The Delta independent., 1913-02-21
"Humph! l wondered if | COULDN'T

Lock it, Give me the key!"
The click of the lock sounded
sharply.
Where's the lamp?" demanded Dan.
lels. And the matches? Don't stand
there shaking"
A smell of sulphur foated out into
the hall. Then the sickly glow of the
fluid" lamp shone through the door
way.
What ails you?" asked Elkanah
Are you struck dumb? Now go and
see if there's anybody else in the
house"
"But-but thee amt. ! know there
amt. Hannah's gone and Gracie's at
meetin' by this time"
"She? Humph, Well, maybe she's
at meetin' and maybe she isn't. May.
be she's over in Peters's pines, hug
ging and kissing that man she's met
there every Sunday for l don't know
how long Here! let go, you old
fool! Let go, tell you!"
You liar!" snarled Captain Eben.
You low-lived liar! By the Almighty.
Elkanah Daniels! I'll You take that
back or I'll choke the everlastin'
soul out of you. ! will"
Let go, you lunatic! You'll kill
yourself. Listen! I'm not lying. It's
the truth. She's met a man, l tell
you. Been meeting him for months,
l guess. There! now will you listen!
His names John Ellery, and he's
minister of the Regular church in this
town; that's who he is! Here! hold
upi Good Lordi are you dying? Hold
up!"
The girl on the stairs sprang to her
feet. Her head was reeling and she
could scarcely stand, but she blindly
began the descent SIZE must go to
her uncle. She must. But Captain
| Daniels's voice caused her to halt
once more.
There! there!" it said in tone
Of relief. That's better. Set still
now. Be quiet, that's it. Shall get
some water?"
mo, no! let me be. Just let me be.
I amt what I used to be and this
I'm all right. tell you. Grace! And
and What was it you Just said
, IL don't b'lieve heard 1t right"
II said that daughter Of yours. or
niece. or whatever she is. this Grace
Van Horne, has been meeting young
Ellery, our minister, in Peters's grove.
Been meeting him and walking with
him, and kissing him. She's met him
in those pines every Sunday afternoon
for long time. She was seen there
with him this afternoon"
"Who-who saw herr"
Never mind. The one that did1l
never tell-unless it's necessary They
are fixing to be married, and"
Married! She marry Reg'lar
minister! Oh"
flush! Listen! They amt married
yet. We can stop 'em, you and /. II
we get right to work. 1t isn't too late.
VIII you help?"
"Will IL Go on! tell me more!"
I'VE can stop 'em. I know 1t would
be a good catch for her, the sneaking,
Designing Well, never mind. But ii
can't be. 1t shan't be. You've got to
tell her 80, Hammond. We folks OF
the Regular church have pride in our
society; we won't have 1t disgraced
And we have been proud of our minis
! ter, the young, rattle-headed fool!
Well save him If we can. If we
can't'-the speakers teeth grated
then we'll send him to eternal
smash or die trying"
"But I can't believe it's true. It's 6
} mistake; some other girl and moi
J Oracle. Why, she don't even know
him. She wouldn't But she hai
been out every Sunday afternoon fol
weeks. If it should bel"
The chair creaked. Evidently, Cap
tain Eben was rising slowly to hi'
: feet.
"Well?" repeated Elkanah.
"Elkanah Daniels" said Eben slow
8 ly, his voice shaking from nervous ex
haustion and weakness, but with a fin
!, ring of determination in every word
: Elkanah Daniels, you listen u
l me. I've heard you through.
your yarn is true, then my heart i
! broke, and I wish I might have die
i afore / heard it, But / didn't die an
r have heard 1t. Now listen to me-
love that girl of mine better'n tn
|. whole wide world and yet I'd ruthe
i see her dead afore me than marie
to a Reg'lar minister. Disgrace t
;. him! Disgrace to your miserabl
d church! What ebout the disgrace t
9 mine? And the disgrace to her? Rui
to your minister! Ruin to my gil
V' here and hereafter is what I'm thinl
II in of; that and my people who wo
e ship God with me. I'll talk to Grace
III talk to her. But not of what
RI happen to him or you-or any of you
cantin', lip-servin' crew. I'll tell he
TO choose between him and me. An
e II she chooses him. I'll send her oil
q Of that door. I'll do my duty and rea
her out of my congregation. And /
know she's gone to everlastin' hel
y and that's worse'n the poorhous
e That's all tonight, Elkanah. Now yo
better CO."
The lock turned: the door opene