Putnam patriot., 1912-11-22

wouldn't see you II you went She
would send you away again. sura sar.
tin sure. She would. And II Won
didn't go when she sent Won Won
wouldn't be the man hope you are
John, you mustn't see Grace again.
She amt yours. She belongs to some
one else.
John. Grace Van Horne is goin TO
marry Capn Nat Hammond. There,
that's the Twin truth"
She led him over to the rocking.
chair and gently forced him into it. He
obeyed, although with no apparent
realization of what he was doing. stnl
with her hand on his shoulder she
went on speaking. She told him of
her visit to the Hammond tavern. say.
ing nothing Of Mr.. Peppers call nor
OF her own experience in the grove.
She told of Captain Eben's seizure. of
what the doctor said, and of the old
Come-Outer's return to consciousness
Then she described the scene In the
sick room and how Nat and Grace had
plighted troth. He listened, at first
stunned and stolid, then With grow.
Ing impotence.
So you see" she said. TITS settled:
they're engaged, and DR.. Parker will
tell everybody Of the engagement this
very mornin'. 1t want any great sur
prise to me. Those who have been
brought up together; twas the natu-
raj thing that was almost bound to
happen. Eben's heart was set on it
for years. And she'll have a good
husband, John, that / know. And she'll
do her best to make him happy He's
good man and"
But l know"
DO you suppose she would come
to you If she knew it would be your
ruin?'
He hesitated. The last time they
met, ages before-no, only the previ-
GUS afternoon-she had told him it
was his happiness and his future only
that she thought Of He choked and
drew his hand across his eyes.
MRS. Coffin" he said, you tell me
1t will be her ruin. You tell me So
You say she doesn't want me tell
you that the only thing that will keep
me from her is hearing that from her
own lips. When she tells me to leave
her / will, and not before"
She'll tell you, John; she'll tell you.
And l know Grace. She's made up her
mind and won't change it. But l do
ask you this / ask you not to go now.
Wait little while, do. l left her
asleep, worn out by what sh>' been
through and under the effects Of the
doctors sleepin' medicine. He said
she must rest or he was afraid her
brain would give out. For her sake.
then, wait little. Then, II you don't
hear from her, maybe ! can arrange
meetin' place where you can see her
without anyone's KNOWN it I'll try.
But do wait little while, for her
sake, won't you?"
At last he was listening and hest
tating
Wont your" begged Keziah.
yes" he answered slowly. It'll
wait. I'll wait until noon, somehow, II
1 can. I'll try. But not a minute
later Not one. You don't know what
you're talking about. Mrs. Coffin"
yes, l do. l know well. And
thank you for her sake"
But ne did not have to wait until
noon. At six o'clock, through the dew
soaked grass of the yard, came the
Higgins boy For the first time in his
short life he had been awake all night
and he moved slowly.
The housekeeper opened the door.
Ike held up an envelope, clutched in
grimy hand.
Its for you. Mrs. Keziah," he said.
'Gracie she sent it. There amt no
answer"
Mrs Coffin closed the door and tore
open the envelope. Within was an
other addressed, in Grace's handwrlt-
ing, TO Mr.. Ellery. The housekeeper
entered the study, handed it TO him
and turned away.
Dear John" wrote Grace 81 pre-
sumo Aunt Keziah has told you OF
uncle's death and of my promise 10
Nat. 1t is true. l am going to marry
him. am sure this is right and for
the best Our friendship was mis-
tase and you must not see me again.
Please don't try.
GRACE VAN HORNE"
Beneath was another paragraph
Don't worry about me. | shall be
happy. am sure And ] shall hope
that you may be. shall pray for
that"
The note fell 10 the floor with
rustic that sounded loud in the stilI-
ness. Then Keziah heard the minis
ter's step. She turned. He was NOV
ing slowly across the room
John, what are you goin' to do!"
He shook his head. Il don't know
he said 60 away somewhere, nrst
of all, l guess. Go somewhere and
and try to live It down. | can't. Oh
course, but | must try.
She put out her hand. i know itlI
be hard" she said, "staytn here,
mean. But your duty to others
Don't you think we've heard enough
about duty to others? How about my
duty to myself"
Il guess that's the last tnihe
ought 10 think about in the world. II
We do try to be fair and square. -FOUR
church thinks a heap Of you, John-
They build on you. You've done more
in the little while you've been mere
than Mr.. Langley did in his last nfteen
years"
You've never been asked to SIT
quietly by and see the one you love
more than all the world marry some
one else"
"uou do won know amt? How do