The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-12-20
CHAPTER III-Continued.

linn Of the parsonage had so far pro
dressed that she could now find time
for little sewing, after the dinner
dishes were done.
"Keziah," said the captain pompous
IT. we expect you to look out for Mr.
Ellerv in every respect. The parish
committee expects that-yes."
"Ill try said Mrs. Coffin shortly.
Yves. Well, that's all. You can go
We must be going, too, Mr.. Ellery
Please consider our house at your dis
posal any time. Be neighborly-hum
-ha,-be neighborly."
Yes" purred Annabel. do come
and see us often. Congenial society
is very scarce in Trumet, for me espe-
cially. We can read together. Are
you fond of Moore, Mr. Ellery? l just
dote on him."
The last "hum-ha" was partially
drowned by the click of the gate. Ke-
ziah closed the dining-room door.
Mrs. Coffin" said the minister, 81
shant trouble the parish committee.
Be sure of that I'm perfectly salts
fed
Keziah sat down in the rocker and
her needle moved very briskly for a
moment Then she said, without
looking up:
That's good. / own up I like to
hear YOU say it. And I am glad there
are some things I do like about this
new place of mine. Because-well,
because there's likely to be others that
l shaut like at all"
On Friday evening the minister
conducted his first prayer meeting.
Before it, and afterwards, he heard
s0od deal concerning the Come
Cutters He learned that Captain
Eben Hammond had preached against
him in the chapel on Sunday. Most
Of lis own parishioners seemed to
think it a good joke.
The sun of the following Thursday
morning rose behind a curtain of fog
as dense as that of the day upon
which Ellery arrived. A fiat calm in
the forenoon, the wind changed about
three O'Clock, and, beginning with a
sharp and sudden squall from the
northwest, blew hard and steady. Yet
the fog still cloaked everything and
refused to be blown away.
Coin out in this, Mr.. Ellery," ex
. claimed Keziah, in amazement, as the
minister put on his hat and coat about
seven that evening. "Sakes alive!
3 you won't be able to see the way tC
4 the gate. It's as dark as a nigger's
pocket and thicker than young ones
h in poor mans family, as my father
used to say. You'll be wet through
Where IN the world are you bound fol
this night?"
The minister equivocated. He sale
he had been in the house all day and
felt like a walk.
We'll, take an umbrella, then" was
the housekeepers advice You'll
need it before you get back, callate.
1t was dark enough and thick
enough, in all conscience. The mair
road was black, wet void, through
which CLEANS from lighted windows
II We're big vague, yellow blotches. The
umbrella was useful in the same way
That blind mans cane is useful, il
feeling the way. Two or three strag
glers who met the minister carried
lanterns. John Ellery stumbled OIL
through the mist till he reached the
corners" where the store was located
and the roads forked. There, he
turned to the right, into the way
called locally "Hammond's Turmoil.
A short distance down the 'Turn-off'
stood small, brown-shingled building
It's windows alight. Opposite it's door
On either side Of the road, grew a
Spreading hornbeam tree surrounded
II by cluster of swamp blackberry
y pushes In the black shadow of the
hornbeam Mr.. Ellery stood still. He
was debating in his mind a question:
should he or should he not enter that
building?
AS ne stood there, groups of people
emerged from the fog and darkness
and passed in at the door. Some OF
Them he had seen during his fortnight
N Trumet. Others were strangers to
MIN. A lantern danced and wabbled
up the Turmoil" from the direction
Of the bay shore and the packet wharf
drew near, and he saw that it was
carried by an old man with long, white
Aslr and chin beard, who walked with
'slght limp. Beside him was a thin
woman wearing black poke bonnet
ana a shawl. In the rear Of the pail
sahe another woman, young woman
Judging by the way she was dressed
ana her 1.-the, vigorous step. The trio
nsited on the platform of the building
Inc old man blew out the lantern
men he threw the door open and 6
.ueam OF yellow light poured ovel
the group.
:, me young woman was Grace Var
aorne' The minister recognized hel
" once. Undoubtedly, the old mar
WI, %iln the limp was her guardian, Cap
,a,h hoen Hammond, who, by common
sport, mad spoken of him, Ellery
;" hired priest"
Inc door closed. A few moment,
los s.ealter the soulHs of squeaky me
n eon came from within the building
=, walled and quavered and groaned
s,en with a suddenness .hat wa,
Nv. came the first verse of :
hsm: luous enlhusi