Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-08-22
CHAPTER v.
In Which Old Friends Meet.

In Which Old Friends Meet,
When Ellery came down to break
last the rain was over. the wind had
gone down. and the morning sunshine
was pouring in at the dining-room
windows. Outside the lilacs were
in bud. the bluebirds were singing,
and there was sniff of real spring
In the air. The storm was at an end
and yet the young minister was con.
scious of a troublesome feeling that,
for him, it was just beginning.
However, he had determined while
dressing to make clean breast Of it
to his housekeeper-a nominally clean
breast, that is. So, as they sat oppo-
site each other at the table, he began
his confession. The mullins scorched
In the oven and the coffeepot boiled
over as to told his story, for Keziah
was too much interested to think of
trifes. Interested and astounded, for,
since Come Cutters had been Come Out
ers and the split in the society took
place, no Regular minister had crossed
the threshold of a seceder's dwelling,
much less attended their services and
walked home with member of their
congregation. She knew what this
amazing procedure was likely to mean,
II her parson did not.
"Well!" she exclaimed when the re.
cital was finished. Welt"
Tin afraid was too hasty," OBJ.
served Mr.. Ellery thoughtfully. per
haps it would have been wiser not to
have done it,"
Perhaps 'twould. Yes, wouldn't
wonder mite"
ut will be talked about some, / sup
pose. Don't you think so?"
cat this moment one half of Trumet
is talkin' about it and runnin' out to
tell the other half. guess I'd better
hurry up with this breakfast We're
goin' to have callers"
Strange to say, however, this proph-
ecy of early morning visitors did not
prove true. Nine o'clock, then ten,
and no visitor came to the parsonage.
Mrs. Coffin affirmed that she did not
understand it. Where was Didama !
Where Lavinia Pepper? Had the "Tru.
met Daily Advertiser" suspended pub.
LEGATION?
At half past ten the gate slammed.
KeZiah peered from the window.
"Humph!" she CALCULATED Here
comes Elkanah and he's got storm sig.
nails set. by the looks. He's comm
after you, Mr. Ellery."
Very WE'LL" was the calm reply;
"let him come"
"All right. Say, Mr.. Ellery, it's
none of my business, but l wouldn't
say anything about your seem Grace
home. That's none Of his business,
either, or anybody elses."
The head of the parish committee
stalked into the study and the door
closed behind him. A rumble of
voices in animated conversation sue.
ceeded.
Mrs. Coffin went out into the kitchen
and resumed her business of making
a dried-apple pie.
She was looking down below the
door, which opened outward and was
swung partly back on it's hinges. From
under the door projected boot, 8
! mans boot and one of ample size.
keziah's cheeks, already red from
the heat of the stove, redeemed still
more. Her lips twitched and her eyes
sparkled.
"Hum!" she said. "They say you
can tell the Old Scratch by his foot
prints, even if you can't smell the
sulphur. Anyhow, you can tell Ham.
mond by the size of his boots. Come
out from behind that door this min.
ute. Amt you ashamed of yourself?"
The owner Of the boot stepped forth
from behind the door and seized her
by both hands.
"Halloo. Keziah!" he cried joyfully.
my, but it's good to see you"
"Falloo, Natl" said Keziah heartily.
Its kind of good to see you, too"
The rest of him was in keeping
with his boots. He was big and broad.
shouldered and bearded. His face,
above the beard, was tanned to deep
| reddish brown, and the corners of his
eyes were marked with dozens of tiny
"liuhiSS. lie Was UreSSeu III Dlu3
cloth and wore wide-brimmed, soft
felt hat. He entered the kitchen and
tossed the hat into corner.
WE'LL" he exclaimed. "Why don't
you act surprised to see Teller? Here
I've been. cruisin' from the Horn to
Barnegat and back again, and you act
as If I'd just dropped in to fetch the
cup Of molasses borrowed yesterday.
What do you mean by it?"
"Oh, heard you'd made port
did, hey? That's Trumet, sure
pop. You amt the only one. !
sneaked off acrost lots SOS to dodge
the gang of neighbors that l knew
would be sailin' into our yard, the
whole fleet loaded to the gunwale with
questions. Wanted to see you first,
Keziah."
Mrs. Coffin pulled forward one OF
the kitchen chairs. He seated himself
on 1t and it groaned under his
weight.