Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-12-24

~ - ANA Onu IOOLu. OLdUQlllS DelOis
the old-fashioned bureau with its littl+
oval mirror, she hastily arranged hel
halr. She did not wish to go tC
prayer meeting at the chapel, but she
felt that she must. The Come-Outel
gatherings, with their noisy singing
and shouting, had grown more and
more repugnant to her.
she blew out the candle and came
out into the hall at the head of the
stairs She was about to descend wher
she heard voices. The door of the din
ing room opened and closed. She felt
certain that Nat had returned and
wondered who was with him. Then
she heard her uncles voice, speaking
Sharply and with unwonted sternness
1 don't know what tbs you want tc
see about, said Captain Eben You
say it's important; well, it's got to be
70 keep me from my meetin' l ought
to be on the Lords business this
minute and nothin worldly's goin' tc
keep me from servin' Him So speak
quick. What is it?"
The voice that answered was one
that Grace recognized, though she had
never before heard in it the note OF
agitation and undignified excitement
There were no ponderous pauses and
'Hum-ha's" now
Don't be fool, Hammond it said
And don't stand there preaching
Lock that door, Get a lamp Are
you sure there's nobody but us in the
house?"
Captain Elkanah Daniels! Captain
Elkanah visiting a Come-Outer! and
the leader of the Come Cutters!
Grace caught her breath. What in
the world She started to descend
and then thought flashed to her
mind. She stopped short
Il amt the fool, Elkanah," she
heard her uncle retort sternly. "The
fools are them who are def to the
call from on high. My foot was on the
threshold Of His house when you led
me astray. It's never halted there
afore. | warn you"
stop! Shut up! Eben Hammond
I tell you that your precious church
yes and mine, the Regular church OF
Trumet-will go to rack and ruin il
you and me don't pull together this
night"
And l tell you, Elkanah Daniels,
III have no blasphemy here. That lit
tie sanctuary up The road is founded
on rock and neither you nor any
OF your Phariseein' priest-worshipin
crew can shake it The Almighty'll
protect His own. AS for the Regular
church, that's no concern of mine"
But | tell you tbs your concern.
Or if the church isn't, your own fam
lily isPS
There was an instant of silence.
Grace. crouching on the stairs, noticed
the change in her uncle's voice as he
answered.
My own family?" he repeated slow.
ly. MY own And the Regular
church What do you mean? Has
Nat"
mo, he amt But that cussed girl
of yours
Stop" shouted Captain Hammond
"Elkanah Daniels, for your own sake
now, be careful. If you dast to say a
word, another word like that, I'll"
IF dast! The hussyl But there's
no use talkin' to you. You're as crazy
as Bedlamite. Either that, or you're
in the game with her. If you are, |
warn you"
Stop! What game? What game
do you mean? Oracle! My Graciei
What is it? For mercy sakes, FL
kanah-"
"Humph ] wondered il I couldn't
get some sense into you. finally Lock
that door,"
Il will! l will! But Elkanah----"
Lock it! Give me the key!"
The click of the lock sounded
sharply.
Where's the lamp" demanded Dan.
iels. And the matches? Don't stand
there shaking
A smell of sulphur foated out into
the hall Then the sickly glow of the
fluid" lamp shone through the door
way
What ais you?" asked EIkanah
Are you struck dumb? Now go and
see If there's anybody else in the
house"
"But-but these amt. ! know there
amt. Hannah's gone and Gracie's at
meetin by this time"
"She? Humph! Well, maybe she's
at meetin' and maybe she isn't May,
be she's over in Peters's pines, hug
Sing and kissing that man she's met
there every Sunday for l don't know
how long Here! let go. you old
fooll Let go, tell you'll"
You Hart" snarled Captain Eben
you low-lived liar! BY the Almighty
Elkanah Danielsl III You take thar
back or I'll choke the everlastiE
soul out of you I will"
Let so, you lunatic! You'll kill
yourself. Listen! I'm not lying. It's
the truth. She's met a man, I tell
you. Been meeting him for months,
I guess. There! now viii you listeng
"His names John Ellery. and he's
minister of the Regular church in this
town: that's who he Isl Here. hold
up, Good Lord are you dying Hold
up"
The girl on the stairs sprang to her
feet. Her head was Keeling and she
could scarcely stand, bur she blind,y
began the descent. She must so 70
her uncle. She must. But Captain
Daniels's voice caused her 10 hal;
once more.
There. there!" ii said in = tone
of relief. That's better, Set still
now. Be quiet, that's it. Shall I get
some water?"
mo. me- let me be. Just let me he.
I amt what I used to be and this
I'm al right. | tell you. Grace! And
~ q TT.