Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-01-04

Did. heyf That's Trumet, sure
pop You ain't the only one ]
sneaked on acrost lots SOS to dodge
the gang of neighbcrs that ] knew
would be sailin' into. our yard. the
whole feet loaded to the gunwale with
questions Wanted to see you first.
Keziah-"
Mrs. Coffin pulled forward one of
the kitchen chairs. He seated himself
on 1t and it groaned under his
weight.
''whew!" he whistled. Never made
to stand rough weather, was 1T? Well,
amt you glad?"
Keziah looked at him gravely.
You know I'm glad. Nat" she said.
so? 1 hoped you would be. but l
did want to hear you say it. Now you
come to anchor yourself and let's
have a talk. I've been countin' on it
ever since We set tops'ls of Surinam-"
The housekeeper took the other
chair.
81 beg your pardon. Keziah,' he
said. I'm a dough head, that's a fact.
I hadn't forgot about Sol, but / was so
glad to be home again and to see dad
and Grace and the old town and you
that everything else few out of my
mind. Poor Sol! 1 liked him.
He liked you, too. No wonder. con-
siderin' what you did to"
'.BelayI Never mind that Poor
chap, Well, he's rid of his sufferin's
at last Tell me about 1t, if you can
without bringin' all the trouble back
too plain
So she told him of her brothers
sickness and death, of having to give
up the old home, and, finally, of her
acceptance of the housekeeper's posi-
ton He listened, at first with SYM
pathy and then with suppressed indig
nation
by the jumpin' Mosesi" he ex-
claimed And Elkanah was goin' to
turn you out of house and home. The
mean, pompous old"
"Hushl hush. he's in there with Mr..
Ellery"
Who? Elkanah?"
Yes; they're in the study
$50 he's talkin' to the new parson.
hey? Bossin' him, too, I'll bet
i amt SO sure. Mr.. Ellery's young,
but he's got a mind of his own
Captain Hammond chuckled and
slapped his knee.
"Ho. ho!" he laughed. I've been
hearin' somethin' about that mind
Went to the chapel last night, / under
stand, and he and dad had set-to. Oh.
l heard about 1t, Wish ! might have
been there
How does your father act about
it,"
Bout the way a red-hot stove acts
when you spill water on it; every time
he thinks of the minister he sizzles.
Ho, hol I do wish could have been
there"
What does Grace say?"
ooh, she doesn't say much ]
wouldn't wonder if she felt the way
] do, though we both keep quiet. I'll
tell you. between ourselves and the
ships pump. that ] sort of glory in
the young chaps spunk-"
"Goodi So do l. ] like him"
Her friend leaned forward.
"KeZiah," he said earnestly. there's
no sense in your slavin' yourself to
death here. ] can think of a good deal
pleasanter berth than that Pleasant
er for me, anyhow, and I'd do my best
to make it pleasant for you. You've
only got to say the word and No?
Well, then all ! can do is hope through
another voyage"
please don't, Nat. You know"
mo. I don't know
well, perhaps you don't L But
know. like you, Nat. ! count on you
as the straightest, truest friend I've
got; and ] want to keep on countin'
on you just that way. Maynt II"
"'Course you can, Keziah. But"
"Then don't say another word.
please
"Keziah. when you set your foot
down you're pretty stubborn; but I've
got somethin' of a foot myself. You re-
member you said so a few minutes
ago. Hi. hum! Well. speakin' of dad
reminds me that I'm kind of worried
about him" I.
You are? Why? Isn't he well?"
he gets too excited over things like
last nights foolishness. Grace tells
me that the doctor says he must be
careful or he'll drop off some of these
days. He had a shock five or six years
ago, little one, and I've been anxious
about him ever since"
You mustn't worry. How did Grace
look to your"
Like the harbor light on a stormy
night. She's a brick, that girl, and
gets prettier every minute Wonder
to me some of the young chaps down
here don't carry her on by main
strength She'll make somebody
good wife,,
"Um-hm. Have-have you ever
thought of her that way yourself?"
"Keziah, that's enough of that Are
<5,<1 1T