Jane would look
like an old scarecrOw side of yO y
deacon Puffer, SOu Ought to be
ashamed of YOURSELF How can
you talk so about your dead wifeP
and the yonng girls spectacles
bIazed with indignation.
oval, s'spOse | orient to use
sich langu;dge about her, but then,
you see, Pm carried away hy-by
-pashun. You see your purity face
makes my buzzum bile like volca
ner,' said the deacon, apologetical'
ly and extenuatingly.
Miss Pellew made an effort to
break away, but he held her fast.
"Jnst hold on half a secOnd," lie
pleadel, II want to srt you right
on another pint ! s'spose you
think tha: If YOU marry me yon1l
have to work hard. But you won't
you won't have to work at all;
you needn't as much as to lift your
fingers to help the gals. You can
sitin the pieazzy from morning till
night and read pO'try and hear the
cows belIer. Aud I'll buy yOu
silk dress and a gold watch and a
-pieanner, Just think OF that
pieanner! And | ain't fOolln'
'b'gosh; I'll do Just as | sayF'
Deacon Putter, you are only
wasting Your time and mind. ! am
much Obliged to you tor your offer,
hut cannot accept it,"