The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1913-01-24

prayer meeting at the chapel, but she
felt that she must. The Come-Outer
gatherings, with their noisy singing
/ and shouting, had grown more and
more repugnant to her
She blew out the candle and came
out into the hall at the head Of the
stairs. She was about to descend when
she heard voices. The door of the din
ing room opened and closed. She felt
certain that Nat had returned and
wondered who was with him. Then
she heard her uncle's voice, speaking
sharply and with unwonted sternness.
Il don't know what It's you want to
see about" said Captain Eben. You
say it's important; well, it's got to be
70 keep me from my meetin'. | ought
10 be on the Lords business this
plinute and nothin' worldly's goin' to
keep me from servin' Him. So speak
quick. What is it?"
The voice that answered was one
that Grace recognized, though she had
never before heard in it the note of
agitation and undignified excitement.
There were no ponderous pauses and
"Hum-ha's" now.
Don't be a fool, Hammond" 1t said.
'iAnd don't stand there preaching.
Lock that door! Get a lamp! Are
you sure there's nobody but us in the
house?"
Captain Elkanah Daniels! Captain
Elkanah visiting a Come-Outer! and
the leader of the Come-Outers,!
Grace caught her breath. What in
the world She started to descend
and then a thought flashed to her
mind. She stopped short
81 amt the fool, Elkanah" she
heard her uncle retoTt sternly. "The
fools are them who are def to the
call from on high My foot was on the
threshold of His house when you led
me astray. It's never halted there
afore. | warn you--"
stop! Shut up. Eben Hammond,
| tell you that your precious church
yes and mine, the Regular church of
Trumet-will go to rack and ruin If
you and me don't pull together this
night"
and | tell you, Elkanah Daniels,
I'll have no blasphemy here. That lit
tie sanctuary up the road is founded
on a rock and neither you nor any
of your Phariseein' priest-worshipin
crew can shake it, The Almighty'll
protect His own. AS for the Regular
church, that's no concern OF mine"
But | tell you It's your concern
Or IL the church isn't, your own fam
lily is"
There was an instant of silence
Grace, crouching on the stairs, noticed
the change in her uncle's voice as he
answered.
my own family?" he repeated slow
ly. MY own And the Regular
church What do you mean? Has
mo, he amt But that cussed girl
of yours"
Stop" shouted Captain Hammond.
"Elkanah Daniels, for your own sake
now, be careful. If you dast to say
word, another word like that, I'LL"
IF dast! The hussy! But there's
no use talkin' to you. You're as crazy
as a Bedlamite Either that, or you're
in the game with her. If you are,
warn you"
stop! What game? What game
do you mean? Oracle! My Oracle!
What is it? For mercy sakes, FL
kanah-"
"Humphl l wondered if l couldn't
get some sense into you, finally. Lock
that door,"
Il will! l will! But Elkanah-"
Lock it! Give me the KEY"
The click Of the lock sounded
sharply.
Where's the lamp" demanded Dan
iels. "And the matches? Don't stand
there shaking"
A smell of sulphur foated out into
the hail Then the sickly glow of the
fluid lamp shone through the door
way
What ails your" asked Elkanah.
Are you struck dumb? Now go and
see if there's anybody else in the
house"
"But-but thee amt. I know there
amt. Hannah's gone and Gracies at
meetin' by this time"
she? Humph! Well, maybe she's
at meetin' and maybe she isn't. May
be she's over in Peters's pines. hug
cling and kissing that man she's met
there every Sunday for l 3S2't know
how long Here! let go, you old
fool! Let go, tell you!"
You Mari" snarled Captain Eben.
you low-lived liar By the Almighty
Elkanah Daniels! I'll You take that
back or I'll choke the everlastin'
soul out of you. l will"
Let go, you lunatic! You'll kill
yourself Listen! I'm not lying. It's
the truth. She's met a man, l tell
you. Been meeting him for months,
guess. There!/ now will you listen?
His names John Ellery, and he's
minister of the Regular church in this
town; that's who he is! Here! hold
upi Good Lord! are you dying? Hold
up!"
The girl on the stairs sprang to her
feet. Her head was Keeling and she
could scarcely stand, but she blindly
began the descent She must go to
her uncle. She must. But Captain
Daniels's voice caused her to halt
once more.
There! there" it said in a tone
of relief. That's better. Set still
,,n,,r po n,,iot fhat,r IL Shall I erot