The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1913-01-31


held out both her bands.
"You poor boy" she cried, I'm try
ing to tell you one of the hardest
things a body can tell. Yes, some one
is dead, but that amt all. Eben Ham.
mond, poor soul, is out of his troubles
and gone"
"Eben Hammond! Captain Eben?
Dead! Why, why"
Yes, Eben's gone, He was took
down sudden and died about ten
o'clock last night. l was there and"
Captain Eben dead! Why, he was
must go. must go at once!"
He was on his way to the door, but
she held it shut
No" she said gravely, you mustn't
go. John-you won't mind me calm
you John. I'm old enough, pretty nigh,
feel almost as if l was. John, you've
got to stay here with me You can't
go to that house. You can't go to
her"
Mrs. Coffin, what are you saying?
Do you know Have you"
yes, l know all about 1t. know
about the meetin's in the pines and
all. Oh, why didn't you trust me and
tell me? If you had, all would have
been so much better!"
He looked at her in utter amaze
ment. The blood rushed to his face.
You know that?" he whispered.
yes. know"
did che tell"
"No, nobody told. That is, only a
little. got a hint and 1 suspicioned
somethin' afore. The rest l saw with
my own eyes"
He was now white, but his jaw shot
forward and his teeth closed.
IF you do know" he said, you
must realize that my place Is with
her Now, when she is in trouble"
1T amt the congregation, John"
she said. Nor Trumet, nor your min
istry. That means more'n you think
it does, now; but it amt that. You
mustn't go TO her because-well, be-
cause she don't want you to-"
Doesn't want me? l know better"
He laughed in supreme scorn.
She doesn't want you, John. She
wouldn't see you if you went. She
would send you away again, sure, sar-
tin sure. She would. And If you
didn't go when she sent you, you
wouldn't be the man l 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 Cap'n Nat Hammond. There!
that's the livin' 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. Still
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. Its settled;
they're engaged, and DR.. Parker will
tell everybody of the engagement this
very p,orr in Tt 1f-op't apv orao+ cur
prise to me. Those who have BEEN
brought up together; twas the natu-
raj thing that was almost bound to
happen. Ebens heart was set on it
for years. And she'll have a good
husband, John, that l know. And she'll !
do her best to make him happy. He's
a good man and"
But | know"
DO you suppose she would come
to you if she knew It would be your
RUM"
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
it will be her ruin. You tell me SO. |
You say she doesn't want me. l 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 l will, and not before"
She'll tell you, John; she'll tell you.
And know Grace. She's made up her |
mind and won't change it. But I do |
ask you this; | ask you not to go now. |
Wait a little while, do. | left her |
asleep, worn out by what she's 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, If you don't |
hear from her. maybe can arrange a
mcetin' place where you can see her |
without anyone's KNOWN it. I'll try.
But do wait a little while, for her |
sake, won't you?"
At last he was listening and hest
tating.
Wont you?" begged Kezian.
Yes" he answered slowly. "I1l |
wait. I'll wait until noon, somehow, if |
l can. III 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 I |
thank you for her sake"
But he did not have to wait until |
noon. At six o'clock, through the dew