The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-04-14

carry on the housework on a place like
this alone, wouldn't she? She seems
strong and healthy as ever"
"Oh, yes, mother'd manage that all
right" answered Rhoda. "She often
tells me she don't need any of my help"
'She's got the idea plain enough"
thought the deacon, in great delight, as
Rhoda said that. "I'm getting along
splendidly. She's the most sensible girl
I ever saw. 1 wonder how much far
ther I'd better go 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 I come right out with
| the question. I will" and it was well
that he came to this decision and ad-
hered to it, as he congratulated himself
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.
"I 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 chuclled to think
his son might have caught the disease
from him. swell, Rob's a good boy,
and hope he'll do as well in getting
wife as I shall, If I get Rhoda Mason"
The next morning Rob looked very
wise, as he sat down to breakfast, op-
posite his father.
"I've 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 1 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 and talk with
her about it. I was quite surprised
to find out you'd got matrimonial ideas
in your head, but want to say that
think the plan a most sensible one.
Mrs. Mason would make you tip-top
housekeeper, and-if you'll take the
mother, I'll take the daughter. In
deed, I've got an arrangement to that
effect. Rhoda and I came to satisfac-
tory understanding last night"
Rob's face was quite red when he got
through with his speech, but his ia
ther's 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.
II begin to understand it," he told
himself by and by. "I've come dread
fully near making fool of myself.
guess I did make fool Of myself,
all right enough; but what mean Is,
came dreadfully near getting caught
at it. But, by the greatest stroke OF
luck that ever happened to me, I haven't
been caught. see how 1t is. Rob'a
going to marry Rhoda. and he's been
sparkling her all along, and the girl
thought knew it, and she thinks it
was her mother I had in view for a
housekeeper. And, as luck would have
it. didn't say anything that'n give me
away-if carry out the deception and
marry Rhoda's mother. If don't they'll
mistrust something. 1t seems as II
fate had something to do with 1t.
never thought of such thing, but I'm
forced right into It, so to speak. !
can't help myself. And, come to thinl,
Of, It's the proper thing to do. Itwould
have been foolish thing for an old man
like me to marry young girl like
Rhoda. Amt It lucky, now, that
didn't say any more that day? I stopped
Just at the right time and place. II
seems she's told her mother what I said
and-I'm to come over and talk with
her about 1t. I will"
When Deacon Wade made up his mind
to anything, he 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 blush that made her look
almost as pretty as her daughter.
"Take seat out on the porch, dea
con, where it's COOL" said the widow
sand I'll sit here and hull the berries
while we visit. Rob's coming over by
and by, Rhoda said, and both Of you
must stay to tea. remember how
fond you used to be of shortcake, and
we'll have one that'll make you thinl
, of old times"
, Robert" said the deacon, as hi.
son came up the path about five o'clock
II want to exchange congratulations
with you. You've got the promise Of
} the daughter, and I've got the promisG
of the mother. I think both of US de
serve congratulations. We're in luck
my boy"
That's about the way I look at II, >