The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-02-08

she held 1t smut.
No" she said gravely, you mustn't
go. John-you won't mind me calm
you John. I'm old enough, pretty nigh,
to be your mother, and I've come TO
feel almost as If was. John, you've
got to stay here with me. You can't
20 to that house. You can't go TO
her"
Mrs. Coffin, what are you saying?
Do you know Have you"
Yes, | know all about it. ! know
about the meetin's in the pines and
all. Oh, why didn't you trust me and
tell me? If you had, all would have
been so much better!"
He looked at her in utter amaze
ment. The blood rushed to his face.
You know that?" he whispered.
Yes, / know"
Did she tell"
mo, nobody told. That is. only
little. | got a hint and l suspicioned
somethin' afore. The rest l saw with
my own eyes"
He was now white, but his jaw shot
forward and his teeth closed.
IF you do know" he said. you
must realize that my place is with
her. Now, when she is in trouble"
1T amt the congregation, john"
she said Nor Trumet, nor your min
istry That means more'n you think
II does, now; but it amt that. You
10 hnr ha-
cause she don't want you to-"
Doesn't want me? know better"
He laughed in supreme scorn.
"She doesn't want you, John. She
wouldn't see you If you went She
would send you away again. sure, sar-
didn't go when she sent you, you
wouldn't be the man / hope you are.
John, you mustn't see Grace again.
She amt yours. She belongs to some
one else.
John, Grace Van Horne is goin' to
marry Cap'n Nat Hammond. There!
that's the livin' truth"
She led him over to the rocking
chair and gently forced him into it. He
obeyed, although with no apparent
realization Of what he was doing. Still
with her hand on his shoulder she
went on speaking. She told him of
her visit to the Hammond tavern, say
ing nothing Of Mr.. Peppers call nor
of her own experience in the grove.
She told Of Captain Eben's seizure, Of
what the doctor said, and Of the old
Come-Outer's return to consciousness.
Then she described the scene in the
sick room and how Nat and Grace had
plighted troth. He listened, at first
stunned and stolid. then with grow.
ing impotence.
so you see," she said. Its settled;
they're engaged. and DR.. Parker will
tell everybody Of the engagement this
very morLin'. 1t want any great sur
prise to me. Those who have been
brought up together; twas the natu-
raj thing that was almost bound to
happen. Eben's heart was set on 1t
for years. And she'll have a good
husband, John, that know. And she'll
do her best to make him happy. He's
a good man and"
But l know"
do you suppose she would come
to you II she knew 1t would be your
ruin?" .s
He hesitated. The last time they
met, ages before-no, only the previ-
GUS afternoon-she had told him 1t
was his happiness and his future only
that she thought of. He choked and
drew his hand across his eyes.
Mrs. Coffin" he said, you tell me
1t will be her ruin. You tell me SO.
You say she doesn't want me. / tell
you that the only thing that will keep
me from her is hearing that from her
own lips. When she tells me to leave
her will, and not before"
She'll tell you, John; she'll tell you.
And know Grace. She's made up her
mind and won't change 1t. But / do
ask you this: l ask you not to go now.
Wait little while, do. left her
asleep. worn out by what she's been
through and under the effects of the
doctors sleepin' medicine. He said
she must rest or he was afraid her
brain would give out. For her sake,
then, wait little. Then, II you don't
hear from her, maybe can arrange a
meetin' place where you can see her
without anyone's KNOWN 1t. I'll try.
But do wait a little while, for her
sake, won't you?"
At last he was listening and hest.
tating.
Wont your begged Kezian.
YES" he answered slowly. I'll
wait. I'll wait until noon, somehow, II
can. I'll try. But not a minute
later. Not one. You don't know VIVA,
you're talking about, Mrs. Coffin"
Yes. l do. know well. And
thank you for her sake"
But he did not have to wait until
noon. At six o'clock, through the dew
soaked grass of the yard, came the
Higgins boy. For the first time in his
short life he had been awake all night
and he moved slowly.
The housekeeper opened the door
Ike held up an envelope, clutched in q
gr!my hand.
It's for you, Mrs. Keziah," he said
Oracle she sent 1t. There amt nc
answer"
Mrs. Coffin closed the door and tore
open the envelope. Within was an
other addressed, in Grace's handwrit
ing, to Mr.. Ellery. The housekeepel
entered the study, handed it to hin
and turned away.