Las Vegas optic., 1912-10-10

MY, but it's good 10 see YOU
"Halloo. Matte said Keziah heartily
TITS kind Of good to see you. too"
The rest Of him was IN keeping
with his boots He was big and broad
shouldered and bearded. His face
above the beard, was tanned to a deer
reddish brown, and the corners Of hil
eyes were marked with dozens Of tiny
wrinkles. He was dressed in blue
cloth and wore wide-brimmed, soft
felt hat He entered the kitchen and
tossed the hat into a corner.
Went" he exclaimed. why dom
you act surprised to see a feller? Here
I've been cruisin from the Horn tc
Barnegat and back -gain, and you aci
as Il I'd Just dropped in to fetch the
cup Of ynolasses borrowed yesterday
What do you mean by it?n
"Oh, heard you'd made port"
did, hey? That's Trumet. sure
pop. You amt the only one.
sneaked Off acrost lots SOS to dodge
the gang of neighbors that knew
would be sailin' into our yard, the
whole feet loaded to the gunwale with
questions. Wanted to see you first,
Keziah."
| Mrs Coffin pulled forward one of
the kitchen chairs. He seated himself
on 1t and it groaned under his
weight.
"Whew!" he whistled Never made
to stand rough weather. was #? Well,
aint you glad?"
Keziah looked at him gravely.
you know I'm glad, Nat" she said.
80? ! hoped you would be, but I
did want to hear you say it. Now you
come to anchor yourself and let's
have a talk I've been countin' on it
ever since we set tops'ls of Surinam." !"
The housekeeper took the other
chair.
4 beg your pardon. Keziah," he
said. I'm dough head, that's fact.
| hadn't forgot about Sol, but / was so
glad to be home again and to see dad
and Grace and the old town and you
that everything else flew out Of my
mind. Poor Soil liked him"
He liked you, too. No wonder, CON
Hiderin' what you did to-"
"Belayl Never mind that Poor
chap! Well, he's rid of his sufferin's
at last Tell me about it, If you can
without bringin' all the trouble back
too plain"
So she told him Of her brothers
sickness and death, of having to give
up the old home, and, finally, of her
acceptance of the housekeeper's posi-
'tion. He listened, at first with sym
pathy and then with suppressed indig-
nation.
by the jumpin' Moses!" he ex-
claimed. And Elkanah was goin' to
turn YOU out of house and home. The
mean, 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, III bet. /"
4 amt so sure. Mr.. EIlery's young,
but he's got mind of his own
Captain Hammond chuelled and
slapped his knee.
eHo. ho!" he laughed. 'I've been
hearin' somethin' about that mind.
Went to the chapel last night, ] under
stand, and he and dad had set-to. oh,
! heard about til 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.
aHo, no! I do wish could have been
there"
What does Grace say?a
"Oh, she doesn't say much. I
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 / sort of glory in
the young chaps spunk."
Good! So do |. like him."
Her friend leaned forward.
'Keziah," he said earnestly, there's
no sense in your slavin' yourself to
death here. can think Of a good deal
pleasanter berth than that. Pleasant
er for ME, anyhow, and I'd do my best
to make it pleasant for you. You've
only got to say the word and No?
Well, then all can do Is hope through
another voyageY'
Please don't. Nat. You know"
mo, don't know"
Well. perhaps you don't. But |
know. like you, Nat. I count on you
as the straightest, truest friend rye
got; and I want to keep on countin'
on you just that way. Mayn't II"
4 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 well, but he amt strong, and
he gets too excited over things like
5aof s.Saf,+sc PonTseI,.,-.esS. r,..n- ~.