The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-02-01

the old-fashioned bureau with its it'll
oval mirror, she hastily arranged he
hair' She did not wish to go t,
prayer meeting at the chapel, but sh,
'eit that she must. The Come-Oute
gatherings, with their noisy singin,
ana shouting, had grown more ant
more repugnant to her.
She blew out the candle and cam,
OUT into the hall at the head of tn,
Stdlrs. She was about to descend wher
she heard voices. The door of the din
ing room opened and closed She fell
certain that Nat had returned anC
wondered who was with him. Their
she heard her uncle's voice. spnakine
SHARPLY and with unwonted sternness
1 don't know what It's you want tC
see about" said Captain Eben. "You
say lts Important; well, it's got to be
20 Keep me from my meetin'. | ought
10 De on the Lords business this
minute and nothin' worldly's goin' tc
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 urdignified excitement.
mere were no ponderous pauses and
'Hum-ha's" now.
Don't be fool, Hammond" it said.
And 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.
i amt the fool, Elkanah," she
heard her uncle retort sternly. 1.-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. l 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 l 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-worshipfn'
crew can shake 1t. The Almighty'u
protect His own. AS for the Regular
church. that's no concern of mine"
But l tell you tbs your concern.
Or If 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 Reglar
church What do you mean? Has
Nat"
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 a
word, another word like that. III"
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. II you are. |
warn you"
stop! What game? What game
do you mean? Oracle! My Oracle!
What is it? For mercy sakes, e.
kanah-"
"Humph! l wondered IL I couldn't
get some sense into you, finally. Lock
that door,"
Il will! I will! But Elkanah-"
Lock 1t! 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 fioated out into
the hall. Then the sickly glow of the
fluid" lamp shone through the door
way.
What ails your asked Elkanah. |
Are you struck dumb? Now 90 and |
see IL there's anybody else in the |
house"
"But-but there amt. I know there |
amt. Hannah's zone and Gracie's 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
here every Sunday for | don't know
how long Here! let go, you old
'ool! Let go. tell you!"
you liar!" 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. | will"
LET go, you lunatic! You'fl kill
Listen! I'm not lying. It's
he truth. She's met a man, 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
own; that's who he is! Here, hold
Ip! Good Lord! are you dying? Hold
Id"
The girl on the stairs sprang to her
eet. Her head was Keeling and she
ould scarcely stand, but she blindly
egan the descent. She must go to
er uncle. She must. But Captain