The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1912-12-21
CHAPTER ~.
IN Which keziah Assumes a Guardian
ship.

Grace left the parsonage soon after
the supposed tramp disclosed his
identity. Her farewells were hurried
and she firmly refused Mrs. Collins
not too-insistent appeal to return TO
the house up street" and have sup
per. She said she was glad to meet
Mr.. Ellery. The young minister af-
Armed his delight in meeting her.
Then she disappeared in the misty
twilight and John Ellery surreptitious-
" wiped his perspiring forehead with
his cuff, having in his late desire for
the primal necessities forgotten such
4 trifiing incidental as a handkerchief.
The minister smiled rather one-sid-
edly.
its been something of a day for
me-" he said. 81 am ahead Of time
and I've made a lot of trouble, I'm
afraid. But yesterday afternoon |
was ready and, to tell the truth, was
eager to come and see my new home
and get at my work. So l started on
the morning train. Then the stage
broke down and l began to think
was stranded at Bayport. But this
kind-hearted chap from Wellmouth-I
believe that's where he lived-hap-
pened to pull up to watch us wrest-
ling with the smashed wheel, and
when he found ! was in a hurry to
ret to Trumet, offered to give me a
MT. His name was-was Bird. No.
that wasn't 1t, but 1t was something
Ike Bird, or some kind Of bird"
Bird" repeated Keziah thought
fully. There's no Birds that ! know
d In wellmouth. Hum! Hey?
Twa'nt Sparrow, was it?"
THAT was it Sparrow"
Good land! Emulous Sparrow
Run considerable to whiskers and
tongue. didn't he!"
why. yes; he did wear a beard. As
for tongue-well. he was converse
tional, II that's what you mean"
That's what / mean. II you rode
twelve mile with Emulous, you must
have had an earache for the last six.
Did he ask a question or two about
your personal affairs, here and there
between times"
Mr. Ellery laughed.
Yes, one or two, between times"
- admitted
T shan't die of surprise. Did you
ell him who you was?"
Moo, to be honest, ! didn't. He
was 10 very anxious to find out. that
well. ! lodged. / think he believed
! was going to visit Captain Daniels.
sun, some one may have seen me
come here.
mo, 60, they didn't. This fog Is as
lthjck a. Injun-meai puddin'. Nobody
sw you"
Well" with some hesitation, "the
Joung lady who was here with you
10h. Grace Van Horne! She's all
night She won't tell. She amt that
hind"
Van Horne? That doesn't sound
Me New England name"
"Tisn't. Her folks come from Jer
~ 8OmcWu DAl BIG was duoPt
ID BY old Cap'n Hammond, who keeps
TIE tavern down on the bay shore by
the packet wharf. and she's lived in
Trumet since she was six years old
Her father was Teunis Van Horne
and he was mate on Cap'n Eben's
coastin' schooner and was drowned
Oh Hatteras. Eben was saved just by
The skin Of his teeth and got broken
hip and religion while IT happened
His hips better except that he's some
lame; but his religions been more
and more feverish ever since. He's
one of the head Come-Outers, ant
built their chapel with his own money
You mustn't think I'm speakin' light
v Of religion, nor Of Cap'n Eben, ell
tAer. He's a dear good soul as evel
vas. but he 10 the narrowest kind Of
come-Outer. His creed is just about
= wide as the chapel door, and that's
= narrow as the way leadin' to sal
yation; 1t is the way. too. SO the Come
Cutters think"
What are Come Cutters! Some new
ssctr'
-sakes alive! Haven't you heart
y q Come Cutters! Cats foot! Well
,you1l hear of EN- often enough from
NV on. They're folks who used t.
. to our church. the Regular, bu
IN because the services was too
verldly, with organs and choir sing
u. and the road to paradise too easy
No need for me to tell you any more
tou1l learn"
Mr.. Ellery was interested. He hat
oesn In Trumet but once before, OF
me occasion when he preached hi,
u'ai sermon, and of that memorabl,
uat remembered little except the ser
noa itself, the pews filed with cap
ans and their families, and the awe
spiring personality Of Captain Ell
.nan Daniels. who had been his host
~ young man. the ink upon his d
ena from the theological school still
sn. trial sermon In q weighty mat
ma the preaching Of It weightie
he had rehearsed 1t over an,
W. In private. had delivered II al
through clinched teeth, and ha,
eined to his room In the Boston
uing house with the conviction
~ II was an utter failure. Captain
.anah and the gracious Miss Anna
~ Ms daughter, had Aoen kin,
sao1sh to express gra; on. an,
@ praise alone saved h.n from de
Then, to his amazement, tn.
49,. n.c come. OF casual converse
ss -. st the church and about the Dan
sahls be could recall nothing. 8,