Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1912-12-19

there every Sunday for don't know
how long Here! let go. you old
fool! Let go. tell you'll"
you liar!" snarled Captain Eben.
You low-liyed liar! By the Almighty
Elkanah Daniels! I'll You take that
back or I'll choke the everlastin'
soul out of you. ! will"
Let go, you lunati6! You'll kill
yourself. Listen! I'm not lying. It's
the truth. She's met a man, tell
you. Been meeting him for months,
| guess. There! now will you listen?
Ills names John Ellery, and he's
minister of the Regular church in this
town; that's who he is! Here! hold
up! Good Lord are you dying? Hold
up!"
The girl on the stairs sprang to her
feet. Her head was Keeling and she
could scarcely stand, but she blindly
began the descent. She must go to
her uncle. She must. But Captain
Danlels's voice caused her to halt
once more.
There! there!" it said in a tone
of relief That's better. Set still
now. Be quiet, that's 1t. Shall get
some water?"
mo, no! let me be. Just let me be-
amt what | used to be and this
I'm all right, tell you. Grace! And
and What was 1t you just said?
IL don't b'lieve heard it right"
81 said that daughter Of yours, or
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 him
in those pines every Sunday afternoon
for long time She was seen there
with him this afternoon"
"Who-who saw herr"
Never mind. The one that didll
never tell-unless it's necessary. They
are fixing to be married, and"
Married! She marry a Regular
minister! Oh"
Hush! Listen! They amt married
yet. We can stop em, you and |, If
we get right to work 1t isn't too late.
Will you help?"
will IL Go on! tell me more!"
1--WE can stop em. know it would
be a good catch for her, the sneaking,
designing Well, never mind But 1t
can't be. 1t shan't be. You've got to
tell her so, Hammond. We folks of
the Regular church have pride in our
society; we won't have it disgraced.
And we have been proud Of our minis
ter, the young. rattle-headed fool!
Well save him if we can. If we
can't"-the speakers teeth grated
then well send him to eternal
smash or die trying"
But l can't believe it's true. It's a
mistake; some other girl and not
Oracle. Why, she don't even know
him. She wouldn't But she has
been out every Sunday afternoon for
weeks. If it should bel"
The chair creaked. Evidently, Cap
tain Eben was rising slowly to his
feet.
"Well?" repeated Elkanah.
"Elkanah Daniels" said Eben slow
ly, his voice shaking from nervous eX
haustion and weakness, but with fine
ring Of determination in every word
"Elkanah Daniels, you listen to
me. I've heard you through. ii
your yarn is true, then my heart is
broke, and wish | might have died
afore I 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 ruthef
see her dead afore me than married
to a Regular minister. Disgrace tc
him. Disgrace to your miserable
church! What about the disgrace tc
mine? And the disgrace to her? Ruin
to your minister! Ruin to my CIR
here and hereafter is what I'm think
in of; that and my people who wor
ship God with me- I'll talk to Grace
I'll talk to her. But not Of whatl
happen to him or you-or any of YOU
cantin, lip-servin crew. I'll tell hel
to choose between him and me. AnC
IL blt CuOOoCo 4 II oChN hSA W.
of that door. I'll do my duty and reaC
her out of my congregation. And III
know she's gone to everlastin' hell
and that's worse'n the poorhouse
That's all tonight. Elkanah. Now YOU
better CO."
The lock turned; the door opened
and closed. Grace, clinging to the bal
listers, heard Captain Hammond eros
the room. slowly and feebly. Sh'
heard him enter the sitting room. B,
and by, pale, but more composed, ant
with her mind made up, she cam
down into the hall. Drawing a loni
breath, she turned into the sitting
room to face her uncle. BY the ligh
shining through the dining-room doc
she saw him on his knees by the hall
cloth sofa. She spoke his name, II
did not answer nor look up At he
touch his arm slid from the couch an
he fell gently over upon his side o
the carpet.
NuAnrED VI