Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-04-25

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s,NESsSS sSEs2.Lis. came to him
,41srs.: ;ssssss:s.sssas s;sssssssssas that it would be
$&-s~s 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 a 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.
Slows Mrs. Wheelock? Well, sup
pose?"
"She's gone over to her sons
again, answered the deacon. "She
went yesterday-some of the children
sick, L believe-so Bob and L are keep
ing house alone. I'm getting about
tired of it, and SOS Sob. He was tell
ing me, this morning, that he thought
1t would be good idea for one of us
to hunt up a new housekeeper; and [
don't know but he was about right"
Pretty Rhoda's face got US rosy as
the blossoms on the Damask rose
bush by the gate. The deacon Won
dered why he had never noticed how
pretty she was before,
Il see you've got fine crop of
Strawberries" said Rhoda, pretend
ing to be greatly interested in the
long rows of ripening fruit "Ours
rre failure this year. Mother said
she didn't believe we'd have enough
fer a shortcake.
81 want to know" exclaimed the
deacon. ''That's too bad, I 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," re-
sponded Rhoda. 81 know mother'll
be glad to get them. But must be
going, or L won't get back by dinner
time" and she went her way, leaving
the deacon with new idea in his
Head.
II s'pose folks wo1ld say it was
foolish 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, older than / am, marry
young wives; so why shouldn't I? 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'll
say that Bob ought to get married in
stead of me; but he don't seem to
have any idea of it, and I can't put
the idea in his head. Rhoda's great
deal younger than am; but she's a
sensible girl, and I'm sure she'd make
a good wife. l wonder why never
thought of it before?"
The more the deacon thought of it
the more in earnesthe got. On Satur-
day he picked basket of luscious
strawberries, and that afternoon he
took them over to the Mason home
stead.
81 declare, if / amt rather excited, 4"
said the deacon, as he neared Rhoda 8
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 L feel when I 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 a hurry about such
things"
/ Rhoda was sitting on the front
porch, shelling peas. Pretty as she
had looked that morning in the road
side, she looked far prettler to-day,
the deacon thought.
"Oh, you've brought those berries
you promised US, haven't you?" cried
Rhoda. cts so kind of you. Mother
was delighted when L told her what
you were going to do. Tn so sorry
she isn't at home this afternoon. She
went to call on Mrs. Perkins-she's s
sick, you know. But come in and sill
down, and maybe she'll be back before
you go. hope she will, for 1 know
she'll be real disappointed to miss
your visit"
ooh, that's nothing" said the
deacon. II can come over again
you know"
81 wish you would" said Rhoda
"Mother was saying that you weren