Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1912-11-29

She Amt So Hard-Hearted as Maybe
You Might Think"
had TO be miserable and had TO help
make you so; sent Nat away and he
/ blamed me and"
No. no. He didn't blame you. He
sent you word that he didn't. Aunt
Keziah, you're my anchor to wind
ward, as they say down here. If l
lost you, goodness Enows where
should drift Don't You ever talk of
leaving me again"
Thank you. John. I'm glad you
want me to stay. | won't leave yet
awhile; nevertheless have to. John,
l had another letter t'other day
You did? From-from that man %
"Yup, froH-' For a moment ii
seemed as if she were about to pro-
nounce her husbands name. same
thing she had never done in his pres
enee; but if she thought of 1t, she
changed her mind.
From him" she said He wanted
money, of course; he always does.
But that want the worst. The letter
was from England, and in it he wrote
that he was gettin' sick of knoekin'
around and guessed he'd be for comm
to the States pretty soon and huntin'
me up. Said what was the use of hayin'
an able-bodied wife If she couldn't
give her husband a home"
The scoundrel!"
Yes. l know what he is. maybe full
as Wen as you do. That's why I spoke
Of leavin You. If that man comes to
Trumet, I'll so, sure as death"
She hurried cut 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, 4 didn't say what
I meant to When | broke in on you
just now. I meant to tell you about
Grace. 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
it. Stayin' here at home with all this
suspense and with Hannah Founder
rvs tongue droppin' lamentations like
kernels out of 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 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 ladys 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 a Come-Outer-just goin' to
be married and all, now they say he's
drowned-why? Why was that neces-
eary?"
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 Graciei" she said Its tur-
rible hard on her / went down to see
her two or three times afore 1 was
took down with this backache. She's
an awful nice girl. Land sakes alivei
talk about angelsi ! snurn If she
amt comm up the road this blessed
minute"
John Ellery had risen. Now be
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 be reached the
yard gate Grace was opening it. 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 very quietly in
black. She looked at him, as he stood
before her in the path, and her cheeks
flushed and her eyes fell.
"Er-Miss Van Horne" he stam-
mered, Il merely wanted TO tell you
how deeply I've all feel for you IN
your trouble. II am so sorry. /
have heard so much OF the captain
from"
From Aunt Keziah? Yes. she was
Mats warmest friend"
Il know. Er-Mrs- Coffin tells me
you are going away. ! hope you may
hear good news and soon. ! shall
think OF you-of him ! want you to
understand that ] shall"
She held out her hand and he took