Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1912-11-21
did. bey! That's rrumet, surs

pop. you amt the only one.
sneaked off acroGt lots SOS to dodge
the gang of neighbt RS 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 it and it groaned under his
weight
"Whew!" he whistled. Never made
amt you glad?"
Keziah looked at him gravely
"You know I'm glad, Nat" she said.
so? hoped you would be. but
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 topsls off Surinam."
The housekeeper took the other
chair.
Il beg your pardon, Keziah," he
said. I'm a 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.
siderin what you did to"
Delay! 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-
ton. He listened, at first with SYM
pathy and then with suppressed indig-
nation.
by the jlsnpin' 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"
so he's talkin' to the new parson,
hey? Bossin' him, too, I'll bet"
Il amt so sure. Mr. Ellery's young,
but he's got mind of his own"
Captain Hammond chuckled and
slapped his knee.
"Ho, ho!" he laughed. Owe been
hearin' somethin' about that mind.
Went to the chapel last night, under.
stand, and he and dad had a set-to. Oh.
| heard about it! Wish ! might have
been there"
How does your father act about
III"
Bout the way red-hot stove acts
when you spill water on it; every time
he thinks of the minister he sizSles.
Ho, no! do wish ! could have been
there"
What does Grace say?"
ooh. she doesn't say much !
wouldn't wonder IL 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 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 a good deal
pleasanter beth 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. I 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 want to keep on countin
on you just that way. Mayn't ?"
"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 ain't strong, and
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 shock five or six years
ago. little one, and I've been anxious
about him ever since"
You mustn't worry How did Grace
look to you?"
Like the harbor light on a stormy
night. She's a 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
spliced and out Of the way? He wa:
at me this mornin' along the same
line. Don't say anything like tina