The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-09-09

] roF
give 'em a jog. Good mornin'. Mis-
Tillman." be said to the smiling lady.
"I'll come to the pint at once. My
youngest daughter has married Mark
| Wilson against my will an gone away
/ from town. an the older ones chosen
| a husband still less to my likin'. DO
you want TO come and housekeep for
me?"
II surmised something was going
on" returned Mrs. Tillman. 81 saw
/ Patty and Mark drive away early this
morning, with Mr.. and Mrs Wilson
wrapping the girl up and putting hot
soapstone in the sleigh aud consid'abls
kissing and hugging thrown in"
This knowledge added fuel to the
fame that was burning tiercely in the
deacon's breast
"Well. how about the hOusekeepln' r.
he asked. trying not TO show his eager
ness and not recognizing himself at all
in the enterprise i'm which he found
himself INDUCING
'T'm very comfortable here" the lady
responded artfully. "and don't knows
/ care to make any change. thank you.
! didn't like the village much at first.
after living in larger places. but how
I'm acquainted 1t kind of gains on me-"
Her reply was carefully framed. for
her mind worked with great rapidity.
and she was mistress of the situation
Almost as soon AS she saw the deacon
alighting from his sleigh. He was not
the sort of man to be IA casual caller
and his manner bespoke an urgent err
rand. She had pension Of SO
month. but over and above that sum
her living was precarious. She made
coats. and she had never known want.
for she was a master hand at dealing
with the opposite sex. Deacon Bax-
ter, according to common report. had
ten or fifteen thousand dollars slowed
away In the banks. so the situation
would be as simple as possible under
ordinary circumstance IL was as
easy to turn out one mans pockets as
another's when be was a normal hu-
man being. but Deacon Baxter was a
different proposition.
IL wonder how long he's likely to
1--we" she thought. glancng at him
covertly out of the tail OF her eye.
"His evil temper must have driven
more than one nail In his coffin. l
wonder IL / refuse to housekeep
whether I'll get-a better offer.
wonder IL ! could manage him II got
him. I'd rather like to set Ia the Bax-
ter pew at the orthodox meeting house
after the way some of the Baptist sis
tiers have snubbed me since ! come
here"
Not a vestige of these incendiary
thoughts showed In her comely coun-
tenance.
I'D make the wages fair" urged the
deacon, looking round the clean kitch-
en-, with the breakfast table sitting
near the sunny window and the odor
of corned beef and cabbage issuing
temptingly from boiling pot on the
fire. II hope she amt a great meat
eater" he thought. but it's too soon
to cross that bridge yet awhile"
'I've no doubt Of It," said the wild
ow, wondering II her voice rang true,
but I've got a pension, and why
should | leave this coy little home?
Would ! better myself any-that's the
question? I'm kind Of lonesome here.
That's the only reason I'D consider a
move"
'No need o. bein' lonesome down TO
the Falls" said the deacon. "And I'm
In an out all day. between the barn
an the store"
This. indeed. was not pleasant pros
pect, but Jane Tillman had faced worse
ones In her time.
I'm no hand at any work outside
the house" she observed as II reflect
ing Il oan truthfully say Fm a good