The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1913-04-04

matter what happens--to me-Tn
glad. | never was so glad before
love him, Aunt Keziah. / can say l
to you, for you know it-you mus
know 1t. | love him and he needet
me and | came. He was calling m!
name when | found him. He nigh
have died there, alone in the wet ant
cold, and l saved him. Think wha
that means to ms"
The door ope.ed softly and Dr. Par
ker came out
Hes asletp," he said. And he
better, much better. And III tell YOU
something elDe, If you won't make too
much noise about THE hasn't got tn,
smallpox He is pretty close to braiI
fever, though. but guess he'll dodge
that this time, with care. On the
whole, Keziah, I'm glad you came
This young lady" with a movement Of
the head toward Grace, mas done bel
part. She really saved his life. II In
not mistaken. Now, think she car
go away and leave him to you and me
I'll pretty nearly guarantee to have
him up and out Of this-this pesthole
in a fortnight"
Here was joyful tidings, the better
for being so unexpected. Keziah
leaned against the boards and drew a
long breath. Grace said nothing. but
after a moment, she went into the
house.
That's good thing, too" com.
mented Parker, watching her as she
went. 81 wanted 10 talk with you, Ke-
ziah Coffin. and right away. Now, then.
there's something up, something that
don't know about. and rather guess
you do. Young women-even when
they're her kind and that's as good
a kind as there is-don't risk smallpox
for any young man they pick up cas-
ually."
Keziah considered. "All right, doc
tor" she said, when she reached a de-
cision. "all right: I'll tell you the
whole thing"
She went on to tell all she knew Of
her parsons love story.
DR.. Parker listened.
''Hum!" he said thoughtfully, Il see
What made her change her mind so
suddenly? You say, or you gather
from what Mr.. Ellery told you, that
she had all but agreed to marry him.
She cares for him, that's sure. Then,
all at once, she throws him over and
accepts Nat CT course her uncle's
sudden seizure was a shock and he
wanted Nat to have her, but she isn't
the kind OF girl to be easily swayed.
But never mind that, that doesn't
count now. Let's look at things as
they are this minute. She's here and
folks know It, AS they do know 1t
they'll begin to talk. and the more
they talk the farther from the truth
they'll get-most of 'em. Nat, poor
chap. is dead, so her promise to him
Is cancelled. Ellery will get we'll If
he isn't troubled. II she leaves him
he'll go to pieces again, so she mustn't
explanation. say let's give the ex-
PLANTATION; let's come right out with
the announcement that they're en-
gagged"
But she's a Come-Outer and
there's the church"
We'll, know 1t. But he never was
so popular as he is now. And she
isn't by any means a steady-going
Come-Outer. Why, Zeke Bassett and
the rest have been finding fault with
her and calling her a backslider.
Thatll help. Then you trust me to
whoop up her heroism and the fact
that without her he would have died.
We can do 1t, Keziah. Come on! I've
tackled a good many jobs, but match
making isn't one OF 'em. Here goes
to tackle that"
Keziah was delighted; here was
work after her own heart But she
still hesitated.
Doctor" she said. you've forgot
one thing, that's Oracle herself. Would
she marry him now, knowing 1t may
mean the loss of his ministry and all,
any more than she would at first?
don't believe it."
That's your part, Keziah. You've
got to show her she must marry him
DR. he'll die; seer"
Keziah's hesitation was at an end
Her face lit up. !
Il say good" she cried. And now |
want to give you a piece Of advice,
your course for the first leg. as you |
might say: you see Cap'n Zebedee
Mayo"
"Humph! Cap'n Zeb is the first
nan l mean to see"
Captain Zeb listened with his mouth |
md eyes and ears open. Mrs. Mayo |
was with him when the doctor called,
md she, too, listened.
Welt" exclaimed the captain, |
when the plea for support was ended.
Well, by the flukes of Jonah's whale!
Talk about surprises. Old lady, what
10 you say?"
Il say go ahead. Zebedee. Go
ahead! If Mr.. Ellery wanted to mar
y Jezebel's sister, and knew he
'eally wanted to, I'd do believe I'd |