The Delta independent., 1913-03-28

a
serted him for an instant and his egg
spoon jingled to the floor. Annabel's
face turned dull red. Her eyes
flashed sparks.
Pal" she cried, "I-I-if you don't
do something now I'll never
Her father shook his head warning
ly. "Debby." he said to the maid,
| you needn't wait"
Debby departed reluctantly. After
the kitchen door had closed, Captain
Elkanah said: my dear, We mustn't
be too hasty in this matter. Remem-
Der, Mr.. Ellery is very sick. AS for
for the Van Horne girl, we haven't
heard the whole truth yet. She may
not be there at all, or it may be just
an accident"
Accident! Pa, you make me boil.
, Accident! Accidents like that don't
happen. If you let her stay there, or
| if Oh, to think of it! And we were
calling him a hero and-and every
thing! Hero! he stayed there just so
she might"
Hush! hush, child"
Il shan't hush. Pa, are you going
to let him disgrace himself with herr"
mo, no. Probably there amt any
Idea of his marrying her. If there is"
IF there is you put him out of the
church and out of town. And as for
her O-ohi And we've been. hav-
Ing him here at dinner and-and l
| have Oh, shall die! l wish l was
dead!"
Then followed Mysteries and agony,
l.
ear was at the crack of the door. Cap
tain Elkanah soothed and pleaded and
tried to pacify. 1t ended by his prom
lsing to investigate and, if necessary,
take steps immejitly."
Lavinia Pepper sprung the mine on
her brother. Ryan was Mortified. He
had grown to be one of Ellery's most
devoted worshipers.
One of the very first to hear of the
minister's illness was Keziah Coffin.
Mrs. Parker told her and Keziah start:
ed for the beach before the tale OF
Grace's part in the nights happenings
reached the village. She did not wait
for a conveyance, hardly waited to
| throw a shawl over her shoulders, but
began to cover the three miles on foot.
She had walked nearly two-thirds OF
the distance when Captain Zeb Mayo
overlook her and gave her a seat in
his chaise.
They said little during the drive, the
shock and anxiety forbidding conver-
sation. At the ropes was the same
group. larger now, and DR.. Parker's
horse was hitched to one of the posts.
You can't go in, Mrs. Coffin said
, Thoph Black. THE doctor give US his
orders not to let nobody get by. l
guess nobody wants to, but all the
same"
Keziah paid not the slightest atten-
J lion to Mr.. Black. She stopped beneath
his arm. under the rope and was on
her way to the shanty before they real
lied her intention. The living room
was empty, but at the sound of her
step some one came from the room
adjoining. That some one was Grace.
! DIR. Parker appeared, holding up
hand for silence.
| "Hush!" he cried He's quiet now
and l think he will sleep. Don't talk
here. Go outside. il you must talk
and l suppose you must"
Grace led the way. Fortunately, the
door was on the side not visible from
the spot where Captain Zeb and the
rest were standing. Keziah. bewil-
dered and amazed at the girls pres
ence, followed dumbly.
"Now, auntie," whispered Grace.
turning to her, you want to know
how he is. Of course. Well. l think he
ls better. The doctor thinks 30, too.
But why did you come here"
why did l come? Why, because
my place was here. l belonged here.
For the love OF mercy's sakes what
are you doin' here? With him? And
The smallpox"
Hush. I can't help 1t. don't care.
| don't care for anything any more.
I'm glad l came. I'm glad was the
one to find him and help him. NO
matter what happens-to me-Im
glad. / never was SO glad before. I
love him, Aunt Keziah. can say it
to you. for you know it-you must
know it. ! love him and he needed
me and / came. He was calling nv
name when found him Re m'oh'
have died there. p}o - ~ '-ot 80
rold. ard
tina
The door opened softly and DR.. Par
ker came out
Hes asleep" he said. And he's
better. much better. And I'll tell you
something else, II you won't make too
much noise about it-he hasn't got the
smallpox. He is pretty close to brain
fever. though. but | guess he'll dodge
that this time, with care. On the
whole. Keziah, I'm glad you came.
This young lady," with a movement of
the head toward Grace. has done i.er
part. She really saved his life. II I'm
not mistaken. Now. ! think she can
20 AWAY. and leave him to ynu and me