The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1913-01-24
CHAPTER X.
, Which Captain Eben Receives
Caller.

Caller.
At the edge of the bluff, just where
the pines and the bayberry bushes
were thickest, where the narrow.
crooked little footpath dipped over the
rise and down to the pasture land and
the salt meadow, John Ellery and
Grace had halted in their walk. The
minister's face was pale, but set and
determined, and he was speaking rap
idly.
Il can't help it," he said. 81 can't
help 1t. l have made up my mind and
nothing can change it, nothing but
you. 1t rests with you. If you say
yes, then nothing else matters. Will
yeu say it?"
He was holding both her hands now.
and though she tried to withdraw
them, he would not let her.
will you?" he pleaded.
II can't" she answered brokenly. 81
cant Think Of your church and of
your people What would they say
If"
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
so much to blame. But i"
"They shall respect my wife," he in
terrupted. swapping his teeth together,
"or I'll know the reason why"
81 can't! l can't! My uncle
"Your uncle shall hear it from me.
Well go to him together. I'll tell him
myself. He worships you"
Yes, l know. He does worship me.
That's why l am sure he had rather
see me dead than married to you,
Regular and Regular minister. l
know know he would never con-
sent His heart is set on something
else Nat"
NAT? Are you considering him.
too? Is he to stand between us?
What right has he to say
Hush! hush! He hasn't said any
thing. But-but he and uncle have
quarreled, just little. didn't tell
you, but they have. And l think
know the reason. Nat is Uncle Eben's
Idol. II the quarrel should grow more
serious, believe 1t would break his
heart. l couldn't bear to be the cause
Of that; should never forgive my
self"
"you the cause? How could you
be the cause of quarrel between
those two? Grace, think of me-"
John" she said, at is of you I am
thinking Everything else could =
might be overcome, perhaps. But
must think of your future and your
life. l 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 will marry me?"
For an instant she lay quiet in his
embrace, receiving, if not responding
to his caresses. Then she gently but
firmly freed herself. He saw that
there were tears in her eyes.
81 don't know" she sobbed. ooh,
/ don't know! l must Think must!
Wait, please wait, John. Perhaps by
tomorrow | can answer. I'll try--Ill
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
ly. Tomorrow, then, you'll say that
you will?"
ooh, perhaps, perhaps! l mustn't
promise. Good night"
1t was after seven when Grace
reached the old tavern. The house
keeper, Mrs. Poundberry, was anxious
ly 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 a
hurry, cause It's meetin' time now
Your uncle, he started ten minutes
ago. I'm agoin' right along, too, but
l amt goin' to meetin'; I'm agoin up
to Betsy Els to stay all night. She's
got a spine in her back, as the Teller
said, and amt feelin' good, SO 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 Nat?"
Il don't know. Can't keep track of
him. Nights well try to put your fin
ger on a flea. He's here to-day and
gone yesterday, as the Scriptur' says.
He ate little mite Of supper, but not
saucn, and then of he puts"
She reached the gate by this time,