Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-03-28

III IOTlulbut.
Here was joyful tidings. the better
for being 81 unexpected. Keziah
leaned against the boards and drew
long breath. Grace said nothing, but,
after a moment, she went into the
house.
That's a good thing, too" COM
mented Parker, watching her as she
went. Il wanted to 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.
Hunt" he said thoughtfully, 81 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. OF 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 well II
he isn't troubled. II she leaves him
he'll go to pieces again, so she mustn't
leave. And she can't stay without an
explanation. l 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, l 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.
That'll help. Then you trust me to
whoop up her heroism and the fact
that without her he would have died.
We can do it, Keziah. Come on! I've
tackled 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 it may
mean the loss OF his ministry and all,
any more than she would at first? l
don't believe It,"
That's your part, Keziah. You've
got to show her she must marry him
OF ne III ole, see!
Keziah's hesitation was at an end.
Her face lit up.
Il say good" she cried. "And now
want to give you piece of advice,
your course for the first leg. as you
might say: you see Cap'n Zebedee
Mayo"
"Humphi Cap'n Zeb is the first
man ] mean to see."
Captain Zeb listened with his mouth
and eyes and ears open. Mrs. Mayo
was with him when the doctor called,
and she. too, listened.
Welt" exclaimed the captain,
when the plea for support was ended.
We'll, by the fiukes of Jonah's whalel
Talk about surprises. Old lady, what
do you say?"
Il say go ahead, Zebedee. Go
ahead! II Mr.. Ellery wanted to mar
ry Jezebel's sister, and knew he
really wanted to, I'd do believe I'd
help him get her. And Grace Van
Horne is a good girl. Go ahead"
Say. doc, there'll be lively row,
and 1 kind O. like it." said Captain
Zeb.
There was, and it was lively enough |
to suit even Captain Zeb. DIR. Parker,
on his calls that day. was assailed |
with a multitude of questions con- !
corning Grace's presence at the |
shanty. He answered them cheer |
fully, dilsting upon the girls bravery,
her good sense, and the fact that she |
had saved Mr.. Ellery's life. Then he
as strict secret, the fact |
that the two were engaged. Before
his hearers had recovered from the
shock Of this explosion, he was justi-
flying the engagement. Why shouldn't |
they marry II they wanted to? Il
was free country. The girl wasn't |
a Come-Outer any longer, and, be-
this carried weight in a
good many households-whata black |
eye the marriage would be for that
crowd at the chapel.
Captain Zebedee, having shipped
with the insurgents. worked for them
from sunrise to sunset and after. Zeb
was something of q politician and
knew whom to get at" He sought
his fellows on the parish committee
and labored with them. Mrs. Mayo
and the doctors wife championed the
cause at sewing circle. They were
lively, those sewing meetings, and the
FUR few. Didama Rogers and Lavinia
Pepper were everywhere and ready to