The Penn's Grove record., 1896-05-08
THE DEACON'S
CONVERSION.

ats not a bit o. use O. talkln', Man
da," said Deacon Whitaker, as he
punched the fire with rather more
energy than was necessary. because
I've made up my mind, an you know
when I'm sot I'm sot. Blow high or
blow low an come what may, l won't
have Tillie marry Jack Sweet"
Now. father" replied good Mrs.
Whitaker In a conciliating voice.
syou're takln' things too serious. Jack
amt never said ne wanted to marry
Title, an as fur as | can see he'll aver
age with most Of the young men around
the settlement. He aIn't got no bad
habits to speak of, an I don't e the
harm In Title goin' with him over to
the Ridge. She's a good girl, an a
obedlent one, an she don't CAD around
oVermuch, an to let her go once In a
way | can't sec the harm In"
The deacon had been caressing his
chin with his thumb and finger while
his wife was talking, and for a mo-
ment he made no reply, but his ex-
preston showed that he was not much
affected by her argument.
IF n Teller don't begin to go with
a girl he won't never marry her" he
said, at last, In a name that plainly
showed that he thought he had an
bounced a principle that was founded
on the wisdom of the ages. II am goin'
oVer to the postOfflce, mother, to see
u there's anything there, an while
I'm gone 1t might be as well for you
to have a little talk with Title. This
Jack Sweet business nights well be
stopped afore 1t begins rs TO u on
till It's too late. Jack amt to my nkin'
an / won't have none Of him. 1t ain't
enough to say that he amt bad when
Mt the same time you know an know
In everybody else knows that he amt
good. Here he's been under the dis
bensation Of the truths of the gospel
all his life an yet he's not a member
Of our church, an no one knows wheth-
or he believes the Bible or not. l feel
that Titles future rests on me an I'm
Soin' to save her from trouble"
"But, father"
mo use sayin' n word" interrupted
the deacon, 1--WE said my say an
know what / want and what I'm goin'
to have. I've sot my stakes for Title,
an as long as good, respectable fore
handed fcllers like Jedediah skinner Ia
q castin' Sleeps eyes at a daughter of
mine no good-for-nOthin', harum-scar-
um like Jack Sweet, ear come between
me- and what l think Is best"
With this the good deacon walked
and violence that was not entirely be-
coming to a man of his age and stand,
ing In the church.
Deacon Whitaker was not Il bad sort
OF a man as men go. He may have
had his failings, but he intended to do
about right, us he saw in his light,
though it is just possible he saw "as
through a glass, darkly." There were
those who limited that he was some
what inclined to be rather fond OF
getting the best side OF a bargain, and
this same Jack Sweet, against whom
he had raised objections, said one time
when the grocery keeper at the Cor
pers made some remark about a COLI
that Jack offered in payment for a pur
chase, on the ground that 1t had a very
pronounced dent In 1t, that 1t was one
be got of Deacon Whitaker, who had
held 1t so tightly that lie had mutilated
It. This remark got abroad, and 1t Il
just possible the deacon knew of Il
and that 1t had something to do with
his opinion of Jacks sinfulness, gen
orally.
The deacon was fond of his pretty
daughter, Title, a fondness that wa!
not surprising to the young men Of
the neighborhood, as they mad a fash
ion Of being inclined in tEat direction
themselves. That lille was a gooC
girl, was proved by her fondness TO
her father and mother and her implied
obedience to their slightest wishes
This may have led to some tiny heart
aches and some tears In the silenc,
and privacy Of her own chamber, bu
beyond this she made no sign.
Jack Sweets attentions to Tillie ha'
been so pronounced lately that the COS
sips had begun to speak of 1t witt
much openncss, and finally the deacol
noticed 1t and at once entered upon
crusade against the approaches of tn
Evil One In the person OF Jack Sweet
the unregenerate.
The deacon had a fashion of deliver
ing his mandates to Title by proxy
his wife acting as his ambassador o.
these occasions. ! am inclined to thin.
that hs was a little bit afraid of tn