Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1898-03-12

Rhoda. Its SO kind Of you. Mother
was delighted when 1 told her what
you were going 70 do. I'm SO sorry
she isn't at home this afternoon. She
went to call on Mrs. Perkins-she's
sick. You know. But come. IN aud sit
down, and maybe she'll be back before .
you 20. 1 hope she will, for l know 4
she'll be real disappointed to miss /
your visit.
ooh. that's nothing" said the
deacon. II can come over again,
you know"
II wish you would" said Rhoda.
Mother was saying that You weren't
very neighborly. She didn't remem-
Der when you'd been here.
well, now that I've got 70 coming,
maybe I'll come often" said the
deacon. Then he made a few remarks
about the weather, and the prospect
Of a good hay crop, aad the condition
Of the markets for farm produce, and
t gradually, by what he considered very
diplomatic management, he worked
arour 4 TO the subject Of housekeepers.
Eyes, Mrs. Wheelock's back, he
said. in answer 10 RhOda's question.
/
stay. What we need now Is q house
keeper We car depend on One that
belongs there. aud has an interest In
she work, you see"
Yes, 1 suppose So" answered
Rhoda, with . most bewitching rosi-
ness.
II want to see your mother and
have q good, long talk with her about
about an idea I've got" said the
! deacon, hy-and-by. "She knows how
much We need house-keeper, and
E always thought her very sensible
: woman, aud I'm sure she'd think just
as do about it-about this idea o.
. mine. AT least hope SO. suppose
she'd feel able to carry on the house
c work on a place like this alone
. wouldn't she2 She seems strong anC
i healthy as ever"
q ''Oh, yes, mother'd manage that al
right" answered RhOda. She Oftel
: tells me she don't need any Of m.
Il help"
e ''She's got the idea. plain enough,
? thought the deacon. in great delight
q as Rhoda said that I'm gettin
is along splendidly. She's the mos
sensible girl ever saw. wonder ho'
Is much farther better go now? Mayb
10 Ia better wait, Just as I'd made q
lie my mind TO, an give her time 70 tai
IN il over with her mother before l cOm
nj right out with the question. 1 Will,
~ and il was well that be came TO tn
Re decision, and adhered To it, as
IS congratulated himself "a few daN
:. later.
e. The deacon might have stared ant
II. Mrs. Mason's return, bat q your
ri girl friend of Rhoda's came, and III
n put an end to his visit.
TO "You can talk with your moth
mt aud see what she thinks about VII
lat I've been saying" he said. as he toe
a his departure. LET me know {
Ike first chance you have"
yer The next Wednesday evenin
Robert Wade was away from hon
il About one O'Clock his father hea
ur- him come in.
ms II wouldn't wonder if Rob's got
he idea of sparkling somebody" thong
ne the deacon. Maybe it's like
measels-when it gets into the far
a." ", they all have ii" aud he chuck
AS 10 think his son might have cauG
lex the disease from him. ''Well, Ro
yer a good boy, and hope he'll do
yay well in getting wife as shall. IL
re? get Rhoda Mason"
ose The next morning Rob looked "
I o. wise, IS he sat down 10 breaks
4 TO opposite to his father.
to I've got a message for you,
uch said, by-and-by. when the houseke
er had left the room II was over
-ont the Mason place, and when 1 cs
she away. Rhoda told me 10 tell you
BAD If you wanted to know what
lay. mother thought about your hon
keeping idea, you'd better come {
ries and talk with her about IT.
ried quite surprised to find out you'd