The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-01-18


balsamy and sweet. Between the tree
trunks he caught glimpses of the
flats, now partially covered, and they
reminded him Of his narrow escape
and Of Nat Hammond, his rescuer.
Thinking Of the Hammond family
reminded him Of another member of
1t. Not that he needed to be remind
ed; he had thought of her often
enough since she ran away from him
In the rain that night. And then he
saw her. She was standing just at the
outer edge of the grove, leaning
against tree and looking toward the
sunset. She wore a simple white dress
and her hat hung upon her shoulders
by its ribbons. The rosy light edged
the white gown with pink and the
fringes Of her dark hair were crinkly
lines Of fire. Her face was grave, al
most sad.
John Ellery stood still, with one foot
uplifted for step. The girl looked
out over the water and he looked at
her. Then a crow, one Of several
whirling above the pines, spied the in
truder and screamed a warning. The
minister was startled and stepped
back. A dead limb beneath his foot
cracked sharply. Grace turned and
saw him.
OH" she cried. "Who is 1t?
Ellery emerged from the shadow.
Don't be frightened, Miss Van
Horne" he said. 1T is-er-I."
"You came to see the sunset, I
SUPPOSE" she said hurriedly, as II to
head off a question. $50 did l. II is
beautiful evening for a walk, isn't
it,"
She had said precisely the same
thing on that other evening, when
they stood in the middle of Ham
mond's Turn-off' in the driving rain.
He remembered it, and so, evidently,
did she, for she colored slightly and
smiled.
II mean it this time" she said. I'm
glad you didn't get cold from your
wetting the other day"
"Oh! l wasn't very wet. You
wouldn't let me lend you the umbrella,
so had that to protect me on the way
home"
Not then; meant the other morn
ing when Nat-Cap'n Hammond-met
you on the flats. He said you were
wading the main channel and 1t was
over your boots"
1T was worse than that, good deal
worse. 1t might have been my last
cruise. I'm pretty certain that l owe
the captain my life. That part Of the
channel proposed swimming was ex-
drowned, so people say. I'm not a
very strong swimmer. and they were.
So, you See"
Grace cried out in establishment.
"Oh!" she exclaimed. Then point.
ing toward the bay, she asked: "Out
there, by the end Of that leader, was
it?"
Yes, that was it."
She drew a long breath. Then, after
moment:
"And Nat spoke as II it was all q
joke" she said.
NO doubt he did. From what heal
of your brother, he generally refers tc
his own plucky, capable actions as
jokes. Other people call them some
thing else"
HE isn't my brother" she inter
rupted absently. 81 wish he was"
She sighed as she uttered the las
sentence.
mo, of course he isn't your rea
brother; l forgot. But he must seen
like one"
YES" rather doubtfully.
you must be proud Of him."
: 81 am" there was nothing doubtful
this time.
Miss Van Horne! What did you
uncle say about Cap'n Mats meetin,
me the other day."
Uncle Eben doesn't know. Ma
didn't tell anyone but me. He doesn'
boast. And uncle would be glad h.
helped you. AS told you before, MI
Ellery, I'm not ashamed Of my uncle
He has been so good to me that ney
. er can repay him, never! When m,
own father was drowned he took m
: in, a little orphan that would prob
;, ably have been sent to home. Whel
he needed money most he said nothin
, to. me. but insisted that l should b
: educated. / didn't know until aftel
!. wards Of the self-sacrifloe my fou
: years at the Middleboro Academ
; meant to him."
$50 you went away to SCHOOL," h
a unused. This Is why"
THAT is why don't say never don
nothin'' and be you and hahn
+ neither Yes. thank you. that's VIII!
e I don't wonder you were surprised"
e She was going, but the minister ha
+ something to say. He stepped forwar
K and walked beside her.
n Just a minute, please" he urge
n Miss Van Horne, do understand.
/ do respect your uncle. We have a m,
/. tual friend. you and I. and through he
n have come to understand man
e things"
= Grace turned and looked at him.
s "a mutual friend" she repeate'
Il "Oh. know. Mrs. Coffin"
}, Eyes; Mrs. Coffin. She's a goo
9 woman and a wise one"
II IT know. feel the same way abol
her. She means so much to me.
l. love her more than anyone else in ii
;, world, except uncle, Of course-an
n Nat. miss her very much since
since"
o "Since 7 came. you mean. I'm SORT