The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-12-27
CHAPTER IV.-(contlnued.)

CHAPTER IV.-(Continued.)
EIery stood still in the rain and
watched her. He saw her pass the
lighted windows and open q door. Into
,b,, yellow radiance she flashed and
dfeappearGd A minute more and the
bulky form of Eben Hammond. lantern
in band, a sou'wester on his head and
his shoulders working themselves into
Al oilskin 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 ap-
aroaching 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 q
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 1t was now carried
by tall, active man, who walked with
a seaman's stride and roll. Captain
Eben was close beside him, talking eX-
ctedly
They entered the yard.
Grace! Grace!" screamed Captain
Ebfn. Oracle, girl, look who's come!
Lo5k!"
The tall man ran forward.
Hi, Grace!" he cried in a deep.
hearty voice. is that you? Amt you
got a 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
Welt" she exclaimed as he en-
tered. Il guess you're soppin now,
sartin sure. There's a light in your
-oom. Take off your wet things and
brow EN- down to me, and I'll dry
IN in the kitchen. Better leave
your boots here now and stand that
Umbrella in the sink. The kettles on
he stove; you'd better have somethin'
bOt-ginger tea or somethin'. | told
YOU not to 90 out such night as this.
Where in the world have you been?"
The minister said he would tell her
ii about it in the morning. Just
low 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 iuclose ten dollars" she wrote.
ut is all l can send you now. More
than l ought to afford. Goodness
knows why | send anything. You don't
deserve 1t. But while l live and you
10 l can't"
The minister called from the land
,Dg.
Here is my coat" he said "The
'uifs and lower part Of the sleeves
Gre 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 Nathaniel
Hammond you told me OF"
keziah's pen stopped. The wet
'cat struck the hall floor with soft
thump. The tick of the clock sound
ed loud in the room. A eheet of
Tind-driven rain dashed the windows.
Did you hear?" called the minister.
I said that Nathaniel Hammond,
E Captain Ebep's son, came on the pack
ct, didn't meet him, but I'm sure
It was he. Er-Mrs. Coffin. are you
there? Do you hear me-"
The housekeeper laid the pen down
beside the unfinished letter
Yes she said, 81 hear you. Good
night"
lFr minutes she sat there, leaning
pack in her chair and staring at the
wall Then she rose, went into the
nall, picked up the coat. and took 1t
out into the kitchen, where she hung
II on the clotheshorse by the cook
stove After a while she returned to
me table and took up the pen. Her
ace in the lampl:ght looked more
ured and grave than ever.