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

what came to tell you. ask your
pardon for-for him"
She turned away now, and It was
the minister who detained her.
I've been thinking" he said slowly.
for in his present state of mind it was
a hard thing to say, that perhaps l
ought to apologize, too. I'm afraid I
did disturb your service and I'm sorry.
| meant well, but What's that?
Rain?"
There was no doubt about it; it was
rain and plenty Of It. 1t came in
swooping downpour that beat upon the
trees and bushes and reared upon the
roof Of the chapel. The minister hur-
riedly raised his umbrella.
"Here!" he commanded, you must
take the umbrella. Really, you must.
You haven't one and you'll be wet
through"
She pushed the umbrella aside.
mo, no." she answered. Il don't
need it; I'm used to wet weather;
truly l am. And l don't care for this
hat; it's an old one. You have a long
way to go and haven't. Please, Mr..
Ellery, | can't take it,"
Very WELL" was the sternly self
sacrificing reply, then l shall certain
ly go with you as far as the gate. I'm
sorry, if my company is distasteful,
! but"
He did not finish the sentence, think
ing, it may be, that she might finish
| it for him. But she was silent, merely
removing her hand from the handle.
She took a step forward; he followed,
holding the umbrella over her head.
They FLASHED on, without speaking,
through the rapidly forming puddles.
Presently she stumbled and he
caught her arm to prevent her falling.
To his surprise he felt that arm shake
in his grasp.
"Why, Miss Van Hornet" he ex-
claimed in great concern, "are you
crying? beg your pardon. Of course
l wouldn't think of going another step
with you. l didn't mean to trouble
you. l only If you will please take
this umbrella"
Again he tried to transfer the UNI
brella and again she pushed it away.
lin not crying" she gasped;
"but-oh, dear! this is so funny!"
Funny" he repeated We'll, per
haps it is. Our ideas of fun seem to
differ. /"
"Oh, but it is so funny. You don't
understand. What do you think your
congregation would say if they knew
you had been to a ComeOuters' meet
ing and then insisted on seeing a
Come-Outer girl home?"
John Ellery swallowed hard. A Vi
sion OF Captain Elkanah Daniels and
the stately Miss Annabel rose before
his minds eye. He hadn't thought of
his congregation in connection with
this impromptu rescue of a damsel in
distress.
Possibly your Uncle Eben might be
somewhat-er-surprised if he knew
you were with me. Perhaps he might
have something to say on the sub
ject."
4 guess he would. We shall know
very soon. | ran away and left him
with Mrs Poundberry, our housekeep.
err He doesn't know where l am. l
wonder he hasn't turned back to look
for me before this We shall probably
meet him at any moment"
Fifty yards away the lighted win
dows of the Hammond tavern cleaned
| yellow. Farther on, over a ragged,
moving fringe of grass and weeds, was
a black, fiat expanse-the bay. And a
little way out upon that expanse
twinkled the lights of a vessel. A
chain ratified. Voices shouting exult,
ingly came to their ears.
WHY" exclaimed Grace in excited
wonder, cts the packet! She was
due this morning, but we didn't expect
her in till tomorrow. How did she
find her way in the fog? I must tell
uncle"
She started to run toward the house.
The minister would have followed
with the umbrella, but she stopped
| him.
NO, Mr.. Ellery," she urged earnest
ly. mo, please don't. I'm all right
now Thank you. Good night"
A few steps farther on she turned.
81 hope Capn Elkanah won't know"
she whispered, the laugh returning to
her voice. Good night"
CTo BE CoNTINUED)