The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-23

"The deacon is ( good man. but as obstinate as a mule. He knows I'm right here, but if he don't want to sit on my doorsteps he can go to | live happily with a Methodist, any, how"
 After holding out for five weeks the deacon could stand 1t no longer. One October night he made up his | mind to at least have a look at the | widow through the sitting room win- dow. He saw the usual light. and ne softly climbed the line fence to get a peep. He fondly hoped to see here pale and emaciated and in tears. If he did, he might possibly enter the house and give her chance to ask his forgiveness, and promise never to do so | again. On that day the widow had called a carpenter to make repairs to the plat form of the well. He had torn the old boards up. but had not nailed down the new. As the skulker softly ap- preached the window to get look he | suddenly found himself treading on air, | and the next moment he landed with a great splash at the bottom ofa twenty | foot we'll There was fouf feet of water to break his fall, but he knocked | against the wall going down and was some time ascertaining that he had not been killed and that the water was not deep enough to drown him. When | he had got this through his head he | began to shiver and to yell for assis- tance. He had voice that had jump I ed a yoke of of oxen ten feet but the | voice of man down a well is not the | voice of a man in the pasture. He had yelled and shivered for half an hour when the widow thought she heard strange sounds and came to the door
 to investigate. It was another five | minutes before she located the man. Then she brought out candle and
 knelt and peered down and asked.
 ''Who are you down there. and what
 were you doing in my yard?" | 'It's-it's Deacon Grimshaw," was | the answer.
 Why, Deacon, you surprise me- 1 thought that you had decided had
 moved away. Are you comfortable
 down there?'
 Of course I hain't! Pm near dead and I want to get out as quick as can"
 T see. If let down the bucket you l can hang on till can draw you up
 We must have a little talk first"
 Talk! Talkr' shouted the deacon i ''Can a freezing, dying man talk? You
 ought to be prosecuted for leaving the | well uncovered"
 I
 I believe the whale swallowed him.
 How do you believer T believe he didn't" | "Then you must excuse me for a
 while. I've got some apple sass stew
 ing on the stove and I don't want it to
 burn. I'll be out in about half an hour
 to see if you have changed your mind"
 Wilder. would you leave man to perish?"
 How about Jonah and the whale?" He didn't mean to give in, but fresh | crop of shivers shook him from head to heel, and as soon os he cold get grip on his chattering teeth he replied.
 well, mebbe the whale did swaller him"
 And how about Daniel in the lions denT'
 There was silence for two long min- utes. But you cannot beat cold water, | a twenty-foot we'll and a desire for something hot At the end of that time shivering, shaking voice called up that Daniel was probibly all there as stated.
 Another thing. deacon" continued the kneelng woman, "did I ever run after you?'
 Am half crazy to catch hus- l band?'
 No"
 Have you given me the mittenT T don't think so." Well, what do you think? I'm afraid
 that apple sass is really scorched." 'Don't-don't go. widder, was walled up the well. I think-think-' Remember the apple sass!' well, I think the best thing we can do is to stop all this disruptin' and wranglin' and get married" The deacon was drawn up, given a glass of hot lder with red pepper in it, and while he was drinking and shak-
 ing and shiverlng the happy day was fixed and the affair came off accord ircr tO