Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-02-21
and what was Il you just said :

and What was It you Just said!
IL don't b'lieve 1 heard 1t right"
Il said that daughter Of yours, or
niece, or whatever she is, this Grace
Van Horne, has been meeting young
Ellery, our minister, in Peters's grove.
Been meeting him and walking with
him, and kissing him. She's met him
in those pines every Sunday afternoon
for a long time. She was seen there
with him this afternoon"
"Who-who saw herr"
Never mind The one that did'n
never tell-unless it's necessary. They
are fixing to be married, and"
Married! She marry a Reglar
minister! OH"
Hush! Listenl They amt married
yet. We can stop 'em, you and i, II
we get right to work. 1t isn't too late.
VIII you help?"
"Win II Go on! tell me more!"
I'VE can stop 'em. ! know 1t would
be a good catch for her, the sneaking,
designing Well, never mind. But 1t
can't be. II shan't be. You've got TO
tell her so, Hammond. We folks OF
the Regular church have pride In IT
society; We won't have 1t disgraced-
And we have been proud Of our minis
ter, the young, rattle-headed fool!
Well save him If we can. II we
can't"-the speakers teeth grated
then we'll send him to eternal
smash or die trying"
But can't believe it's true. It's a
mistake; some other girl and not
Oracle. Why, she don't even know
him. She wouldn't But she has
been out every Sunday afternoon TOT
weeks. Il It should bel"
The chair creaked. Evidently. Cap
tain Eben was rising slowly to his
feet.
"Well?" repeated Elkanah.
''Elkanah Daniels" said Ehen slow
ly, his voice shaking from nervous ex
haustion and weakness, but with fine
ring of determination in every word
"Elkanah Daniels. you listen to
me. I've heard you through. II
your yarn is true, then my heart is
broke, and l wish l might have died
afore / heard 1t. But didn't die and
have heard it. Now listen to me.
love that girl of mine better'n the
whole wide world and yet I'd EutheI
see her dead afore me than married
to a Reg'lar minister. Disgrace tc
him! Disgrace to your miserable
church, What about the disgrace to
mine? And the disgrace to her? Ruin
to your minister! Ruin to my CIR
here and hereafter is what I'm think
in of; that and my people who wor
ship God with me. I'll talk to Grace
I'll talk to her. But not of what1
happen to him or you-or any OF yonl
cantin, lip-servin' crew. I'll tell hel
to choose between him and me. AnC
II she chooses him, I'll send her out
of that door. I'll do my duty and reaC
her out Of my congregation. And II
know she's gone to everlastin' hell
and that's worse'n the poorhouse
That's all tonight, Elkanah. Now yoI
better CO."
The. lock turned; the door opened
and closed. Grace, clinging to the bal
listers, heard Captain Hammond cross
the room, slowly and feebly. Sh'
heard him enter the sitting room. B!
and by, pale. but more composed, ant
with her mind made up, she CAM
down into the hall. Drawing loni
breath, she turned into the sittini
room to face her uncle. BY the ligh
shining through the dining-room doc
she saw him on his knees by the hair
cloth sofa. She spoke his name. H
did not answer nor look up. At he
touch his arm slid from the couch an,
he fell gently over upon his side Oh
the carpet.