Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1912-11-21
CHAPTER Iv.-(continued.)

CHAPTER lV.-(Continued)
Ellery stood still in the rain and
watched her He saw her pass the
lighted windows and open door. into
the yellow radiance she flashed and
disappeared A minute more and the
bulky form of Eben Hammond, lantern
in hand, a sOu'wester on his head ana
his shoulders working themselves into
an oilskn coat, burst out of the door
and hurriedly limped down toward the
shore. On the threshold, framed in
light, stood his ward, gazing after
him. And the minister gazed at her
From the bay came the sound OF
oars in rowlocks. A boat was APP
preaching the wharf. And suddenly
from the boat came hail. ..
"Halloo! Alloy, dad Is that you?'
There was an answering shout from
the wharf; shout of joy. Then Il
rattle of oars and a clamor of talk
And Grace still stood in the doorway,
waiting.
The lantern bobbed up the slope
AS it reached the tavern gateway. the
minister saw that it was now carried
by tall. active man. who walked with
seaman's stride and roll. Captain
Eben was close beside him, talking ex-
citedly
They entered the yard.
"Gracel Grace!" screamed Captain
Eben. Oracle, girl, look who's come!
Look"
The tall man ran forward.
Hi Grace!" he cried in deep,
hearty voice rs that you? Amt you
got word for your old messmate?"
The girl stepped out into the rain.
why! why, Natl" she cried.
The big man picked her up bodily
in his arms and carried her into the
house. Captain Eben followed and
the door closed
John Ellery picked his way home.
ward through the puddles and the
pouring rain
He found Keziah in the sitting room.
seated by the table. evidently writing
letter. She looked tired and grave
for her.
WELL" she exclaimed as he en-
tered. 81 guess you're soppin now.
sartin sure. There's a light in your
room. Take off your wet things and
throw EN- down to me, and III dry
'em In the kitchen. Better leave
your boots here now and stand that
umbrella in the sink. The kettles on
the stove: you'd better have somethin'
hot-ginger tea or somethin'. told
You not to go out such a night as this
Where in the world have you been ?"
The minister said he would tell her
all about It In the morning. Just
now he thought he had better go up
and take off his wet clothes.
Keziah dipped her pen in the ink
and went on with her letter.
81 inclose ten dollars" she wrote
at is all | can send Won now. More
than ought to afford Goodness
knows why | send anything. You don't
deserve it. But while | live and you
do I cant"
The minister called from the land
ing.
Here is my coat" he said "The
cuffs and lower part of the sleeves
are pretty wet BY the way, the pack
ct came in tonight. They didn't eX
pect her so soon on account of the
fog. There was a passenger aboard
whom think must be that Nathanie
Hammond you told me Of"
Keziah's pen stopped The we
coat struck the hall floor with a sof
thump. The tick of the clock sound
ed loud in the room. A sheet o
wind-driven rain dashed the windows
Did you hear?" called the minister
~ said that Nathaniel Hammond
Captain Eben's son. came on the pack
ct. didn't meet him. but I'm sur
It was he. Er-Mrs. Coffin, are yo
there? Do you hear me?"
The housekeeper laid the pen dow
beside the unfinished letter
YES" she said, 81 hear you. Coco
night"
For minutes she sat there. leanin
back in her chair and staring at tn
wall. Then she rose, went into tn
hall. picked up the coat, and took
out into the kitchen, where she hun
It on the clotheshorse by the COO
stove. After while she returned
the table and took up the pen. Ht
face in the lamplight looked moi
tired and grave than ever.