Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-02-01
CHAPTER K.
In Which Captain Eben Receives
Caller.

Caller.
At the edge of the bluff, just where
the pines and the bayberry bushes
were thickest, where the narrow,
crooked little footpath dipped over the
rise and down to the pasture land and
the salt meadow, John Ellery and
Grace had halted in their walk. The
minister's face was pale, but set and
determined. and he was speaking rap
idly.
81 can't help it," he said. 'I can't
help it. I have made up my mind and
nothing can change it, nothing but
you. 1t rests with you. If you say
yes, then nothing else matters. Will
you say it?"
He was holding both her hands now.
and though she tried to withdraw
them, he would not let her.
viii your" he pleaded.
CT can't" she answered brokenly. 81
can't. Think Of your church and of
your people. What would they say
#"
"I don't care what they say
She shook her head.
Some of them might respect you."
she said. They would say you had
been led into this by me and were not
so much to blame. But ="
They shall respect my wife," he in
terrupted, swapping his teeth together,
'or I'll know the reason why"
'I can't! I.can't! My uncle"
Your uncle shall hear it from me-
Well go to him together. I'll tell him
myself. He worships you"
yes, know. He does worship me-
That's why 1 am sure he had rather
see me dead than married to you, a
Regular, and a Regular minister.
know know he would never con-
sent. His heart is set on something
else. Nat"
Nat? Are you considering him,
too? Is he to stand between us?
What right has he to say
Hush. hush! He hasn't said any
thing. But-but he and uncle have
quarreled, just little. 1 didn't tell
know the reason. Nat is Uncle Eben's
idol. II the quarrel should grow more
serious, 1 believe it would break his
heart. 1 couldn't bear to be the cause
of that; l should never forgive my
self"
you the cause? How could you
be the cause OF a quarrel between
those two? Grace, think of me-"
John" she said. 'it is of you am
thinking. Everything else could -
might be overcome. perhaps. But ]
must think of your future and your
life. / must. That is why
He did not wait to hear more He
seized her in his arms and kissed her
Then you do carei" he cried Toy.
fully You will marry me?"
For an instant she lay quiet in his
embrace. receiving, If not responding
to his caresses. Then she gently but
firmly freed herself. He saw thai
| there were tears in her eyes.
81 don't know" she sobbed. "Oh
don't know! / must think must
| Wait, please wait, john Perhaps BY
tomorrow 1 can answer. I'll try-r1
| try. Don't ask me again, now. Lei
me think. Oh, dol"
She started down the path. He hes
itated, then ran after her.
Tomorrow" he questioned eager
". Tomorrow, then, you'll say tha
you will?"
/ 'Oh, perhaps, perhapsi musn'
promise. Good night"
1t was after seven when Grac.
reached the old tavern. The house
keeper. Mrs. Poundberry, was anxious
| ly awaiting her She wore her bonnie
and Sunday gown and was evidentl,
ready to go.
''Supper's on the table and the kit
ties abilin'. You better eat in
hurry, cause it's meetin' time now
Your uncle. he started ten minute
ago. I'm agoin' right along. too. ou
amt goin- tn meetin'; I'm agoin' u
to Betsy Els to stay all night. She