Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-05-06
The Deacon's
Quandary
Copyright, BY Ford Pub. Coz

tenants OF Nathan's row, a long. low
pressed-brick, Queen Ann in front and
Mary Ann behind. seemed to have
felt and welcomed these harbingers
Of balmy spring
On the steep, downward grade of
life's journey, clean-shaven, scared |
and wien. yet with a countenance
open and readable as a child's Bible,
Josiah Carberry leaned heavily against
the aintblistered fence that bounded
his bachelor domains chatting with
the Widow Bonner.
For more than a year now. for the
deacon's heart and home the two
widows who lived side by side had
been rivals At first Nathan's row
had predicted Mrs. Bonner. Then
Mrs. Marthy was the favorite. Again.
II was Mrs. Bonner; again. Mrs. Mar.
thy Then. BAH With a man like
Deacon Carberry who could tell For
through II all the deacon had been
non-committal He dispensed his
favors with cautious hand. and drew
a tight rein on his zeal. His conduct
had been exemplary all agreed save
one, his short-haired, ill-favored house
keeper, who shuddeued at dependence
in a grumbling brothers home. But
70 the gossips of Nathan's row that
was neither here nor there; the man
was on the outlook just the same. And
meanwhile in the balance the rival
widows swung. Tip. up went Mrs.
Bonner, down went Mrs. Marthy. Tip,
wrauf Mr. Morfkv d1x,vr rvaF,t Mrs
Bonner. Tip. ounce to ounce they
poised and swung. and the deacon was
still In a quandary.
Click!
No sooner had Mrs. Bonner retired
than the door of the next house
opened wide, and with rug and broom
and a business-like buster turbaning
her thinning locks. the portly Mrs.
Marthy stepped quickly out. Switch,
switch, SWITCH There was no dust
on her spotless rug. but there might
be dust in the deacon's eyes.
vegetables! Vegetables"
"For the lands sake!" exclaimed
the newcomer. wheeling an unwieldy
right-about and facing the paint-blis.
tered fence: Hear that, will yuh,
Deacon Carberry, hear It? Old Ped.
dler Cleavers on the ayenoo, again"
"Yes'm, yes'm, indeed. Fancy. meow,
an him so blind" replied the sym
pathetic deacon.
blind! Blind, did l hear y say
Deacon carberry?" repeated the
widow. surprised.
And for a moment the deacon hest
tated Blind? Hey. wasn't that what
Mrs Bonner had just told him? Yes
yes. certainly that was what she had
said. and he had never had cause t
doubt Mrs. Bonner's word: "Yes'm
blind. said. That is--er-more o.
less. Mrs Marthy, maam." be supple
smented with a smile
Vegetables. Vegetables"
Louder and louder grew the CRY
and in a moEent a long, raNish look
ing wagon piled high with rosy
checked apples and crisp. fresh vegc
tables. drew up at number nine.
Hello. Joey, hello. boy, Glad t Sc
you back again." cried the. deacon, CT
thusia5tcally.
All howdy. howdy. Deacon Ca
berry" rasred the old peddler, moo
ding pleasantly and climbing leisure
ly from his seat. AN by Shingoei
sir. it's right glad meself. / am ter b
back. ya-as!"
Eyes, yes, indeed, Mr.. Cleavers
broke in Mrs. Marthy. dropping he
broom and advancing quickly to tn
business end of the wagon land we
VEAL hope you are quite well again
Thank y, thank y, ma'am." nun
bled Joey, "thanky'." But II II
peddler's eyesight, as reported, ha
failed him, his memory had not. and
curious squirt, which seemed to
watching the window and his ov
twisted mouth at the same time. s.
his bronzed old face distressing
askew: 4 remember. I remember"
was calculating mentally, Five cent
with an she springs a fiver on m
Ten minutes yappin' an fngerin', a
she says, Nav, nuthin,' t-day. Joe
Why don't y carry honeyT Aw,
good. no good at ALI" And he glanc
expectantly at the windows Of q
Widow Bonner's home.
''Vege-tablesl Vegetables" he
toned again; for In the prospero
Gays gone by the Widow Bonner h
been a customer after his own hea
When she purchased, she purchas
by the quarter. by the half. and son
times by the dollar, ach. and no hu
bug
cnckl He wasn't to be kept wa
ing long.
Morning, Mrs. Marthy. mornin
And Joey. Joey. I'm so glad to s
you. -"
"Ah, howdy, howdy. Mrs. Bonn
ma'am: It's Joey as is glad { see "
ma'am; right glad" And. now. tbs
we're hearty handshakes, happy smi
and gestures and peals Of genul
laughter that dovetailed with
morning. Rattle. rattle. rattlel In
trice the old peddler was down
business again, and into Mrs. B
ner's bucket rained the pick Of
rosy-cheeked apples. Then. up in fri