Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-12-21
CHAPTER III.
In Which Keziah Assumes a Guardian
shin

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-
firmed his delight in meeting her.
Its been something of day for
me-" he said. 4 am ahead of time
and I've made a lot of trouble, I'm
afraid. But yesterday afternoon l
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 l was in hurry to
get to Trumet, offered to give me
lift His name was-was Bird No.
that wasn't it. but it was something
like Bird, or some kind of bird"
"Bird?" repeated Keziah thought
fully There's no Birds that 1 know
of in Wellmouth- Hum. Hey?
'Twan't Sparrow. was it?'
THAT was it Sparrow"
Good land! Emulous Sparrow
Run considerable to whiskers and
tongue. didn't he?"
why, yes; lie did wear beard AS
for tongue-well, he was converse
tional, if that's what you mean
That's what l mean. If 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.. EIlery laughed
Yes, one or two between times.
he admitted.
Il shant die of surprise. Did you
tell him who you was?"
Moo, to be honest, l didn't. He
was so very anxious to find out, that
well, l lodged. l think he believed
] was going to visit Captain Daniels
Still, some one may have seen me
come here"
No, no. they didn't. This fog is as
thick as Injun-meal puddin'. Nobody
saw you"
Well" with some hesitation, 1.-The
young lady who was here with you"
"Oh, Grace Van Horne! She's all
right. She won't tell. She amt that
kind"
Van Horne? That doesn't sound
like New England name"
"'Tisnt. Her folks come from Jer-
sey somewheres. But she was adopt
ed by old Cap'n Hammond, who keeps
the 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
off Hatteras. Eben was saved just by
the skin of his teeth and got a 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, and
built their chapel with his own money
You mustn't think I'm speakin' light
ly of-religion, nor of Cap'n Eben, Ell
Their. He's dear good soul as ever
was, but he is the narrowest kind of
Come-Outer. His creed is just about
as wide as the chapel door, and that's
as narrow as the way leadiu' to sal
walton; it is the way, too, so the Come
Cutters think"
What are Come-Outers? Some new
sect?"
"Sakes alivei Haven't you heard
of Come-Outers? Cats footi Well,
you'll hear of 'em often enough from
now on They're folks who used to
go to our church. the Regular, but
left because the services was too
worldly, with organs and choir sing
In, and the road to paradise too easy.
No need for me to tell you any more.
You'll learn"
Mr.. Ellery was interested He had
been in Trumet but once before. on
the occasion when he preached his
trial sermon, and of that memorable
visit remembered little except the ser
mon itself, the pews filed with can
tains and their families, and the awe
inspiring personality of Captain FL
kanah Daniels, who had been his host.
To young man, the ink upon his di-
ploma from the theological school still
fresh, trial sermon is a weighty mat
ter, and the preaching of it weishtier
still He had rehearsed it over and
over in private, had delivered it al
most through clinched teeth. and had
returned to his room in the Boston
boarding house with the conviction
that it was an utter failure Captain
Eikanah Had the gracious Miss Anna