Gilpin observer., 1913-02-06
there every Sunday for don't know

there every Sunday for I don't know
how long Here! let go. you old
fool! Let go, tell you'll"
"You liar!" snarled Captain Eben.
"You low-lived liar! By the Almighty,
Elkanah Daniels! III 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 man, I 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
up! Good Lord! are you dying? Hold
up!"
The girl on the stairs sprang to her
feet. Her head was reeling 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!" 1t said in a tone
VI Telel. udl UStler. oct Bull
now. Be quiet, that's 1t. Shall get
some water?"
mo, no! let me be. Just let me be.
amt what 1 used to be and this
I'm all right, tell you. Grace! And
and What was 1t you Just said
IL don't b1ieve heard it right"
II said that daughter Of yours, or
niece, or whatever she is, this Grace
Van Horne. has been meeting young
Ellery. our minister. in Peters's grove
Been meeting him and walking with
him, and kissing him. She's met him
in those pinrs every Sunday afternoon
for long time. She was seen there
with him this afternoon"
''Who-who saw herr"
Never mind. The one that didll
never tell-unless it's necessary. They
are fixing to be married, and"
Married! She marry a Reg'lar
minister! OH"
Hush! Listen! They amt married
yet. We can stop 'em. you and l, If
We get right to work. 1t isn't too late.
Will you help?"
"Win IL Go on! tell me more!"
I'VE can stop 'em. ! know 1t would
be good catch for her, the sneaking,
designing Well, never mind. But 1t
can't be. 1t shan't be. You've got to
tell her so, Hammond. We folks Of
the Regular church have pride in our
society; we won't have it disgraced
And we have been proud Of our minis
ter, the young. rattle-headed fool!
Well save him If we can. II we
can't"-the speakers teeth grated
then we'll send him to eternal
smash or die trying"
But l can't believe It's true. It's a
mistake; some other girl and not
Oracle. Why, she don't even know
him. She wouldn't But she has
been out every Sunday afternoon for
weeks. II 1t should bel"
The chair creaked. Evidently. Cap
tain Eben was rising slowly to his
feet.
"Well?" repeated Elkanah.
"Elkanah Daniels" said Eten SLOW
ly. his voice shaking from nervous ex-
haustion and weakness, but with hne
ring Of determination in every word.
"Elkanah Daniels, you listen to
me. I've heard you through. If
your yarn Is true. then my heart is
broke. and l wish I might have died
afore heard It, But l didn't die and
have heard 1t. Now listen to me. I
love that girl Of mine better'n the
whole wide world and yet I'd ruther
see her dead afore me than married
to a Reg'lar minister. Disgrace to
him! Disgrace to your miserable
church! What about the disgrace to
mine? And the disgrace to her? Ruin
to your minister! Ruin to my girl
here and hereafter Is what I'm think
in Of; that and my people who wor-
ship God with me. I'll talk to Grace.
I'll talk to her. But not Of whatIl
happen to him or you-or any of your
cantin', lip-servin' crew. I'll tell her
to choose between him and me. And
If she chooses him. I'll send her out
of that door. I'll do my duty and read
her out Of my congregation. And I'll
know she's gone to everlastin' hell.
and that's worse'n the poorhouse
That's all tonight. Elkanah. Now you
better CO."
The lock turned; the door opened
and closed. Grace, clinging to the bal
listers. heard Captain Hammond cross
the room, slowly and feebly. She
heard him enter the sitting room BY
and by. pale. but more composed. and
with her mind made up. she came
down into the hail. Drawing a long
breath. she turned into the sitting
room to face her uncle. BY the light
shining through the dining-room door
she saw him on his knees by the hair
cloth sofa. She spoke his name. He
did not answer nor look up. At her
touch his arm slid from the couch and
he fell gently over upon his side on
the carpet.
CHAPTER XII.