The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-05-27
, on1" SAID


about this idea of mine. AT least, L
hope so. I suppose she'd feel able to
carry on the homework on place like
I this alone, wouldn't she? She seems
strong and healthy as ever"
ooh, yes, mother'd manage that all
right" answered Rhoda. ''She often
tells me she don't need any of my help.
'Shes got the idea plain enough, .
, thought the deacon, in great delight, as
Rhoda said that. I'm getting along
splendid.y. She's the most sensible girl
l ever saw. l wonder how much far
Their I'd better 60 now? Maybe I'd bet
ter wait, just as I'd made up my mind
an give her time to talk it over with
her mother before l come righ' t with
the question. l will" and il was well
that he came to this decision and ad-
hered to it. as he congratulated himself
a few days later.
The deacon might have stayed until
Mrs. Mason's return, but young girl
friend Of Rhoda's came, and that put an
end to his visit.
"You can talk with your mother, and
see what she thinks about what I've been
saying" he said, as he took his depar-
ture. LET me know the first chance you
have"
The next Wednesday evening Robert
Wade was away from home. About
one o'clock his father heard him come
in.
81 wouldn't wonder if Rob's got an
idea of sparkling somebody" thought
the deacon. maybe it's like the measles
when it gets into the family, they
all have it," and he chuckled to think
his son might have caught the disease
from him. "Well, Rob's a good boy,
and l hope he'll do as well in getting
wife as shall, if l get Rhoda Mason"
The next morning Rob looked very
wise, as he sat down to breakfast, OPP
posite his father.
1--WE got message for you" he said
by and by. when the housekeeper had
left the room. 81 was over to the Ma
son place, and when l came away,
Rhoda told me to tell you that if you
wanted to know what her mother
thought about your housekeeping idea,
you'd better come over ard . :; with
her about it. 1 was quite So rised
to find out you'd got matrimor al ideas
in your head, but I want to sar that
think the plan a most sensible one.
Mrs. Mason would make you a tip-top
housekeerer, and-if you'll take the
mother, I'll take the daughter. In
deed, I've got an arrangement to that
effect. Rhoda and came to a satisfac
tory understanding last night"
Rob's face was quite red when he got
through with his speech, but his IA
theirs wasredder. He opened his mouth,
once or twice, as if trying to say some
thing, but words would not come. It
was we'll for him that the housekeeper
came in just at this juncture. Rob
went out, and he betook himself to his
room to collect his bewildered senses.
"Well-I declared" The poor deacon
dropped into the first chair he came to,
and sat and stared at the bedpost for as
much as half an hour, before he began
to get things Strengthened out.
81 begin to understand it," he told
himself by and by. GIVE come dread
fully near making a fool of myself.
I guess 1 did make a fool of myself,
l came dreadfully near getting caught
at it. But, by the greatest stroke of
luck that ever happened to me, I haven't
been caught. I see how it is. Rob's
going to marry Rhoda, and he's been
sparkling her all along, and the girl
thought I knew it, and she thinks it
was her mother I had in view for a
housekeeper. And, as luck would have
it. I didn't say anything that'll give me
away-if I carry out the deception and
marry Rhoda's mother. If I don't they'll
mistrust something. 1t seems as if
fate had something to do with it. I
never thought of such thing, but I'm
forced right into it, SO to speak. I
can't help myself. And, come to think
Of, it's the proper thing to do. 1t would
have been foolish thing for an Old man
like me to marry young girl like
Rhoda. Amt it lucky, now, that I
didn't say any more that day? I stopped
lust at the right time and place. 1t
seems she's told her mother what said
and-I'm to come over and talk with
her about it. I will"
When Deacon Wade made up his mind
to anytime, ne was prompt to act. Sat
urday afternoon saw him setting out
for the Mason homestead with another
basket of strawberries. The widow was
at home this time and she welcomed
him with a bush that made Ter look
almost as pretty as her dau~hter
"Take a seat out on the rorch dea-
con, where it's COOL" said the widow.
"And I'll sit here and hull the berries
while we visit. Rob's Comir ever by
and by. Rhoda said. and both Of YOU
must stay to tea. I remember how
fond you used to be of shortcake. and
we'll have one that'll make YOU think
of old times"
Robert" said the deacon, as his
SON came up the path about five o'clock,
81 want to exchange congratulations
with you. You've got the promise of
the daughter, and I've got the promise
OF the mother. I think both of us de-
serve congratulations. We're in luck,
my boy"
That's about the way look at it,
said Robert. giving the blushing Mrs
Mason rousing kiss. just then Rhoda
appeared On the scene to announce that
tea was waiting, and the deacon stepped
II fn hor Ii in, 70.