The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1913-01-17

was you thlnkln' OF goln Z
Mr.. Ellery had no particular desti
nation in mind. He would like to sex
something Of the village and, perhaps
IL she could give him the names of {
few of his parishioners, he NIGH
make few calls. Keziah shook hel
head.
Gracious goodness!" she exclaimed
II wouldn't advise you to do that
You amt been here long enough Il
make forenoon calls. If you should
catch some Of the women in this town
with aprons and calico on, they'd
never forgive you in this world. Wait
till afternoon; they'll be expectin' you
then and they'll be rugged out in theiI
best bibs and fuckers. S'pose you
found Annabel Daniels with her hair
done up in curl papers; what do you
think would happen? Mornin's are nc
time for ministers calls. Even old
Mr.. Langley never made calls in the
forenoon-and he'd been here thirty.
odd years"
"All right, you know best. Much
obliged for the advice. Then I'll sim
ply take my walk and leave the calls
until later"
I'D be back by ten, though. Folks1l
begin calm on you by that time"
When. promptly at ten o'clock, the
minister returned from his walk, he
found Mrs. Rogers waiting in the sit
ting room. 1t is prime qualification
OF an alert reporter to be first on the
scene of sensation. Didama was sell
dom beaten. Mr.. Ellery's catechism
began. Before it was over Keziah
opened the door to admit Miss Pepper
and her brother. Ryan" was nervous
and embarrassed in the housekeepers
presence. Lavinia was a glacier, NOV
ing majestically and freezing as it
moved. Keziah. however, was not
even touched by the frost; she greet.
ed the pair cordially, and begged them
to take off their things"
1t was dinner time before the cate
chizers departed. The catechized came
to the table with an impaired appe-
tite. He looked troubled.
Don't let 1t worry you. Mr.. Ellery,"
observed Keziah calmly. II think |
can satisfy you. Honest and true,
amt half as, bad as you might think !"
The minister looked more troubled
than before; also surprised.
why, Mrs. Coffin" he cried. Gould
you hear"
Man alive! I'm not worried Why
should you be? We were talkin' about
trust just now-or l was. Well, you
and I'll have to take. each other on
trust for while, until we see whether
we're goin' to suit. If you see any
thing that I'm goin' wrong in, ] wish
you'd tell me. And I'll do the same
by you, IL that's agreeable. You'll hear
a lot Of things said about me, but IL
they're very bad give you my word
they amt true. And. to be real frank,
I'll probably hear some about you,
which I'll take for what they're worth
and considerin' who said iem. That's
A good, wholesome agreement, think,
Tor both of US. What do you think?"
John Ellery said, with emphasis
hat he thought we'll of it. He began
20 realize that this woman, With her
blunt common sense, was likely to be
1 pilot worth having in the difficult
waters which he must navigate as
skipper of the Regular church in Tru
net. Also, he began to realize that,
Is such a skipper, he was most in
And Captain Daniels
lad spok EN- highly-condesce
,ut highly+of his fiousekeepers quail
ications and personality. So, athe
lgreement was ratified, with relief on
lis part.
The first Sunday came and with 1t
he first sermon. He read that sermon |
o Keziah on Saturday evening and
he approved of it as a whole, though |
he criticised some of It's details.
The service began at eleven o'clock.
Outside the spring breeze stirred the |
budding silver-leafs, the distant break
rs grumbled, the crows in the pines |
Iear Captain Eben Hammonds tavern
awed ribald answers to the scream
ng gulls perched along the top OF the
reakwater. And seated on one Of
he hard benches of the little Come
outer chapel, Grace Van Horne heard
er Uncle Eben." who, as usual, was
onducting the meeting, speak Of
them who, in purple and fine linen,
With organs and trumpets and vain
hows, are gathered elsewhere in this
ommunity to hear a hired priest
make mock Of the gospel" tA-menD
But John Ellery, the hired priest"
new nothing of this. He did know.
owever, that he was the center Of
interest for his own congregation, the
eople among whom he had been
allied to labor. Their praise or criti-,
ism meant everything to him; there
ore he preached for dear life.
The sermon was success.
On Monday afternoon the minister
1ade few calls. Keziah made out
short list for him to follow. sort
( chart of the main channel" she
allied it. with the safe ports marked
nd the shoals and risky places la.
eled dangerous"
"You see." she said. "Trumet amt
course you can navigate with your
W. 1s.vfdo |