Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-02-21
CHAPTER X.
IN Which Captain Eben Receives
q Caller.

ba Which Captain Eben Receives
q Caller.
AZ the edge Of the bluff, Just where
he pines and the bayberry bushes
we're thickest, where the narrow,
invoked little footpath dipped over the
Use and down to the pasture land and
the salt meadow, John Ellery and
Grace had halted in their walk. The
ministers face was pale, but set and
Determined, and he was speaking rap
Idly.
Il can't help It," he said. II can't
help It. have made up my mind and
nothing can change 1t, nothing but
you. It rests with you. If you say
yes, then nothing else matters. VIII
Hou say it?"
He was holding both her hands now.
and though she tried to withdraw
them, he would not let her.
VIII your" he pleaded.
Il can't" she answered brokenly. 81
SAINT Think Of your church and Of
your people. What would they say
f."
II don't care what they say"
She shook her head.
Some of them might respect you, "
she said. "They would say you had
been led into this by me and were not
90 much to blame. But u"
They shall respect my wife," he in.
terrupted, swapping HIS teeth together,
For I'll know the reason why"
Il can'ti can't My uncle"
''Your uncle shall hear 1t from me.
Wen go to him together. I'll tell him
myself. He worships you"
"Yes, know. He does worship me
That's why am sure he had rather
see me dead than married to you, a
Regular. and Regular minister.
1mow-I know he would never con
sent. His heart is set on something
else. Mat"
"Natf Are you considering him
toof Is he to stand between u.s.
What right has he to say
"Hushl hushi He hasn't said any
thing. But-but he and uncle have
Quarreled, Just a little. I didn't tel
you, but they have. And l think
know the reason. Nat is Uncle Eben's
idol. II the quarrel should grow more
serious, l believe It would break his
heart. couldn't bear to be the cause
Of that; / should never forgive my
self"
you the cause? How could you
be the cause Of a quarrel between
those two? Grace. think of me-"
"John." she said, at is of you l an
thinking. Everything else could =
might be overcome, perhaps. But
must think Of your future and YOU
life. must. That Is why"
He did not wait to hear more. He
seized her In his arms and kissed her
Then you do care!" he cried Joy
fully. you win marry met"
For an instant she lay quiet In his
embrace, receiving, IL not responding
to his caresses. Then she gently but
firmly freed herself. He saw thai
there were tears in her eyes.
IL DON'T know" she sobbed. "Oh
I don't know! l must think--I must
Wait, please wait. John. Perhaps by
tomorrow l can answer. I'll try-I1l
Try. Don't ask me again, now. Let
me think. Oh, dol"
She started down the path. He hes
itated, then ran after her.
Tomorrow" he questioned eager
~. Tomorrow, then, you'll say that
you willY"
"oh, perhaps, perhapsl I musn't
promise. Good night"
II was after seven when Grac<
reached the old tavern. The house
keeper, Mrs. Poundberry, was anxious
" awaiting her. She wore her bonnet
and Sunday gown and was evidently
ready to go.
"Supper's on the table and the kit
ties abilin'. You better eat IN q
hurry, cause it's meetin' time now
Your uncle, he started ten minutes
ago. I'm agoin' right along, too, but
amt goin' to meetin'; I'm agoin' NJ
to Betsy Els to stay all night. She's
got q spine in her back, as the Teller
said, and amt feelin' good, so I told
her I'd come and stay a little spell
Your Uncle Eben's mighty feeble and
peaked lately. He amt long for this
world, I'm afraid. You ought to be
awful good to him, Oracle"
Il know IT," was the hurried reply
where's Nat7"
Il don't know. Can't keep track OF
him. Nights well try to put your I'm.
ger on flea. He's here to-day and
gone yesterday, as the Scriptur' says,
He ate little mite Of supper, but not
much, and then on he puts"
She reached the gate by this time,