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

TIE kitchen. Then the back door
slammed. He was gone.
heziah started. as II the slam of the
door had been an electric shock. And
she cried, tears OF utter loneliness
and despair.
The clouds thickened as the after
noon passed. There came a knock at
the dining-room door.
Keziah sprang from her chair.
smoothed her hair. hastily wiped her
eyes and went to admit the visitor.
whoever he or she may be- She was
glad Of the shadows. they prevented
her face from being seen too plainly.
Good afternoon" she said. opening
the door. "Oh! it's you, is it,"
Yes" admitted Abishai Pepper,
standing on the stone step. and shift
ing uneasily from one foot to the
other. Yes. Keziah. it's-it's me,
thank you. l only wanted to see Mr..
Ellery."
Hes out Good day"
Il wanted to ask his advice about
somethin'. It's a secret. Only him
and me know about it. Good-by. I'll
find Mr.. Ellery"
Il wouldn't go TO the Danielses', if
was you. Elkanah might not like TO
have you ehasin' after his visitors"
"Oh, the minister amt at the Dam
ielses', not as late's this, he amt. |
know where he is. I know where he
goes Sunday afternoons-and why he
Nv nj
friends. We understand each other"
Look here. Ryan Pepper! What are
you talkin' about ?"
Il just said I knew where Mr.. Ell
cry goes every Sunday afternoon. He
don't know anybody knows, but I do.
That's all there is to it. shan't tell
So
Tell? Do you mean there's some
thin Mr.. Ellery wouldn't want told !?
Don't you dare will see Laviny!"
"No, no. no. no. 'Tain't noin' much.
l just know where he goes after he
leaves Elkanah's and who he goes to
meet. / Lordy! I hadn't ought to
said that! L Keziah CONN, don't
you ever tell I told you. I've said
more'n | meant to. II 1t comes out
there'd be the biggest row In the
church there ever was. And I'd be re-
sponsible! | would I'd have to go
on the witness stand and then Laviny
would find out how T. Oh. oh. oh!
what shall do?''
What is it?" she persisted. What
would bring on the row in the church?
Who does Mr.. Ellery meet? Out with
it, What do you mean?"
81 mean that the minister meets
that Van Horne girl every Sunday aft
ernoon after he leaves Elkanah's.
There, now! It's out, and don't give
a darn II they hang me for 1t"
Keziah turned white. She seized
Mr.. Pepper by the lapel OF his Sunday
coat and shook him.
Grace Van Hornet" she cried. "Mr.
Ellery meets Grace Van Horne on
Sunday afternoons Where?"
Down in them pines back of Pet
er's pastur' on the aidge of the
bank over the beach. He's met her
there every Sunday for the last six
weeks-longer, for what I know. I've
watched m l amt lynn! It's so. I'll
bet you anything they're there now,
walkin' up and down and talkin'. What
would | want to lie for? You come
with me this minute and I'll show 'em
to you"
"Bish Pepper" she said slowly and
fereely, shaking her finger in his face,
you go straight home and stay there.
Don't you breathe a word to a Twin
soul of what you say you've seen.
Don't even think of it. or-or dream
it. If you do I'll III march straight
to Laviny and tell her that you asked
me TO marry you. l will. as sure as
you're shakin' in front of me this min
ute. Now you swear to me to keep
still Swear!"
"How how'll swear?" begged
Ryan. what do you say when you
swear? I'll say it. Keziah! I'll say
anythingi I'll"
"All right Then mind you remem-
Der. Now clear out quick. / want to
think. l must think. Go! Get out Of
my sight"
Ryan went, glad to escape. but
frightened to the soul of him. Keziah
watched him until he turned from the
main road into the lighthouse lane.
Then. certain that he really was going
straight home, she re-entered the par
sonage and sat down on the nearest
chair For ten minutes she sat there.
striving TO grasp the situation Then
she arose and. putting on her bonnet
and shawl, locked the dining-room
door and went out through the kitchen.
She was going TO the pine grove by
the shore. going to find out for her
self If Kyan's astonishing story was
true.
The pines were a deep green blotch
against the cloudy sky and the gloomy
waters OF the bay. She skirted the
outlying clumps of bayberry and beach
plum bushes and entered the grove.
Then she heard low voices. AS she
crouched at the edge of the grove. two
figures passed slowly across the clear
ing along the bush bordered path and
into the shrubbery beyond. John Eli
ery was walking with Grace Van
Horne. He was holding her hand in
his and they were talking very ear
nestly.
Keziah did not follow. What would
have been the use? This was not the
time TO speak. She knew now and she
knew. also that the responsibility was
hers. She must go home at once. go
home to be alone and to think. She
t,ntoed back through the grove and
across the fields.
Vet II she had waited, she might
have seen something else which would
have been. at least. interesting She
ia acarcelY reached the outer edge