Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-10-03

lost you, goodness knows where
should drift. Don't you ever talk Of
leaving me again."
THANK you, John. I'm glad you
want me to stay. I won't leave yet
awhile; nevertheless have to. John,
l had another letter t'other day"
you did? From-from that mani"
"Yup, from" For q moment 1t
seemed as If she were about to pro.
nounce her husbands name, some.
thing she had never done in his pres.
ence; but if she thought of 1t, she
changed her mind.
From him." she said. "He wanted
money Of course il he always does,
But that want tho worst. The letter
was from England. and in 1t he wrote
that he was gettin' sick of knockin'
around and guessed he'd be for comm
to the States pretty soon and huntin'
me up. Said what was the use of havin'
an able-bodied wife If she couldn't
give her husband home"
THE scoundrel!"
Eyes, know what he is, maybe full
as well as you do. That's why spoke
OF leavin' you. If that man comes to
Trumet, I'll go, sure as DEATH
She hurried out of the room. Later,
as the minister passed through the
dining room on his way to the door,
she spoke to him again.
John she said, II didn't say what
/ raonf IN WI
just now. I meant to tell you about
Grace. I knew you'd like to know and
wouldn't ask. She's goin' away,
Oracle Is"
Going away?"
"Yup. She's goin' to stay with re-
lation Of the Hammonds over in Con.
necticut for spell. coaxed her into
1t. Stayin' here at home with all this
suspense and with Hannah Poundber.
rvs tongue droppin' lamentations like
kernels out Of a corn shelter, is enough
to kill healthy batch Of kittens with
nine lives apiece"
Ellery took his hat from the peg
and opened the door. His foot was on
the step when Keziah spoke again.
"She-it don't mean nothin', John,
except that she amt so hard-hearted
as maybe you might think-she's
asked me about you most every time
I've been there. She told me to take
good care Of you"
Ellery was thinking deeply as he
walked up the main road on his way
to Mrs. Princes. Keziah's words were
repeating themselves over and over
in his brain. She had asked about
him. She had not forgotten him alto
gether. Mrs. Prince was very glad to
see him. He found her in the big arm.
chair with the quilted back and the
projecting wings" at each side of her
head. She was wrapped in a Rising
Sun" quilt which was a patchwork
glory Of red and crimson. A young
girl, neighbor, who was apparently
acting in the dual capacity OF nurse
and housekeeper admitted him to the
old lady's presence. Mrs. Princes good
spirits were Of short duration. Her
conversation soon shifted to the loss
OF her son and she wept, using the
corner of the quilt to wipe away her
tears. Eddie" had been her idol and.
as she said, it was hard to believe
what folks kept tellin' her, that it was
Gods will, and therefore all for the
best
and there's Nat Hammond" con.
tinued Mrs Prince. "A fine man-no
better anywhere, even though his IA
Their was Come Outer-just goin' to
be married and all, now they say he's
drowned-why? Why was that neces-
sary?"
Ellery could not reply. The old lady
did not wait for him to do so. The
mention Of Captain Mats name re-
minded her of other things.
Poor Gracie!" she said. Its tur.
rible hard on her. went down to see
her two or three times afore I was
took down with this backache. She's
an awful nice girl. Land sakes alive!
talk about angels! snum If she
amt comm up the road this blessed
minute"
John Ellery had risen. Now he
seized his hat and moved hastily to-
ward the door. Mrs. Prince called to
him to remain, but he would not. How
ever. her good-bys delayed him for a
minute, and before he reached the
yard gate Grace was opening 1t. They
were face to face for the first time
since they had parted in the grove. so
many months before.
She was thinner and paler, he saw
that And dressed way quietly ID
black. She looked at him, as he stood
before her In the path, and her cheeks
flushed and her eyes f2ll.
Er-Miss Van Horne" he stam-
mered. II merely wanted to tell you
how deeply I've all feel for you in
your trouble. Ill am SO sorry. I
have heard SO much Of the captain