Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-10-31


told me to hand 1t to you today.
Good-by. Nat she says. We've
had nice day. haven't wei?
We have, for a fact l sa But
what are you sayin' good-by for?'
Because Pm not goin' to Trumet
with you. says she. I'm goin' to the
city. I've got some business to see
to there. Good-by.'
I was set back, with all my can
vas flappin'. told her I'd go to Bos-
ton with her and we'd come home to
Trumet together tomorrow, that's to-
day. But she said no. l must come
here and ease your mind and Grace's.
must do it. So at last agreed to,
say1n' I'd see her in little while She
went on the up train and took the
| down one. Hired q team in Sand
wich and another in Bayport and got
to the tavern about eleven That's
the yarn. And here's your note.
Maybe it tells where she's gone and
why"
The minister took the note and
, tore open the envelope. Within was
single sheet of paper. He read a
few lines, stopped, and uttered an ex-
clamation.
whats the matter?" asked the
captain.
Ellery did not answer. He read the
note through and then, without
word, handed 1t to his friend.
The note was as follows:
@Dear John:
Il am going away, as told you l
would If he came. He is coming.
Tuesday got letter from him. 1t
was written at Kingston, Jamaica, al
most three months ago. I can't think
why I haven't got it sooner, but sup
i pose it was given to some one to
(. mail and forgotten. In it he said he
was tired of going to sea and was COM
ing home to me. had money, he
said, and we could get along. He had
/! shipped aboard a brig bound for Sa-
vannah, and from there he was going
to try for berth on Boston-bound
vessel. So ! am going away and not
! coming back. could not stand the
disgrace and could not see him. You
and Grace won't need me any more
now. Don't worry about me. can
always earn living while have my
strength. Please don't worry. II he
comes tell him / have gone you do
not know where. That will be true,
for you don't. I hope you will be
very happy. do hope 30. oh, John.
you don't know how / hate to do this,
but must. Don't tell Nat. He would
do something terrible to him II he
came. and Nat knew. Just say have
been called away and may be back
some time. Perhaps I may. Love to
all. Good-by.
yours truly,
"KEZIAH COFFIN"
The captain stared at the note. Then
he threw it to the floor and started
!, for the door. The minister sprang
from his chair and called to him.
Nat he cried Nat! Stop! where
are you going?"
| Hammond turned.
"Goin'?" he growled. Coin? I'm
goin' to find her, first Of all. Then
I'm comm back to wait for him"
But you won't have to wait. He'll
never come. He's dead"
Dead? Dead? By the everlastin'!
this has been too much for you,
ought to have known 1t. I'll send the
doctor here right of. I can't stay
myself. I've got to go. But"
Listen! listen to me! Ansel Cot
fin is dead. tell you. / know it. I
know all about It, That was what
wanted to see you about. Did Keziah
tell you of the San Jose and the sailor
who died Of smallpox in this very
building? In that room there?"
Yes. John, you
I'm not raying. It's the truth. That
sailor was Ansel Coffin. watched
with him and one night. the night
before he died, he spoke Keziah's
name. He spoke of New Bedford and
of Trumet and of her, over and over
again. was sure who he was then,
but l called in Ebenezer Capen, who
used to know Coffin in New Bedford.
And he recognized him. Nat, as sure
as you and are here this minute,
Ansel Coffin, Aunt Keziah's husband,
is buried in the Trumet cemetery"