The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-19
HOW SARAH WON HIM.


house at the other end of the village
She found him seated on the back
doorstep trying to darn his socks.
Miss Sarah was the old maid of the
village-just how old no one exactly
knew, but everybody agreed that she
was at least Sc. She owned her own
house and lot and a strip of land along
the river. and was accounted well-to-
do. Various reasons were put forth by
the gossips as to why she hadn't mar
ried. but the true one was probably be-
cause no man had ever asked for her
hand
She and Deacon Carter had been ac-
quainted for years, and it was she who
superintendent the funeral arrangements
when the wife was laid away. There
after the deacon saw her only in church
on Sundays. He arranged it thus, hav-
ing an intuition that If she were given
half a show she would become Mrs.
Garter No. 2.
Deacon Carter" began Miss Sarah
in her prompt, decisive way, as she
took seat beside him, you never had
to darn your own socks when Emily
was alive
NO" replied the deacon with a long
drawn SIGH.
And YOU won't have to darn 'em
after we are married"
What do you mean stammered
he. as he pricked his thumb with the
darning needle.
L mean that this is leap year. and
that I have come over here today to
ask you to marry me. I've been think
ing of it for some time. but was wait
ing for the year of sorrow to go by.
You know me. deacon, and know you,
and 1 hereby ask for your hand and
heart. What do you say?"
"Why-why-how can marry your
he gasDed in reply.
by going to any preacher" she
calmly replied. Il don't want to rush
things. but we might be married the
first Of next month"
But 1 couldn't do it. Sary-couldn't
do it. 1 haven't even thought of mar
rage yet, and If I ever do-do-"
1t will be with some other woman"
she finished as he hung to the sentence.
Then l am to understand that you re-
jeet sne?"
Il amt rejecting nobody, but l don't
want to set married"
1T amounts to the same thing. Now,
you listen to me. I'm going to marry
you within the next three years, and
you can make up your mind to it. You
may sulk and dodge all you will but
when 1 set out to do a thing 1 do it.
Good day, deacon"
The deacon put away his darning as
soon as she left and took a walk in the
orchard to calm his nerves. He had
never thought of Sarah Spooner other
wise than as an old maid who would
never marry. and, to give him full
credit, the idea of a second wife had lot
found Judgment in his mind If he had
sat down to think over the list of wild
ows. old maids and girls. Sarah would
have stood last of all He didn't like
or dislike her, but the idea of her be-
coming Mrs. Carter struck him with
a cold chill.
by gum-but I'll never give in to her
never in this world She ought to be
ashamed of herself to come and pop the
question, no matter if 1t is leap year!"
Nevertheless, the deacon stayed away
from the next two prayer meetings for
fear of meeting Sarah. and at church on
sundays he slipped out as the doxology
was being sung so that she would have
no chance to speak to him.
But for a business enterprise he might
have avoided her several weeks longer
He wanted to throw dam across Ricky
river and make water power for saw
mill In order to get charter from the
legislature, he must secure the consent
of a majority of the property owners
whose land would be damaged by dam
ming back the waters.
Unfortunately for MIN, Miss Sarah
owned all Of one bank for 200 rods. and
he had to pay her call about three
weeks after his refusal of her proposal
and ask her to sign away her rights.
She was expecting him and ready with
her answer.
Deacon Carter" she replied. there
will be no mill dam here until 1 am Mrs.
Carter"
But the whole town wants it," he
protested. It's seven miles to the near
est saWmill, and"
And it's only 40 rods to the nearest
preacheri" she interrupted What the
whole town wants is nothing to me.
What I want is to be Mrs Carter"
But II don't love you"
Then you can go away until you
do"
The deacon departed. He sent over
deacons in his church and their wives
he sent the minister. the justice of the
peace and the postmaster, but Miss
Sarah was firm She gave them cur
rant wine to drink and cakes seasoned
with Caraway seeds to nibble on, but
when it came to the milldam business
her answer was; "There'u be no mill
dam here for Deacon Carriers second
wife to boat around on unless I'm the
person"
Three times more did the deacon call
and breach the subject. He had figures
to prove that a milldam would almost
make a fashionable watering place of
Liverpool on the one hand, and almost
Chicago in business way on the other,
~ but Miss Sarah looked out of the sit
ting room window in a vacant way.
He spoke of boat rides by moonlight and
skating carnivals and he explained how
ne meant to stock it with fish and supply
1t with gondolas. but she sewed carpet
soothingly said: Come, Sary, sign the
paper that she turned to him with:
'Jabez, after the preacher has united
for life. Wen walk down to the river
and select the place for the milldam. Don
bother me any more today, as I'm dread
fully busy"
The deacon wanted that miildam. and
he wanted it bad, and without Saran
Spooner attached to it. and he meant to
hang on for two or three years in hopes
she'd marry some one else.
Circumstances We're against him, how
ever. The people in the village below be-
gan to talk milldam, millpond and sawmiu
and there was fear that a charter would
be applied for and Liverpool left high and
dry. 1t was thus that the deacon found
himself in a tight place.
1t was either milldam with Miss Sarah
thrown in or no milldam at all. and. after
signing and groaning over the situation fer
three days, he knocked at the old maid 8
door.
Glad to see you, Jabez," said Miss Sar-
all as she placed chair for him.
i've come about that mildam again"
he said as he sat down
Yes, 1 was expecting YOU
You once-once-'
Asked for your hand and heart, and
Nras refused How Is it now"