Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-11-26
He liked you, TOO. No wonder, &C

turn you out of house and home. The
meal. pompous old"
Hush. hush, he's in there with Mr..
Ellery."
Who? Elkanah?"
Yes; they're in the study"
$50 he's talkin' to the new parson.
hey? Bossin' him, too, I'll bet"
Il amt 50 sure. Mr. Ellery's young,
but he's got mind Of his own"
Captain Hammond chuckled and
slapped his knee.
"Ho, ho!" he laughed. 1--WE been
hearin' somethin' about that mind
Went to the chapel last night, under
stand, and he and dad had set-to. Oh,
heard about it! Wish / might have
been there"
How does your father act about
it?"
Bout the way red-hot stove acts
when you spill water on It; every time
he thinks of the minister he sizzles.
Ho, no! do wish l could have been
there"
What does Grace say?"
"Oh, she doesn't say much.
wouldn't wonder If she felt the way
| do, though we both keep quiet. I'll
tell you, between ourselves and the
ships pump, that I sort of glory in
the young chaps spunk."
Good! So do l. like him"
Her friend leaned forward
"Keziah," he said earnestly, there's
no sense in your slavin' yourself to
death here. | can think OF good deal
pleasanter berth than that. Pleasant
er for me, anyhow, and I'd do my best
to make 1t pleasant for you. You've
only got to say the word and No?
Well, then all can do Is hope through
another voyage"
please don't, Nat You know"
mo, don't know"
We'll, perhaps you don't But /
know. like you, Nat. count on you
as the straightest. truest friend I've
got; and l want to keep on countin'
on you just that way Mayn't II"
Course you can, Keziah. But"
Then don't say another word,
please"
''Keziah, when you set your foot
down you're pretty stubborn; but I've
got somethin' of foot myself. You re-
member you said so a few minutes
ago. Hi, hum! Well, speakin' of dad
reminds me that I'm kind of worried
about him"
You are? Why? Isn't he well?"
Pretty we'll. but he amt strong, ard
he gets too excited over things like
last nights foolishness Grace tells
me that the doctor says he must be
careful or he'll drop off some Of these
days. He had a shock five or six years
ago, a little one, and I've been anxious
about him ever since"
You mustn't worry: How did Grace
look to your"
Like the harbor light on a stormy
night. She's brick, that girl, and
gets prettier every minute Wonder
to me some Of the young chaps down
here don't carry her off by main
strength. She'll make somebody a
good wife"
"Um-hm. Have-have you ever
thought of her that way yourself?"
"Keziah, that's enough of that Are
you and dad in partnership to get me
spiiced and out of the way? He was
at me this mornin' along the same
line. Don't say anything like that
again, even in fun. You know why"
All right, all right Now tell me
about yourself. Have you had good
voyage? How do you like your own
ers? How did Zach Foster ever get
the packet in through yesterdays
fog?"
Voyage was all right. Some rug
ged weather on the trip out blu; home
ward bound we slid along like a slush
bucket on creased plank. Owners
are all right. Good people as ever /
sailed for. AS for Zach and the pack
ct Ho, no! Somebody's comm. I'm
goin' to clear out. I don't wait to be
put through my catechism yet a
while"
mo, you mustn't go. l want you to
meet Mr.. Ellery. You sit ont on the
wash bench by the back door till l get
ilu Vi WhOSFSl lis thdl COlHIu
Scoot!"
Nat "scooted," stopping to snatch up
his hat as he ran Keziah went into
the dining room and admitted Captain
Zebedee Mayo. who was painting from
the exertion of his walk
''Whew," puffed Captain Zeb, mop
ping his forehead. How De you, Ke-
ziah? What? You amt all alone!
Thought you'd have cabin full of
CAB machines by this time. Have they
been and gomez"
mo, they haven't been. l. My
land. my piel''
She rushed into the kitchen and
snatched the pastry from the oven.
Her new caller followed her.
so they amt been, hey?'' he said
That's queer
"Elkanah's here He's in there with
the minister now"
HE is? Givin' the young Teller Hail
shant. He. hei Wh,sr they told me
how the minister passed. old hop-and-
go-fetchIt what was Cue him at the
chapel last night | riZ Up and hoorayed
tell my wife shut the windows. She
said the neighbors al; thought ! was
loony anyhow, and l needn't prove it
to EN-. He, he! Bue Elkanah amt
got any funny bone. He's as solemn
as a stuffed owl, and he'll Well, I'm
goin' to put my oar in I'm parish com
mittee. too. l cal'late. and I've got
somethin' to say. ever If want chris
ened Daniels. Here goes!"
He headed for the study. but before
he crossed the threshold of the kitch-
en- Ellery and his visitor came out into
the dining room. Captain Elkanah's
face was flushed. and he fidgeted The
minister looked determined but calm.
Alloy there, Elkanahi" hailed Zebe-
dee cheerfully. Mornin'. Mr.. Ellery.