The citizen., 1912-11-29
CHAPTER I.
IN Which kcziah Hears Two Pro-
posals and the Beginning
Of 4 Third.


wide Atlantic. So wet and heavy that
one might taste the salt in it. So
tbicI that houses along the main road
we're but dim shapes behind its gray
drauery. and only the gates and fences
cf the front yards were plainly in evi-
depce to the passers-by. The beach
phm and bayberry bushes on the
dunes were spangled with beady drops.
The pole on Cannon Hill, where the
beacon was hoisted when the packet
from Boston dropped anchor in the
bay. was shiny and slippery. The new
weathervane, d gilded whale, present
ed TO the Regular" church by Captain
Zebediah Mayo, retired whaler, swan
IN a sea of cloud. The lichened caves
of the little "Come-Outer" chapel
dripped at sedate intervals. The brick
walk leading to the door of Captain
Elkanah Daniels's fine residence held
unidentified puddles in its hollows
And. through the damp stiffness, the
,auttered Srowl f the surf, three
niles away at the foot of the sandy
bluffs by the lighthouse, sounded omi-
nously.
Directly opposite Captain Elkanahs
front gate, on the other side Of the
main read, stood the little story-and-
a.half house, also the captains prop
erty, which for fourteen years had
been tenanted by Mrs. Keziah Coffin
and Der brother. Solomon Hall, the
shoemaker. But Solomon had, the
month before, given up his fight with
debt and illness and was sleeping qui-
etly down in Trumet's most populous
center, the graveyard And Keziah,
left alone, had decided that the rent
and living expenses were more than
her precarious earnings as a seam
stress would warrant. and, having bar
gained with the furniture dealer in
Wellmouth for the sale of her house
hold effects, was nov busy getting
them ready for the mOrro". when the
Dealers wagon was to call She was
going to Boston, where a distant and
understanding rich relative had in
terested himself 10 the extent of find
ing her place as sewing woman in
q large tailoring establishment.
The fog hung like a wet blanket
over the house and its small yard,
where a few venerable pear trees, too
conservative in their old age to ven
;ure bud even though it was almost
Nay, stood bare and forlorn. The day
was dismal. The dismantled dining
room, its tables and chairs pushed into
l corner, and its faded ingram carpet
partially stripped from the floor, was
dismal, likewise. Considering all
'hings, one might have expected Ke-
ziah herself to be even more dismal.
But, to all outward appearances. she
was not. A large portion of her
Lirty-nine years of life had been
PASSED under a wet blanket, so to
Speak, and she had not permitted the
depressing covering to shut out more
sunshine than was absolutely neces-
sary. IF you can't get cream, you
might as we'll learn to love your sas-
ser Of skim milk" said practical Ke-
zish.
She was on her knees, her calico
dress sleeves, patched and darned, out
absolutely clean, rolled back. uncover
Ing pair of plump, strong arms, a
4. saucer of tacks before her, and tack
hammer with claw head in her hand
She was taking up the carpet. Grace
Van Horne, Captain Eben Hammond's
ward, who had called TO see il there
vas anything she might do to help,
vas removing towels, tablecIoths. and
he like from the drawers in a tall
hlgh-boy," folding them and placing
mem in an old and battered trunk.
me pair had been discussing the sub,
fct which all Trumet had discussed
Tor three weeks, namely, the calling"
70 The pastorate OF the Regular"
church of the Rev. John Ellery, the
young divinity student, who was to
axe the place of old Parson Langley,
minister in the parish for over thirty
years, Discussion in the village had
now reached a critical point for the
reverend John was expected by al
Ios. any coach. In those days the
avs OF the late fifties, the railroad
""h The Cape extended only as far
y sandwich; passengers made the
FSl OF their journey by stage Many
'ine direct from the city by the
cket, the little schooner, but Mr.
neiy mad written that he should
ooaDly come on the coach
lhey say he's very nice looking, :"
narKed NJ Van Horne soberly, but
'1n mischtevous glance under her
4'A lashes at Keziah. The lady ad-
esseu paused long enough to trans
several tacks from the floor to the
"ueer' and then made answer.
nulnph.' she observed. "A good
"S years ago | saw a theater show
II boston Don't be shocked;
III ,oT al circumstances We hear so much
NJ Soro OI-the kind you can't control
ehmrot Aept me from goin' to theaters
soa o'n even If wanted to. But / did
tr, .niS entertainment. and a fool one
, n 'oo' all singin' instead of talkin'
as 80 | believe they called it. Well,
I,oI{, 'tarted to say, one of the leadln
spd - ~ " was the Old Harry himself,
was pretty good-lookin'."
c been e s laughed. even though she had
ny w W somewhat shocked
-Aoass Aunt Keziah!" she exclaimed
'e- kuauv VINO knew Keziah Coffin best
pbsy. called her aunt, though real
Rhy ana nieces she had none
arrYI aA STUNT keziahi What do vn,,