Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1912-12-20
Wno dared say soE' she demanded

VINO dared say SOP she DEMANDED.
"Who dared say We were engaged?
It's not true. It's a wicked lie and
Who is responsible, Aunt KeziahYn
We'll, l suppose likely am, much
as anybody, deary"
You? You, Aunt Keziah?s
"Yup; me. You are in love with
him; at any rate, you 'said so. And
you're here with him, amt your If
you two amt engaged you ought to
be-" She argued and pleaded and
coaxed, and, at last, when she began
to think she had prevailed, Grace
brought forward another objection.
She had given her word to her uncle
How could she break that promise to
a dying man? She would feel like a
traitor.
Traitor to who?" demanded the
housekeeper, losing patience. Not to
poor Nat, for he's gone And don't you
suppose that he and Eben understand
things better now, where they are?
Do you suppose that Nat wouldn't
would, for l knew him."
It was still unsettled when the long
talk was over, but Grace agreed not
to leave the minister at present. She
would stay where she was until he
was himself again, at least. Keziah
was satisfied with the preliminary
skirmish. She felt confident of WIN
ming the victory, and in the prospect
of happiness for others, she was al
most happy herself. Yet each time the
mail was brought to the shanty she
dreaded to look at it, and the sight of
a stranger made her shake with fear.
Ansel Coffin had threatened to come
to Trumet. II he came, she had made
up her mind what to do.
The parish committee was to meet.
Captain Elkanah had announced his
intention of moving that John Ellery
be expelled from the Regular church
There was to be no compromise. no
asking for a resignation; he must be
discharged, thrown out in disgrace.
The county papers were full OF the
squabble. but they merely reported
the news and did not take sides. The
fight was too even for that
One afternoon few days before
the date set for the meeting Elkanah
and two or three of his henehmen
were on the piazza of the Daniels
home, discussing the situation. They
were blue and downcast. Annabel
was in the sitting room, shedding
tears of humiliation and jealous rage
on the haircloth sofa
Some one was talking excitedly on
the sidewalk beyond the lilac bushes
at the border of the Daniels property.
Voices answered. Didama hogers
darted out of her yard and past the
house in the direction of the sounds.
Salters rose and walked down to the
gate. Emulous Sparrow, the fish ped
dler, was seated in his cart, which was
surrounded by men and women, neigh
bors of the Danielses There was
perfect storm and questionings and
OSCILLATIONS Salters opened the gate
and Joined ,.the group A moment
later he came running back. up the
walk toward the piazza.
"Cap'n," he shouted "Cap'n Elkan-
ah, here's newsi What do you think?
A telegram's just come from Nat
Hammond. He's safe and sound IN
New York, and he'll be here day after
tomorrow
They could not believe it and rush
ed out to hear more. Emulous, glow
Ing with importance, affirmed thai III
was so. He had seen the telegram at
. the store 1t was for Grace van
Horne and they were just going 10
send a boy over to the shanty WITH
+ it.
Captain Elkanah seized Salters by
the arm and led him out of the group.
The old mans face was alight Win
savage joy and his voice shook VIII
.exultation.
I'm tell you one thing it means
he whispered. at means the end oil
Ellery, so far as his marrying her Is
concerned. She gave her word 10
Hammond and she'll keep it. she
no liar, whatever else she is. He may
be minister of the Regular ehureh'
though I'll never set under him. pUI
he'll never marry her. now.