Gilpin observer., 1913-03-13
Hush. can't help it. l don't care.

I'm glad l came. I'm glad was the
one to find him and help him. No
matter what happens-to me-Im
glad. never was so glad before. l
love him, Aunt Kezlah. l can say 1t
to you, for you know it-you must
know 1t. love him and he needed
me and l came. He was calling my
name when found him. He might
have died there, alone in the wet and
cold, and l saved him. Think what
that means to me-"
The door opened softly and DR.. Par
ker came out.
Hes asleep" he said. And he's
better, much better. And I'll tell you
something else, If you won't make too
much noise about it-he hasn't got the
smallpox. He is pretty close to brain
fever, though, but guess he'll dodge
that this time, with care. On the
whole, Keziah, I'm glad you came.
This young lady" with a movement Of
the head toward Grace. has done her
part. She reallyesaved his life, II I'm
not mistaken. Now, think she can
go away and leave him to you and me.
I'll pretty nearly guarantee to have
him up and out of this-this pesthole
in fortnight"
Here was joyful tidings, the better
for being 30 unexpected. Keziah
leaned against the boards and drew a
long breath. Grace said nothing. but,
after a moment, she went into the
house.
That's a good thing, too" COM
mented Parker, watching her az she
went. II wanted to talk with you, Ke-
ziah Coffin, and right away. Now. then,
there's something up, something that
l don't know about, and l rather guess
you do. Young women-even when
they're her kind and that's as good
kind as there is-don't risk smallpox
for any young man they pick up cas-
ually."
Keziah considered. "All right, doc
tor" she said. when she reached de-
cision, "all right; I'll tell you the
whole thing
She went on to tell all she knew of
her parsons love story
DR.. Parker listened.
"Hum!" he said thoughtfully, Il see.
What made her change her mind SO
suddenly? You say, or you gather
from what Mr.. Ellery told you. that
she had all but agreed to marry him.
She cares for him, that's sure. Then,
all at once, she throws him over and
accepts Nat OF course her uncle's
sudden seizure was a shock and he.
wanted Nat to have her, but she isn't
the kind of girl to be easily swayed.
But never mind that, that doesn't
count now. Let's look at things as
they are this minute. She's here and
folks know it. AS they do know 1t
they'll begin to talk, and the more
they talk the farther from the truth
they'll get-most Of 'em. Nat, poor
chap. is dead, SO her promise to him
is cancelled. Ellery will get well If
he isn't troubled II she leaves him
he'll go to pieces again, SO she mustn't
leave. And she can't stay without an
explanation. say let's give the exs
planation; let's come right out with
the announcement that they're en-
gagged"
But she's a Come-Outer and
there's the church.
We'll, know 1t. But he never was
SO popular as he is now. And she
isn't by any means a steady-goirfg
Come-Outer. Why, Zeke Bassett and
the rest have been finding fault with
her and calling her backslider.
That'll help. Then you trust me to
whoop up her heroism and the fact
that without her he would have died.
Mo do ~ Kn1foh Couno T'vo
tackled a good many jobs. but match
making isn't one Of 'em. Here goes
to tackle that"
Keziah was delighted; here was
work after her own heart. But she
still hesitated.
Doctor" she said, you've forgot
one thing, that's Oracle herself. Would
she marry. him now. knowing 1t may
mean the loss of his ministry and all,
any more than she would at first? l
don't believe It,"
That's your part, Keziah. You've
got to show her she must marry him
or he'll die; see?"
Keziah's hesitation was at an end.
Her face lit up.
II say good!" she cried. And now
want to give you piece Of advice.
your course for the first leg. as you
might say: you see Capn Zebedee
Mayo"
"Humph! Cap'n Zeb is the first
man l mean to see."
Captain Zeb listened with his mouth
and eyes and ears open. Mrs. Mayo
was with him when the doctor called,
and she, too. listened
WE'LL" exclaimed the captain,
when the plea for support was ended
We'll. by the fiukes of Jonah's whale!
Talk sbout surprises. Old lady. what
do you say?"
Il say go ahead, Zebedee. Go
ahead! II Mr.. Ellery wanted to mar