Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-08-22

his way through college Captain Ell
kanah cleared his throat
"Keziah," he commanded. Hum
ha! Keziah, come in here minute"
Keziah came In response to the call,
her sewing in her hand. The renovae
ton of the parsonage had so far pro-
crossed that she could now find time
for little sewing, after the dinner
dishes were done.
"Keziah." said the captain pompous-
~. I'VE expect you to look out for Mr..
Ellery in every respect. The parish
committee expects that-yes."
"I'l try" said Mrs. Coffin shortly.
yes Well, that's all You can go.
We must be going, too, Mr. Ellery.
Please consider our house at your dis
posal any time. Be neighborly-
-ha!-be neighborly'
YES" purred Annabel do come
and see us often. Congenial society
is very scarce in Trumet, for me espe-
cially. We can read together Are
you fond of Moore, Mr.. Ellery? l just
dote on him.
The last "hum-ha' was partially
drowned by the click of the gate. Ke-
ziah closed the dining-room door,
| Mrs. Coffin" said the minister, 81
shan't trouble the parish committee.
Be sure Of that. I'm perfectly salts
| fed"
keziah sat down in the rocker and
her needle moved very briskly for a
1 M oh
| looking up:
That's good. l own up | like to
hear you say it, And am glad there
| are some things l do like about this
new place of mine. Because-well,
because there's likely to be others that
shan't like at all"
| On Friday evening the minister
conducted his first prayer meeting.
Before it, and afterwards, he heard
a good deal concerning the Come
Cutters. He learned that Captain
Eben Hammond had preached against
! him in the chapel on Sunday Most
OF his own pari .hioners seemed to
think 1t good joke
| The sun Of the following Thursday
i d
as dense as that of the day upon
which Ellery arrived. A fiat calm In
the forenoon, tie wind changed about
three O'Clock, and, beginning with a
sharp and sudden squall from the
northwest. blew hard and steady. Yet
the fog still cloaked everything and
refused to be blown away.
Coin out in this, Mr.. Ellery!" ex-
claimed Keziah. in amazement, as the
minister put on his hat and coat about
seven that evening. "sakes alive!
you won't be able to see the way to
the gate. It's as dark as nigger's
pocket and thicker than young ones
in a poor mans family, as my father
used to say. You'll be wet through.
Where In the world are you bound for
this night?"
| The minister equiyocated. He said
he had been In the house all day and
felt like walk.
well. take an umbrella. then" was
the housekeeper's advice You'll
need 1t before you get back. callate."
1t was dark enough and thick
enough. in all conscience. The main
road was black, wet void, through
which CLEANS from lighted windows
were big vague. yellow blotches. The
umbrella was useful in the same way
that blind mans cane is useful. in
feeling the way. Two or three strag-
glers who met the minister carried
lanterns. John Ellery stumbled on
through the mist till he reached the
Corners" where the store was located
and the roads forked There, he
turned to the right. into the way
called locally "Hammond's Turmoil. >.
short distance down the "Turn-off"
stood a small, brown-shingled building.
Its windows alight. Opposite it's door,
on either side of the road, grew a
spreading hornbeam tree surrounded
by cluster of swamp blackberry
bushes. In the black shadow of the
hornbeam Mr.. Ellery stood still. He