Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-04-25
SYNOPSIS.

Mrs. Reziah Coffin, supposed widow. Is
arranging to move from Trumet to J Os.
ton. following the death of her brother
Tor whom she had kept house. Ryan
Pepper, widower, offers marriage, and IS
Indignantly refused. Capt. Elkanah Dan
lels, leader Of the Regular church. offers
keziah place as house..eeper for the
new minister. and she decides to remain
IN Trumet Keziah takes charge OF Rev.
John Ellery. the new minister. and gives
MIN advice as to his conduct toward
members OF the parish. Ellery causes a
sensation by attending a "Come-outer
meeting. Ellery's presence Is bitterly re-
scented by Eben Hammond, leader OF the
meeting. Grace apologies for her
guardian and Ellery escorts her home In
the rain. Capt. Nat Hammond. Eben's
son, becomes a hero by bringing the
PACKET into port safely through fog and
storm Ellery finds Keziah writing let
ter to some one, inclosing money in re-
spouse TO demand. She is curiously
startled when informed OF the arrival of
Nat Nat calls on Keziah, and 1t devel-
ops that they have been lovers since
youth. Daniels demonstrates with Ellery
Tor attending "Come-outer' meeting. Ell
iery Is caught by the tide and is rescued
py NAT They become friends, Ellery
meets Grace while walking in the fields,
and learns that she walks there every
Sunday. The clergyman takes dinner
sundays with the Daniels Annabel, the
captains daughter. exerts herself to
make an impression on him. She no
tees with vexation his desire to get away
every Sunday at a certain time. She
watches him through spy glass Nat
again importunes Keziah TO marry him.
he says he has had a quarrel with his
father, who wants him to marry Grace.
ELery asks Grace to marry him. She
confesses that she loves him, but says
she fears to displease her guardian. Ell
kanah Daniels tells Eben about the meet
lhgs between Ellery and Grace. Eben
declares he will make Grace choose be-
tween him and the preacher. Grace finds
him In n faint fOllOuinR the aNcifpmRnf
OF lslkanah's visit. Just before he dies
Eben exacts a promise from Nat and
Grace that they will marry. Keziah
breaks the news to Ellery and later he
received note from Grace saying she Is
20 marry Nat, and asking him not to try
10 see her again. Keziah tells the story
OF her own marriage with a man who
turned out to be a good-for-nothihg, and
who was reported to have been lost at
sea, and of her love for Nat, whom she
cannot marry because the husband is
be gone two years. He says he and
Grace have decided not TO marry until
he returns. Nat Is overdue. and II is
feared that he has been lost at sea;
keziah gets a letter from her husband
saying he is coming back. Grace goes on
q visit to relatives Of the Hammonds.
vessel flying distress signals is discovered
board the vessel man is found suf-
fering from smallpox, the rest Of the
crew having deserted He Is taken to an
toanuoneu snack on shore ana Enery
helps nurse him. Before he dies II is dis
covered that he Is Keziah's husband. Ell
tery. left alone In quarantine, Is found
wandering in a delirious condition by
Grace. She takes him back to the
Ehanty and sends for help. Keziah and
Grace nurse Ellery. who is suffering from
brain fever. The doctor and Keziah
spread report that Grace and Ellery are
engaged News comes that Nat has
arrived safely in Boston. The story OF
the wreck Of Mats vessel comes out and
q homecoming Is arranged Nat fails to
appear. Keziah intercepts Nat on his
homeward journey and tells him Of
Grace's love for Ellery. He releases
Grace from her promise to him. Keziah
gets delayed letter from her husband
saying he will return soon, and not hav-
Ing yet heard OF the identity OF the small
pox victim. she leaves Trumet. Ellery
tells Nat that the dead man was Keziah's
husband. Nat goes to Boston, finds
keziah and brings her home.