Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-08-29
and Of Nat Hammond, his rescner.


reminded him of another member Of
1t. Not that he needed to be remind
ed; he had thought Of her often
enough since, she ran away from him
In the rain that night. And then he
saw her. She was standing just at the
outer edge Of the grove, leaning
against tree and looking toward the
sunset. She wore simple white dress
and her hat hung upon her shoulders
by its ribbons. The rosy light edged
the white gown with pink and the
fringes Of her dark hair were crinkly
lines Of fire. Her face was grave. al.
most sad.
John Ellery stood still, with one foot
uplifted for step. The girl looked
out over the water and he looked at
her. Then crow, one Of several
whirling above the pines, spied the in.
truder and screamed warning. The
minister was startled and stepped
back. A dead limb beneath his foot
cracked sharply. Grace turned and
saw him.
Obi" she cried. who is.it?"
Ellery emerged from the shadow.
Don't be frightened, Miss Van
Horne" he said. ut is-er-I."
"You came to see the sunset, 1
suppose?" she said hurriedly, as II to
head of question. $50 did I. 1t ia
a beautiful evening for walk, isn't
it?"
She had said precisely the same
thing on that other evening, when
they stood in the middle of Ham.
mond's Turn-off' In the driving rain,
He remembered it. and SO, evidently,
did she, for she colored slightly and
smiled.
Il mean 1t this time." she said. I'm
glad you didn't get cold from your
wetting the other day."
ooh! / wasn't very wet. You
wouldn't let me lend you the umbrella,
so had that to protect me on the way
home"
Not then; meant the other morn.
ing when Nat-Cap'n Hammond-met
you on the flats. He said you were
wading the main channel and it was
over your boots"
1T was worse than that, good deal
worse. It might have been my last
cruise. I'm pretty certain that l owe
the captain my life. That part Of the
channel proposed swimming was er.
actly where two men have been
drowned, 30 people say. I'm not q
very strong swimmer, and they were
So, you see."
Grace cried out in establishment.
"Oh!" she exclaimed. Then point.
Ing toward the bay. she asked: "Out
there. by the end of that leader, was
it?"
Yes, that was it."
She drew long breath. Then, after
moment:
"And Nat spoke as il 1t was all q
joke" she said.
No doubt he did From what 1 hear
Of your brother, he generally refers to
his own plucky. capable actions as
jokes. Other people call them some
thing else"
He isn't my brother" she inter
rupted absently. II wish he was
She sighed as she uttered the last
sentence
mo, of course he isn't your real
brother; forgot. But he must seem
like one
Yes" rather doubtfully.
You must be proud of him"
i am" there was nothing doubtful
this time.
Miss Van Horne! What did your
uncle say about Cap'n Mats meeting
me the other day."
Uncle Eben doesn't know. Nat
didn't tell anyone but me. He doesn't
boast. And uncle would be glad he
helped you. Az told you before. Mr..
Ellery, I'm not ashamed of my uncle.
He has been 30 good to me that l new
or can repay him, never! When my
own father was drowned he took me
In. little orphan that would prob
ably have been sent to home. When
no needed money most he said nothing
to me, but insisted that should be
educated. didn't know until after.
wards Of the self-sacriflce my four
years at the Middleboro Academy
meant to him"
80 you went away to SCHOOL," he
muIed. This 10 why"
That 10 why don't say never done
nothin' and be you and 'hain't
neither Yes. thank you. that's why.
I don't wonder you were surprised"
She was going. but the minister had
something to say. He stepped forward
and walked beside her
"Just minute. please" he urged.
Miss Van Horne. do understand. I
do respect your uncle. We have a mu-
tual friend. you and l. and through her
I have come to understand many
things"
Grace turned and looked at him.
"A mutual friendr' she repeated
'Oh, know. Mrs. Comm"
Eyes: Ms. Conn. She's Q good
woman and wise one"
II know. feel the same way about
her. She means 10 much to me.
hnv ~ L., ~.