Putnam patriot., 1912-11-01
He left the big mouse a. 50

ne chahseo MS mlnd and, jumping the
fence at the foot of Cannon Hill. set
off across the fields toward the bluffs
and the bay shore.
The sun was low in the west az ba
entered the grove of pines on the blum.
The red light between the boushs
made brilliant carpet patterns on the
thick pine needles and the smell was
balsamy and sweet. Between the tree
trunks he caught giimpses of the
flats, now partially covered, and they
reminded him of his narrow escape
and of Nat Hammond. his rescuer.
Thinking of the Hammond family
reminded him of another member OF
it. 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 a tree and looking toward the
sunset. She wore a 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 We're crinkly
lines of fire. Her face was grave. al.
most sad.
John Ellery stood still. with one foot
uplifted for a 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 a warning The
minister was startled and stepped
back. A dead limb beneath his foot
cracked sharply. Grace turned and
saw him.
OH" she cried. who is it?"
Ellery emerged from the shadow
Don't be frightened. Miss Van
Horne" he said. at is-er-I"
you came to see the sunset,
SUPPOSE she said hurriedly. as if to
head off a question. so did l. 1t is
a beautiful evening for a 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.
II mean it 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 fats. He said you were
wading the main channel and 1t was
over your boots"
ut was worse than that, good deal
worse. 1t might have been my last
cruise. I'm pretty certain that I owe
the captain my life. That part of the
channel | proposed swimming was ex'
actly where two men have been
drowned. so people say, I'm not
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 a long breath. Then, after
moment
And Nat spoke as if it was all a
joke" she said.
"No doubt he did From what hear
of your brother, he generally refers to
his own plueky, capable actions as
jokes. Other people call them some
thing else"
He isn't my brother" she inter
rupted absently. u 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"
81 am" there was nothing doubtful
this time
Miss Van Hornet 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. AS l told you before. Mr..
Ellery, I'm not ashamed of my uncle.
He has been so good to me that new
er 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
he needed money most he said nothing
TO me. but insisted that | should De
educated. / didn't know until after
wards Of the self-sacrifce my -FOUR
years at the Middleboro Academy
meant TO him"
$50 you went away to schooi! ne
unused This is why"
That is why don't say never done
nothin'' and be you and Rain
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 a minute. please" he urged.
Miss Van Horne. do understand
do respect your uncle. We have mu-
tual friend. you and !, and through her
/ have come to understand many
things"
Grace turned and looked at him.
"A mutual friend?" she repeated
"Oh, | know. Mrs. Coffin
Yes; Mrs. Coffin. She's gooo
woman and a wise one
Il know. feel the same way aoou.
her She means so much to me. 1
love her more than anyone else III 'ns
world, except uncle. OF courss-'hu