The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-04-14
A STROKE OF LUCK.
By Eben E. Rexford.

n II II " n n IL II N n " 4
DEACON WADE was hoeing in the
~ garden, close by the road, on the
morning when the idea came to him
that it would be good plan for him to
get married again.
The way in which the idea came to
him was this: just as he reached the
end of the row nearest the road, some
one said: "Good morning, Deacon
Wade," in voice that made him think
of blackbirds and bobolinks, and he
looked up to see Rhoda Mason smiling
over the fence at him.
"Good morning, good morning." re-
| sponded the deacon, delightedly.
Beautiful morning, isn't it?"
Charming" answered Rhoda. "How
is Mrs. Wheelock? Well, suppose?"
"She's gone over to her sons again."
! answered the deacon. "She went yes
| terday-some of her children sick, be-
lieve-so Bob and l are keeping house
| alone. I'm getting about tired of it, and
SOS Bob. He was telling me this morn
ing that he thought it would be a good
idea for one of us to hunt up new
housekeeper; and don't know but he
was right"
| Pretty Rhoda's face got as rosy as the
blossoms on the Damask rose-bush by
the gate. The deacon wondered why he
had never noticed how pretty she was
before.
81 see you've got a fine crop Of straw
berries" said Rhoda, pretending to be
greatly interested in the long rows of
ripening fruit. ''Ours are failure this
year. Mother said she didn't believe
we'd have enough for shortcake."
II want to know!" exclaimed the dea-
con. That's too bad, declare. Well
have more than we can use, and I'll
bring you over some just as soon as
they're ripe enough to pick"
THANK you ever so much, I" responded
Rhoda. II know mother'll be glad to
get them. But must be going. or I
won't be back by dinner time," and she
went her way, leaving the deacon with
new idea in his head.
II s'pose folks would say it was fool
ish for an old fellow like me to marry
young girl like Rhoda," he said to
himself, as he turned back on the next
row of sweet corn. "But other men
oder than am marry young wives; so
why shouldn't L? We need a good
housekeeper here. It's getting SO we
can't depend on Mrs. Wheelock. She's
gone half the time, and we're likely to
lose her altogether, almost any time.
OF course, folks II say that Bob ought
/ % I>,,< h.
don't seem to have any idea, of it and
can't put the idea in his head. Rhoda's
great deal younger than am; but
she's sensible girl, and I'm sure she'd
make a good wife. I wonder why ]
never thought of 1t before?"
The more the deacon thought Of II
the more in earnest he got. On Satur.
day he picked basket of luscious
straw berries and that afternoon he took
them over to the Mason homestead.
81 declare, II 1 amt rather excited"
said the deacon, as he neared Rhoda'a
home, and felt his heart beating quick
and hard. II thought I'd got over that
years ago. If feel this way now, how'll
feel when 1 get there? OF course, I'm
not going to propose to her right away.
| I'll just kind O. hint at matters and
things, enough to set her to thinking
'Tain't best to be in too great hurry
about such things"
Rhoda was sitting on the front porch,
shelling peas. Pretty as she had looked
that morning in the roadside, she looked
far prettier to-day, the deacon thought
"Oh, you've brought those berries you
promised us, haven't you ?" cried Rhoda,
"It's so kind of you. Mother was de-
lighted when l told her what you were
going to 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 i'm and sit down, and maybe
she'll be back before you go. Ihope she
will, for l know she'll be real disap.
pointed to miss your visit"
"Oh, that's nothing" said the deacon
IL can come over again, you know"
II wish you would" said Rhoda
"Mother was saying that you weren't
very neighborly. She didn't remember
when you'd been here"
"Well. now that I've got to coming
maybe I'll come Often" said the deacon
Then he made few remarks about the
weather, and the prospect of good
hay crop and the condition of the
markets for farm produce. and grad
ualy. by what heconsidered very diplo.
matic management, he worked around
10 the subject Of housekeepers.
'Yes, Mrs. Wheelock's back" he said
y In answer to Rhoda's question, "but
there's no telling how long she'll stay
What we need now 10 q housekeeper we
can depend on. One that belongs there
and has an interest In the work. you
eeo.~
~Yess suppose 90" answered Rhoda
With most6switchinS Tosiness.
J Ill want 70 - your mother and
hsvs : geod lear tslk vitA Asf. saaut-