Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-01-17

what came to tell you. 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
a hard thing to say, that perhaps ]
ought to apologize, too. I'm afraid i
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
You haven't one and you'll be wet
through"
She pushed the umbrella aside.
mo, no." she answered. 81 don't
need it; I'm used to wet weather;
truly / am. And / don't care for this
hat; it's an old one. You have a long
way to go and l haven't. Please, Mr.
Ellery, can't take It,"
Very WELL" was the sternly 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
Il for him. But she was silent, merely
removing her hand from the handle.
She took a 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? l beg your pardon. OF course
| wouldn't think Of going another step
with you. l didn't mean to trouble
you. l only If you VIII please take
this umbrella"
Again he tried to transfer the UNI
brella and again she pushed it away.
Tin not crying" she gasped /;
''but-oh. dear! this is so funnyl"
"Funny!" he repeated. well, per
haps it is. Our ideas Of fun seem to
differ. i"
"Oh, but it is so funny. You don't
understand. What do you think your
congregation would say IL they knew
you had been to a Come-Outers' meet
ing and then insisted on seeing q
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 damsel in
distress.
Possibly your Uncle Eben might be
somewhat-er-surprised IL he knew
you were with me. Perhaps he might
have something to say on the sub
ject."
Il guess he would. We shall know
very soon. / ran away and left him
with Mrs. Poundberry, our housekeep
er. He doesn't know where I am.
wonder he hasn't turned back to look
for me before this. we shall probably
meet him at any moment"
Fifty yards away the lighted win
dows of the Hammond tavern cleaned
yellow. Farther on, over a ragged
moving fringe of grass and weeds, was
black, fiat expanse-the bay. And q
little way out upon hat expanss
twinkled the lights II . vessel A
chain ratified. Voices shouting exult
ingly came to their ears.
Why" exclaimed Grace in excited
wonder, ITS the packet! She wai
due this morning, but we didn't expect
her in till tomorrow. How did she
find her way in the fog? must tel
uncle"
She started to run toward the house
The minister would have followed
with the umbrella. but she stopped
him.
mo, Mr.. Ellery," she urged earnest
ly. mo, please don't. I'm all right
now. Thank you. Good night"
A few steps farther on she turned
81 hope Cap'n Elkanah won't know,
she whispered, the laugh returning tC
her voice. Good night"
CTO BE CONTINUED)