The Delta independent., 1913-01-17

| of that curious company. When he
rose to speak he had seen her in the
| front row, beside the thin, middle-aged
! female who had entered the chapel
with Captain Hammond and with her.
She was looking at him intently. The
lamp over the speakers table had
shone full on her face and the picture
remained in his memory. He saw her
eyes and the wavy shadows of her
hair on her forehead
He had taken but a few steps when
there was a rustic in the wet grass
behind him.
"Mr. Ellery," whispered a voice
"Mr. Ellery, may / speak to you Just
, a moment?"
He wheeled in surprise.
Why! why, Miss Van Hornet" he
exclaimed. rs it you?"
Il felt" she said, that / must see
you and-explain. / am SO sorry you
came here tonight. Oh, wish you
hadn't. What made you do it?"
'T came" began Ellery, somewhat
stiffly, because I-well, because
thought it might be a good thing to
do"
There was bitterness in his tone,
unmistakable. And a little laugh from
his companion did not tend to soothe
his feelings.
is funny. / did not find it so. Good
evening"
The girl detained him as he was
turning away.
Il came after you" went on Grace
rapidly and with nervous haste. "be
cause l felt that you ought not TO mis-.
judge my uncle for what he said to-
night. He wouldn't have hurt your
feelings for the world. He is a good
man and does good to everybody. II
you only knew the good he does do
you wouldn't-you wouldn't dare think
hardly of him.
I'm not judging your uncle he de
clared. ut seemed to me that the
boot was on the other leg"
Il know, but you do Judge him, and
you mustn't. You see, he thought you
had come to make fun of him-and us
Some of the Regular people do, people
who aren't fit to tie his shoes And
SO he spoke against you. He'll be
sorry when he thinks it over. That's
what l came to tell you. I ask your
pardon for-for him"
She turned away now. and it was
the minister who detained her.
I've been thinking" he said slowly.
for in his present state of mind it was
hard thing to say, that perhaps /
ought to apologize, too. I'm afraid /
did disturb your service and I'm sorry.
/ meant well, but What's that?
Rain?"
There was no doubt about it; it was
rain and plenty of it. 1t came in
swooping downpour that beat upon the
trees and bushes and roared upon the
roof of the chapel. The minister hur-
riedly raised his umbrella.
"Here,' he commanded, you must
take the umbrella. Really, you must
through"
She pushed the umbrella aside.
/ No, no." she answered. 81 don't
need it; I'm used to wet weather;
truly am. And l don't care for tbs
hat; it's an old one. You have long
way to go and ! haven't. Please, Mr..
Ellery, / can't take it."
Very WELL" was the sternIy self
sacrificing reply, then / shall certain
ly go with you as far as the gate. I'm
sorry, if my company is distasteful,
but"
He did not finish the sentence, think.
ing, it may be, that she might finish
1t for him. But she was silent, merely
removing her hand from the handle.
She took step forward; he followed,
holding the umbrella over her head.
They FLASHED on, without speaking,
through the rapidly forming puddles.
Presently she stumbled and he
caught her arm to prevent her falling.
To his surprise he felt that arm shake
in his grasp.
why. Miss Van Hornet" he ex.
claimed in great concern. ARE you
crying? ! beg your pardon. or course
! wouldn't think of going another step
with you. ! didn't mean to trouble
you. / only If you will please take
this umbrella"
Again he tried to transfer the UNI.
brella and again she pushed 1t away.
lin not crying" she gasped !;
"but-oh. dear! this is so funny"
FUNNY" he repeated. "Well, per.
haps It is. Our ideas of fun seem to
differ. /"
"oh. but 1t is so funny. You don't
understand. What do you think your
congregation would say If they knew
you had been to Come Cutters meet
Ing and then insisted on seeing a
Come-Outer girl homer"
John Ellery swallowed hard. A vi
sion OF Captain Elkanah Daniels and
the stately Miss Annabel rose before
his minds eye. He hadn't thought of
his congregation in connection with
this impromptu rescue Of a damsel in
distress.
Possibly your Uncle Eben might be
omewhat-er-surpris II he knew