Gilpin observer., 1912-12-26
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
In Which kezIah Assumes q Guardian
ship.
Grace left the parsonage soon after
the supposed tramp disclosed his
identity. Her farewells were hurried
and she firmly refused Mrs. Coffins
not too-insistent appeal to return to
the house up street" and have sup
per. She said she was glad to meet
Mr.. Ellery. The young minister af-
firmed his delight in meeting her
IT'S been something Of a day for
me-" he said. Il am ahead Of time
and I've made lot OF trouble. I'm
afraid. But yesterday afternoon l
was ready and. to tel, the truth. was
eager to come and see my new home
and get at my work. So started on
the morning train. Then the stage
broke down and began to think
was stranded at Bayport. But this
kind-hearted chap from Wellmouth-I
believe that's where he lived-hap-
pened to pull up to watch us wrest-
ling with the smashed wheel. and
when he found ! was In a hurry to
get to Trumet, offered to give me a
lift. His name was-was Bird. No.
that wasn't 1t. but It was something
like Bird. or some kind Of bird"
"Bird?" repeated Keziah thought
fully. There's no Birds that know
Of in Wellmouth. Huml Hey7
'Twa'nt Sparrow. was lit"
THAT was It Sparrow"
Good land! Emulous Sparrow
Run considerable to whiskers and
tongue. didn't her"
why. yes; lie did wear a beard. As
for tongue-well. he was converse
tional, II that's what you mean"
That's wnat I mean. II you rode
twelve mile with Emulous. you must
Did he ask a question or two about
your personal affairs. here and there
between times?"
Mr.. Ellery laughed.
"Yes. one or two, between times
he admitted.
81 shant die Of surprise. Did you
tell him who you was"
Moo, to be honest. ! didn't. He
was SO very anxious to find out. that
well. lodged. think he believed
! was going to visit Captain Daniels
Sin. some one may have seen me
come here"
mo. no. they didn't. This fog Is as
thick as Injun-meal puddin'. Nobody
saw you"
WELL" with some hesitation, the
young lady who was hero with you
"Oh. Grace Van Horne! She's all
right. She won't tell. She amt that
kind"
Van Horne? That doesn't sound
like a New England name"
"'Tisnt. Her folks come from Jer
sey somewheres. But she was adopt
ed by old Cap'n Hammond. who keeps
the tavern down On the bay shore by
the packet wharf. and she's lived In
Trumet since she was six years old
Her father was Teunis Van Horne
and he was mate on Cap'n Eben's
coastin' schooner and was drowned
b6 Hatteras. Eben was saved Just by
the skin Of his teeth and got a broken
hip and religion while II happened
His hips better except that he's some
lame; but his religions been more
and more feverish ever since. He's
one Of the head Come-Outers, and
built their chapel with his own money
You mustn't think I'm speakin' light
" Of religion. nor Of Cap'n Eben, ei
ther. He's q dear good soul as ever
was. but he is the narrowest kind OF
Come-Outer. His creed is Just about
a. wide as the chapel door, and that's
ae narrow as the way leadin' to sal
vation: II IL the way. too. so the Come
Cutters think"
What are Come outersf Some new
sect?"
"Sakes alive! Haven't you heard
Of Come-Outersi Cats foot! Well
you'll hear Of 'em often enough from
now on. They're folks who used to
90 to our church. the Regular, but
left because the services was too
worldly. with organs and choir sing.
in. and the road to paradise too easy.
No need for me to tell you any more,
You'll learn"
Mr.. Ellery was interested. He had
been in Trumet but once before, on
the occasion when he preached his
trial sermon. and Of that memorable
visit remembered little except the ser.
mon itself, the pews filled with cap
tains and their families. and the awe.
inspiring personality Of Captain ri.
kanah Daniels. who had been his host.
To a young man. the Ink upon his d.
ploma from the theological school still
fresh. a trial sermon Is weighty mat.
ter, and the preaching Of It weightier
still. He had rehearsed It over and
over in private. had delivered It al.
most through clinched teeth. and had
returned to his room In the Boston
boarding house with the conviction
that It was an utter failure. Captain
ulkanah and the gracious Miss Anna