The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-05-01


up to her own room. Standing before
the olG-fashioned bureau with its little
oval mirror, she hastily arranged her
halr She did not wish to go to
prayer meeting at the chapel, but she
felt that she must The Come-Outer
gatherings, with their noisy singing
| and shouting, had grown more and
more repugnant to her.
She blew out the candle and came
out into the hall at the head of the
stairs. She was about to descend when
she heard voices. The door of the din
ing room opened and closed. She felt
certain that Nat had returned and
wondered who was with him. Then
she heard her uncle's voice, speaking
sharply and with unwonted sternness.
Il don't know what it's you want to
see about" said Captain Eben. "You
say it's important; well, it's got to be
70 keep me from my meetin'. | ought
to be on the Lords business this
minute and nothin' worldly's goin' to
keep me from servin Him. So speak
quick. What is it?"
The voice that answered was one
that Grace recognized, though she had
never before heard in 1t the note of
agitation and undignified excitement.
There were no ponderous pauses and
"Hum-has" now.
Don't be a fool, Hamm ond!" it said.
"And don't stand there preaching.
7 oh hat - ANA
you sure there's nobody bit us in the
house?"
Captain Elkanah Daniels! Captain
Elkanah visiting a Come-Outer! and
the leader of the Come-Outers!
Grace caught her breath. What in
the world She started to descend
and then a thought flashed to her
mind. She stopped short.
81 amt the fool, Elkanah," she
heard her uncle retort sternly. THE
fools are them who are def to the
call from on high. My foot was on the
threshold of His house when you led
me astray. It's never halted there
afore. l warn you"
"Stop! Shut up! Eben Hammond,
I tell you that your precious church
yes and mine, the Regular church of
Trumet-will go to rack and ruin if
you and me don't pull together this
night"
And l tell you. Elkaaah Daniels,
I'll have no blasphemy here. That lit
tie sanctuary up the road is founded
on a rock and neither you nor any
of your Phariseen' priest-worshipin'
protect His own. AS for the Reg'la
church, that's no concern of mine"
''But I tell you tie your concern.
Or if the church isn't, your own fam
lily is
There was an instant of silence.
Grace, crouching on the stairs. noticed
the change in her uncle's voice as he
answered
my own family?" he repeated slow
ly. MY own And the Reg'lar
church. What do you mean? Has
Nat"
mo, he amt. But that cussed girl
of yours"
"Stop!" shouted Captain Hammond.
"Elkanah Daniels, for your own sake
now, be careful. If you dast to say
word, another word like that, I'LL"
eff l dast! The hussy! But there's
no use talkin' to you. You're as crazy
as Bedlamite. Either that, or you're
in the game with her. If you are,
warn you"
stop! What game? What game
do you mean? Oracle! My Oracle!
What is it? For mercy sakes, FL
kanah--"
"Humph! l wondered if I couldn't
get some sense into you. finally. Lock
that door!"
Il will! I will! But Elkanah-"
Lock it! Give me the key!"
The click Of the lock sounded
sharply.
Where's the lamp" demanded Dan
iels. And the matches? Don't stand
there shaking"
A smell Of sulphur 1oated 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 there amt. l 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 I 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. I will"
LET go, you lunatic! You'll kill
yourself. Listen! I'm not lying. It's
the truth. She's. met a man, I tell
you. Been meeting him for months,
| 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
up! Good Lord! are you dying? Hold
up"
The girl on the stairs sprang to her
feet. Her head was Keeling and she
could scarcely stand. but she bHndly
began the descent. She must go to
her uncle She must. But Captain
Daniels's voice caused her to halt
once more.
There! there!" it said in a tone