The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-06-24

'wIDDER, CAN'T TALK OF LOVE NOW"
Spooner hadn't foregone it because of
the strained relations. On this day. as
he came opposite the bog, the old horse
made as if to bolt, and the deacon pull
ed him up and said to himself:
81 feel as if l was goin' to have heart
burn, and l guess I'll climb over and
dig root or two of that flag | can't
see my way clear to marry the Wilder
Phillips, but that's no reason why
shouldn't take a morsel of root"
The deacon didn't have to hunt far
for the flag. but as he was digging out
root his feet slipped into a hole, and
he found himself stuck fast. There
was quicksand at the bottom of that
hole. He seized the hummocks and
bushes around him and made a brave
struggle, and it was only when he felt
the sands about his knees that he be-
gan yelling for help. He hadn't booted
over three or four times when the
Widow Phillips appeared. She carried
an umbrella, chair and a new table
cloth she was hemming. She came
sauntering down to the bog and placed
her chair and tied the open umbrella to
its back and sat down before she even
looked at the deacon. Then she gave
him long stare of surprise and said:
Il think have seen you before This
is Deacon Spooner, isn't it?"
"Of course it's me-" replied the dea-
con, land I've got mired in this tarnal
bog of yours and want help to get out.
Is your hired man aroundY
"He may be somewhere about, but
there is no hurry. If you hang to the
roots as hard as you can, it will proba-
bly, be an hour before you sink out Of
sight Deacon, you must know that
am widow?
Yes. do. Wasn't l at the funer-
al?"
Yes. ] am widow" she sighed,
but of course expect to marry again.
You also expected that would. didn't
your"
"Mebbe did" sullenly replied the
deacon.
81 am sure you did or you would
not have said SO to everybody before
John had been dead six weeks You
also expected that I'd set my cap for
you"
mo. didn't"
"But you took pains TO say that you
wouldn't marry me if l was the last
woman on earth. Have l got suck
homely face on meY'
on NJ ,-o,, bo,.o o.o -,
goan to let me go down out of sight?7
'And what about my disposition,
deacon? How did you learn that
was bad tempered. extravagant and
spiteful? Did John go around COM
planning of me? Did drive him away
from home? Did land him in the
poorhouseT
Il don't skassly believe l could have
said any such things" replied Deacon
Epooner who was down to his hips
now and his teeth chattering with
fear.
''There is a lot more" quietly re-
sumed the widow-"e enough to keep us
busy for half day-but we won't go
over it, | don't believe you said all
those harsh things against me out of
spite 1t was rather because you loved
me- People often do talk against those
they love, you know. How much do
you love me. deaconY
IL hain't said l loved you TALL
he stammered.
mo, but you will. Up to this time
you have been too shy and bashful, but
now you are going to speak right out.
"Widder. l can't talk Of love when
I'm bein' sucked down to my death"
"But it's just the time, deacon. You
may feel that you want to die for me.
If so, here's your chance. Are you
asking for my heart and handg'
"N-no, I'm askin' for your hired man
to help me out of this"
ooh. but you are mistaken You feel
that no other woman in the world can