Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1912-11-15

no, nc! let me be. Just let NJ -
amt what | used to be and this
I'm all right. l tell you Gracei And
and What was it you Just said?
Fl don't b'lieve heard It right"
81 said that daughter of vours NJ
niece. or whatever she is, this Grace
van Horne, has been meeting young
Ellery, our minister, in Peters's grove
Been meeting him and walking with
him. and kissing him. She's met hjta
IN those pines every Sunday afternoon
for long time. She was seen there
with MIN this afternoon"
@X ho-who saw herr"
Never mind The one that didT
never tell-unless it's necessary. They
are fixing to be married, and,
arlied, She marry Regular
ninisteri Oh"
"Hush Listeni They amt married
yet. We can stop 'em, you and I. if
We get right to work. 1t isn't too late.
VIII you help"
@Will IL Go on! tell me more."
I'VE can stop 'em. know il would
be a good catch for her, the sneaking,
designing Well, never mind. But il
can't be. 1t shan't be. You've got TO
tell her so. Hammond. We folks Of
the Regular church have pride fn our
society; We won't have it disgraced.
And we have been proud Of our minis
ter. the young, rattle-headed fool!
Wen save him if We can. L We
can.t''-the speakers teeth grated
then we'll send him to eternal
smash or die trying"
But I can't believe it's true rs a
mistake; some other girl and not
Oracle Why, she don't even know
him. She wouldn't Bur she has
been out every Sunday afternoon for
weeks. If it should be-"
The chair creaked. Evidently. Cap
tain Eben was rising slowly 70 bis
fee.
"Well?" repeated E1kanab.
"Elkanah Daniels, said Ebeu slow
", his voice shaking from nervous ex-
haustion and weakness. bur with fine
ring of determination in every word,
Elkanah Daniels, you listen TO
NE I've heard you through If
your yarn is true. then M heart is
broke, and ! wish I might have died
afore l heard it. But ] didn't die and
have heard it. Now listen TO me !
love that girl of mine bettern the
whole wide world and Yet I'd ruther
see her dead afore me than married
TO Regular minister Disgrace to
HIM Disgrace to your miserable
church! What about the disgrace TO
mine? And the disgrace to her? Ruin
TO your minister! Ruin 70 ny girl
here and hereafter is what I'm think
IN Of; that and my people who wOr-
ship God with me. I'll talk 10 Grace.
III talk to her. But not Of whatN
happen to him or you-or any Of yos
cantin', lip-servin' crew. III tell her f
to choose between him and me. And
If she chooses him, III send her out /
of that door I'll do my duty and read I
her out of my congregation. And I'll +
know she's gone 10 eyeriastin hell, I
and that's worse'n the poorhouse. +
That's all tonight, Elkanah. Now you
better 60"
The lock turned; the door opened |
and closed. Grace, clinging to the bal |
listers, heard Captain Hammond cross
the room, slowly and feebly. She |
heard him enter the sitting room. By |
and by. pale. but more composed, and |
"a o
down into the hall. Drawing long |
breath, she turned into the sitting
room to face her uncle BY the light
shining through the diningroom door !
she saw him on his knees by the hair
cloth sofa. She spoke his name. He
did not answer nor look up. At her
touch his arm slid from the couch and
he fell gently over upon his side on
the carpet.