Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-08-21
CHAPTER |.
In Which kezlah Hear. Two Pro
posais and tho Beginning
Of 2 Third.

uurlhS the night by the wind from the
wide Atlantic. SO wet and heavy that
one might taste the salt in II. So
thick that houses along the main road
were but dim shapes behind it's gray
drapery. and only the gates and fences
or the front yards were plainly in evi-
rence 10 the passers-by The beach
plum and bayberry bushes on the
dunes were spangled with beady drops.
The pole on Cannon Hill. where the
beacon was hoisted when the packet
from Boston dropped anchor In The
pay. was shiny and slippery. The new |
weatherVane. gilded whale. present |
ed 10 the Regular" church by Captain !
Zebediah Mayo. retired whaler. swan
in sea OF cloud. The lichened caves
OF the little "Come-Outer" chapel
dripped at sedate intervals. The brick
walk leading to the door OF Captain
Elkanah Daniels's fine residence held
undignihed puddles in its hollows
And. through the damp stiffness. the
muttered growl + the surf. three
miles away at the foot OF the sandy
hlu1s by the lighthouse. sounded omi
nOusly.
Directly opposite Captain Elkanah's
front gate. on the other side of the
main road. stood the little story-and-
a-haf house. also the captains prop
erty. which for fourteen years had
been tenanted by Mrs. Keziah Coffin
and Der brother. Solomon Hail. the
shoemaker. But Solomon had. the
month before. given up his fight with
debt and illness and was sleeping qui-
city down in Trumet's most populous
center. the graveyard. And Keziah.
left alone. had decided that the rent
and living expenses were more than
her precarious e;--nings as seam
stress would warrant. and. having bar
gained with the furniture dealer in
Wellmouth for the sale OF her house
hold effects. was n, V busy getting
them ready for the NOR when the
dealers wagon was to call She was
going to roston. where distant and
condescend!ng rich relative had in
terested him SELF TO the extent OF find
Ing her a place as sewing woman In
large tailoring establishment.
The fog hung like a wet blanket
over the house and It's small yard
where few venerable pear trees. toe
conservative IN their old age TO ven
ture a bud even though II was almost
May. stood bare and forlorn. The day
room. It's tables and chairs pushed into
corner and It's faded ingram carpe
partially stripped from the floor. wal
dismal. likewise. Considering al
things. one might have expected Re
Utah herself 10 be even more dismal
But. 10 all outward appearances. sh.
was not. A arge portion OF he
'hirty-ninc years OF life had beel
m Cd W f ~ af
speak. and she had not permitted tn
depressing covering TO shut out mon
sunshine than was absolutely neces
sary. III you can't get cream. 20
might as we'll learn to love your sas
ser OF skim milk" said practical K<
zinh.
She was on her knees. her Gallo
dress sleeves. patched and darned. bu
absolutely clean. rolled back. uncover
ing a pair OF plump. strong arms.
saucer OF tacks before her. and tao
hammer with claw head in her hant
She was taking up the carpet. Grac
Van Horne. Captain Eben Hammond
ward. who had called TO see II Their
1 was anything she might do TO hell
i was rem owing towels. tablecloths. an
. the like from the drawers In ia
4 them in an old and battered trunl
The pair had been discussing the sui
, ject which all Trumet had discusse
! for three weeks. namely. the calling
to the passionate OF the Regular
church OF tho Rev. John Ellery, III
young divinity student who was
take the place OF old Parson I.angle
minister In the parish for over thirt
years Discussion in the village hs
y now rcachcti>~8s critical .Dnint, for II
< Reverend John was expected by 6
II mos. any coach In those days Il
II lays OF the late ffties. the railrof
- down the Cape extended only az II
Ia as Sandwich passengers made II
rest of their journey by stage. Mar
came direct from the city by Il
packet. the little schooner but NJ
O. Fliery had written that he shou
probably come on the coach.
~ They say he's very nice-lookinf
= remarked NJ Van Horne soberly. h
?. with n mischievous glance under h
dark lashes at Keziah The lady a
dressed paused long enough to traI
fer several tacks from the floor to {
IN saucer. and then made answer
a, "Humphi" she observed. "A go
many years ago saw theater sh'
-, up to pos>oS Don't he shocke
those circumstance we hear so mu
tell of-the kind you cant control
have kept me from goin' to theatt
mlsh, even IL wanted TO. Hut | {
no see this entertainment. and a fool o
twas. too. Ill singin' instead or talk
-or ira. believe they called II. W.
-r started % say. one OF the lead
us 80 ~ y WIS the Old Harry hims'
~ roodlookin'."