The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-06-12

would kindly see her home.
The deacon came less frequently to
the cemetery now The snow was be.
ginning to accumulate, and Miss Maria
no longer worked out of doors. Some
times when drifts were deep, he hap
pened around to see If his syringa
bushes were breaking, and kindly Of
fered to Shovel them out" Once or
twice he ventured to drop in without
special invitation, but to his ~perplex-
ity found his reception less cordial.
Without going very deeply into the
reason for it. he began to be conscious
that he enjoyed his calls best when
Lizzie wa present, and fell into a
habit of asking her what evenings she
would be there. Sometimes when it
was snowy he called for her with his
team.
So, In the natural course of human
events. it was not long before a rumor
came to Miss Maria's ears that Dea-
con Goodyear was paying Lizzie
marked attention. The story filled her
with deep concern, particularly since
her aroused observation could but con-
firm 1t.
I'm afraid Lucretia's right, and a
widow isn't the proper person for a
chaperon," sighed Miss Maria to her
self. But there, If he's really in ear
nest, Lizzie'll make him a nice little
wife, and IL Lucretia's satisfied I'm
sure l am" And seeing no way by
which her Intervention might better
matters, Miss Maria wisely decided
to let them take their course.
The crocuses had begun to prick
through the brown earth, and nothing
was left of the snow save dingy patches
in the hollows, when Miss Maria
stepped into her yard one morning, no.
ticing with a breath of delight that
winter had gone, A voice from the
cemetery fence greeted her. Deacon
Goodyear had come around to see how
his lot was looking. His this
morning was not depressed. He had
never missed Czarina as he did this
spring. Seemed as if he couldn't wait
for the snow to go off so he could get
to her grave. Yet within ten minutes,
having from Czarina led s%killfully up
to the point, he was offering Miss Ma
ria a position as Mrs. Solomon Good.
year.
Miss Maria was astonished and in
dignant. With much dignity but in
few words, she declined the honor and
walked back to the house, leaving the
deacon more depressed than before.
poking his cane about among the dead
leaves on Czarina's grave. Miss Maria
said nothing to her sister. She felt
crushed and Inundated, someway. II
seemed to her as If Deacon Goodyear
had trifed with them all as a family
She would have a talk with Lizzie and
find out how the poor girl took 1t.
She walked into the schoolroom after
the children were gone, with distressed
face, at sight of which Lizzie's smile
dimmed a little.
ooh, Aunt Maria" she said; 81 hope
you're not Disappointed"
cat what?" asked Miss Maria.
Because l refused Deacon Goodyear
Did he tell you? l wal so surprised,
for l had thought he was good to me
on account of being a family friend.
But last night he came around so sol
emn, and asked me to marry him in
such a mournful manner! I'm afraid
you'll think me wicked, Aunt Maria.
but l actually laughed after l was
alone to think what a good joke Arthur
would have thought it. And then /
cried, thinking that in Heaven we
might not care for jokes. But to-day
| have been thinking how much you
asked us there together, and was SO
afraid you wanted something of the
kind"
Il never thought of such a thing
declared Miss Maria, with perfect
truth. She %pondered ON the deacon's
strange behavior as she went slowly
homeward. What would Lucretia say?
A sound Of voices reached her from
the sitting-room. Deacon Goodyear,
no longer depressed or mournful, sat
beside her sister. Miss Lucretia's
cheeks were a soft pink.
ooh, Maria!" she said.
Miss Maria turned inquiringly to.
ward the deacon, who colored, but met
her gaze unninchingly.
"Lucretia's promised to marry me-"
he said, firmly.
Miss Maria gave him a whitening
look.
ALLOW me to congratulate you" she
said. She put away her bonnet and
went straight to the kitchen, putting
her head back through the door to in
quire: "Will our young man stay to
tea, Lucretia?"
Deacon Goodyear followed her out,
carefully closing both doors behind
him.
Look here, now" he said, in a low
but determined voice; you probably
think this is terribly funny, and maybe
it does look queer. Lucretia's the one
l wanted all the time. But l kept
a-hearing reports about how I was
counting of Lizzie, and l kind of
thought maybe my attentions did re.
quire an offer. But Lizzie didn't want
me. Then l kind of thought
that maybe your turn come