Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1912-11-08

9< NSSA I VIA
Rising to Peep Over the Bushes at the
Minister and Grace.
and though she tried to withdraw
them. he would not let her.
"Will you?" he pleaded.
81 can't" she answered brokenly. 81
can't Think of your church and of
your people. What would they say
if"
II don't care what they say"
She shook her head.
Some of them might respect you"
she said "They would say you had
been led into this by me and were not
so much to blame. But I"
They shall respect my wife" he In
terrupted. swapping his teeth together.
''or I'll know the reason why"
II cant! l can't! My uncle"
Your uncle shall hear 1t from me.
Well go to him together. I'll tell him
myself. He worships you"
Yes, know He does worship me.
That's why | am sure he had rather
see me dead than married to you. a
Regular, and Regular minister.
know know he would never con-
sent His heart is set on something
else. Nat"
NAT? Are you considering him.
too? Is he to stand between us
What right has he to say"
Hush! hush He hasn't said any
thing. But-but he and uncle have
quarreled, just little. I didn't tell
you, but they have. And | think |
know the reason. Nat is Uncle Eben's
idol IF the quarrel should grow more
serious, | believe it would break his
heart. l couldn't bear to be the cause
of that: | should never forgive my
self"
you the cause? How could you
be the cause of a quarrel between
those two? Grace. think of me-
John" she said, at is of you l am
thinking Everything else could -
might be overcome, perhaps. But
must think of your future and your
life. | must. That is why"
He did not wait to hear more. He
seized her in his arms and kissed her.
Then you do carei" he cried joy
fully. You will marry me?"
For an instant she lay quiet in his
embrace. receiving, if not responding
to his oaresses. Then she gently but
firmly freed herself. He saw that
there were tears in her eyes.
Il don't know" she sobbed. "Oh,
| don't knowl / must think must!
Wait, please wait, John. Perhaps by
tomorrow | can answer. I'll try-I'll
try. Don't ask me again, now. Let
me think. Oh, dol"
She started down the path. He hes.
itated, then ran after her.
Tomorrow he questioned eager
ly. Tomorrow, then, you'll say that
you will?"
"Oh, perhaps, perhaps. mustn't
promise Good night"
1t was after seven when Grace
reached the old tavern. The house
keeper, Mrs. Poundberry, was anxious
ly awaiting her She wore her bonnet
and Sunday gown and was evidently
ready to go.
"Supper's on the table and the kit
ties abilin'. You better eat In a
hurry, cause it's meetin time now.
Your uncle, he started ten minutes
ago. I'm agoin' right along. too, but
/ amt goin' TO meetin'; I'm agoin' up
to Betsy Els to stay all night She's
got a spine In her back, as the Teller
said. and amt feelin' good. so ! told
her I'd come and stay a little spell.
Your Uncle Eben's mighty feeble and
peaked lately. He amt long for this
world. I'm afraid. You ought to be
awful good to him. Oracle"
81 know IT," was the hurried reply.
where's Nat!"
Il don't know. Can't keep track Of
him. Nights well try to put your An
ger on a flea He's here to-day and
gone yesterday, ss the Scriptur' says.
He ate a little mite of supper. but not
much. and then OF he puts"
She reached the gate by this time.
and Grace shut on the flow OF CONVEX
sation BY closing the door. Then she
took a candle from the row on the din
ing-room mantle, lighted IT and went
up TO her own room. Standing before
the old fashioned bureau with Its little
oval mirror, she hastily arranged her
hair. She did not wish to go TO
prayer meeting at the chapel. but she
felt that she must The Come-Outer
gatherings. with their noisy singing
and shouting, had grown more and
more repugnant to her
/ She blew out the candle and came
out into the hall at the head OF the
stairs. She was about to descend when
she heard voices. The door OF the din
ing room opened and closed She felt
: certain that Nat had returned and