Evening star., 1926-10-02
The Deacon.
EACON Swank's face hal

austere man. His duties in
the church demanded it. The
very weakness of his family
required hardness as a balance,
though there were detractors VINO
limited it was the hardness that Kept
them weak. Only one man dared to
scott or to jolly the austerity. When
ever he and the druggist drew near
in the presence of others, the drug
gist roared stories Of how they two
had stolen apples together, filled
themselves full of hard cider and
,courted the same girl.
But be that as it may, the deacon's
face now hardened. I'm not askln
Won as a visitor. remember. but to do
the work." he said frigldly. to COOK
an keep the house n order Tor Two
weeks. while my wife an darter are
away. I shall pay you wages for it
in reason. IT won't be a lark, IKE
you said' .,
The girl dropped her gaze to veil
the merry light that never quite left
her ewes. you misunderstood my
meaning, Deacon Swank," she SAID IN a
voice that would have made any other
face light up. II was thinking Of
being there. Often girls speak OF a
change they like as being lark.
know YOUR place is a very pleasant
one. with shade and fruit trees, for 1t
has been pointed out to me- .,
THAT amt what I'm hirin' you Tor,
he rasped Its for work. lie looKed
at her frowningly. undecided. l
wanted an older woman" he grum-
hled "one with hand strong
enough to keep children steady in the
fear Of the Lord. l have two boys OF
7 and 10 an a gal of IA. I'd have her
keen house only she amt strong
enough. Most gals are plndlln these
days through too much coddlln
''You have an older daughter Betty
l think" x,,,+
"Betty's with her ma. It's the rust
time either's been off from home, put
it seemed a sort of necessity. fer
mas on his last bed an asked TOT
both of 'em to come. But bout you.
"Don't YOU think I'll suit?"
mo" glumly, mot to lark. but I've
been to seven places. an only 1ouno
one old one, who smelled OF drink;
Then | met the minister. an he SAID
there was a gal up here TO MIS-
Cowder who could cook an mlent
come" He waited. But the girl wait
cd. too, "Well," at last. desperately
"will YOU come? I've got TO nave
somebody, an next week the churcn i,
has a convention. when deiegates WIZ
come. an IHGy We y AAAhSA 80.
send out the invites. II MIS- SWAMI
an Betty was here I'd take In oele
gates. I'd feel obleeged to, bein' a
leadin' citizen So ~,
"Can't YOU now?" asked the girl.
II will manage the cooking,
"Church delegates shouldn't go
70 a house where a girl larks,'
gloomily, 'r wouldn't be tittin'.
"Then find somebody who Is nj
tim" requested the girl, her eyes
swapping into his. x;.,
The deacon recoiled. A mere siIl
defyine him. But his need was great.
II can't" he acknowledged. We
wore myselyf out tryin'.
.'Then there's my side.' crlsply.
"I don't care to be called names any
more. The way you've been twlstlns
that word lark is all fooi1shnesS:
You're too big a man to broWbeat. l
can do YOUR work all right, and can
give YOU a table suitable for delegates
If Won care to ask any. But L won
he cramped. You mustn't come INTO
the kitchen every time you enter tne
house and tell me how few spoon1ulIS5
of this and small quantity OF tnat VIII
do IF come 1 must have full sway
in the kitchen and the house and
enough to do with. And I don't mind
adding that I've lost most OF my de-
sire to come"
The deacon opened and shut his
mouth and swallowed hard. But TINS
girl looked neat and clean, and pretty
though she was and unbecom1ngiy
straight.eyed, she did look capable.
Yes, yes, I'll take you he mum
bled, IAN right off. YouH need TO
get supper. I'll speak to the store
an you can order any-anythlng you
want-of course, in reason. An-ah
now I'll be goin'. Needn't have sup,
ner till 7. won't be home till then" !"
A dozen yards away he looked back.
"Foreot to ask your name" he called.
Minister jest said gal to MIS-
Deb will be all right" she an
swered-"Deb the Kitchen girl"
When Deacon Swank came home
that night he walked slowly. 1t had
been a hard day. But in sight of the
house his steps quickened to almost
a run.
The front of his house was never
opened except on rare occasions When
special visitors came or it was to be
cleaned. Now all the window curtains
were up, the big lamp over the parlor
table was lighted. The hall lamp was
lighted. In the parlor fireplace was
a big blaze of logs.
Within he saw the dining room was
lighted, the kitchen, too. From there
came the merry voices of the children
80 merry that he scarcely recognized
them. Alice, the 14-year-old, the
weakly one, whom he was anxious
about, fairly bubbled with laughter.
Something gripped his heart. Maybe
she was getting better.
Another thing came from the
kitchen with the merrv voices and
laughter-a coffee odor such as the
deacon rarely shifted. He shifted 1t
now. with a nose in the air in spite
of his wrath, for he loved coffee.
The clock struck Z. Here's father.
now" cried Johnny, with unwonted
enthusiasm. Hurry up everybody.
I'm hungry" And in his eagerness
he caught hold of his fathers hand
and started to drag him toward the
table; then remembered and would
have skunk away, but that his father
held him in a firm grasp. Somehow
the little warm hand slipped spon-
taneously into his own awoke sensa-
ton at once novel and pleasant.
"Oh, father!' cried Alice, we've
been having such a time. Miss De
borah helped us with our lessons and
told us beautiful stories"
II see you're pretty we'll lit up
said the deacon.