Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-08-06
A DEACON'S
WIFE
By N. ouAD
Copyright. 1919. by Associated LIZ
erary Press

Deacon John Goodman was forty
/ Fight years old when he lost bis wife.
] They were peaceful. good tempered
/ twain and had never bad quarrel
/ There were no children. aud sister
/ came to keep house for the deacon.
Hell marry again within a year or
! two. of course" was the general opin-
ion of the villagers.
/ The deacon didn't remarry, and after
| eight years had passed away he was
given credit for being one Of the few
exceptions He had just passed bis
! fifty-sixth birthday when be drove
over TO Grafton one day with horse
and buggy TO transact some business.
I Ii was splendid June day. and IL
anybody had told the deacon that he
/ was going to run into cyclone within
an hour be would have laughed at the
prediction. He was yet four miles
/ from Grafton and toiIing mp long
/ hill when the cyclone appeared.
| 1t had been sitting down on q stone
| to rest IL was a woman with bulg-
/ ing satchel. She was about forty-five
years old and had pleasant face.
/
/ lift on her way and was Invited TO
| take a seat In the buggy. She didn't
] look at all to the deacon like cyclone
on wheels-not then. Both were nat
uraiiy laxative, and inside OF ten min
/ utes they were talking away like old
acquaintsnces- The cyclone was a
: widow named Pardon. She had been
sewing at the house of n farmer. She
! had married sister living in Grafton.
/ She had been widow for 6ve years,
and. while life was going very well
! with her II was bit lonesome.
/ Deacon Goodman confessed that II
was also a bit lonely for him.
| Widow Pardon had never considered
second marriage. but If she should
| happen to find the right sort OF man
/ II might set her TO thinking.
Il understand" replied the deacon as
he nodded his bead.
-. make my own dresses. and
/ should be saving. And can cook a
boiled dinner ct for king"
/ Il guess I'll stop and see your sister
about IT, don't see no sorter use in
waitin' Hammer was complainin' this
/ very mornin' about the hardness OF the
! housework."
Put it of for week. and think II
over. also want to think"
The widow was left at a house In
/ the village. the deacon's business trans
| acted, and be returned home TO say to
] his sister:
Hammer. you can have your liberty
purity soon"
What dye mean by that. Johnf"
I'm goin' to get married"
Deacon Goodman was known among
men as reasonable man" He could
/ be argued with. and be had often
changed bis mind. but In this matter
he was as obstinate as a mule. The
minister and others talked 10 him, but
| without avail. re was on hand on the
day named The sister had nothing TO
say for or against. and 1t was decided
that the marriage should take place In
two weeks II came or according to
schedule. and the deacon took his bride
home and was happy man-for three
or four days. Then one morning he
suggested that he liked his coffee lit
tie stronger than the wife was making
1t, and she whirled on him. threw the
utensil NJ his head and opened such a
tornado OF abuse that he sat with his
mouth open and stared at her In dumb
surprise
The good man was still wondering
| what had broken loose when the wife
| sf. % nj l.l hso hat
and ran for the river vowing that she
would drown herself. He sprang up
4 and followed her. OF course. and canght
her just as she was going to take the
plunge.
Ten days later there was second
outbreak. The deacon got abuse, pro-
family and more vigorous slaps. and
again he caught his wife on the bank
Of the river.
In one year there were ten or twelve
outbreaks. and. OF course. the matter
became town talk. The good deacon
| finally went to his minister about II.
and the latter said:
II have been waiting for three
months, Brother Goodman"
And you can tell me what I should
dor"
ain a very few words. brother"
Separator
| "No."
"Get a divorceT'
"No."
But it's got to end. parson. can't
stand IL any longer"
II think | have a plan to end It
When do you look for the next ont
breaky
n 1T may come any day now"
The minister whispered In the dea-
| cons ear for the next ten minutes. and
the plan was laid Three days later
there was dispute over a roller towel.
and the outbreak came At the prop
| er moment the wife ran for the river
4 and was pursued She was not over