Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-02-28

things a body can TELL Yes, some Ohe
is dead. but that amt all. Eben Ham
mond, poor soul, is out of his troubles
and gone"
'Eben Hammond! Captain Eben?
Dead! Why, why"
YES, Eben's gone. He was took
down sudden and died about ten
o'clock last night. was there and"
Captain Eben dead! Why, he was
as well as-as- She said oh,
must go! l must go at once!"
He was on his way to the door, but
she held 1t shut.
NO" she said gravely, you mustn't
CO. 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 IL was. John, you've
got to stay here with me. You can't
go 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, l know"
did she tell"
mo, nobody told. That is, only a
little. l got hint and l suspicioned
somethin' afore. The rest / 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"
ct amt the congregation, John, y
she said Nor Trumet, nor your min
istry. That means more'n you think
it does, now; but it amt that. You
mustn't go to her because-well, be-
cause she don't want you to-"
Doesn't want me? l 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-
tin sure. She would. And IL you
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 Capn Nat Hammond. There!
that's the Twin 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 mol
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 frs
stunned and stolid, then with grow
| ing impotence.
| $50 you see," she said. It's settled
they're engaged, and DR.. Parker viii
} tell everybody Of the engagement thi
very morLin'. 1t want any great sur
! prise to me. Those who have beef
brought up together; twas the natu
: raj thing that was almost bound t
: happen. Eben's heart was set on
l for years. And she'll have a goo'
r husband, John, that know. And shell
do her best to make him happy. He
a good man and"
: But / know"
3 do you suppose she would com
3 to you IL she knew 1t would be you
t ruin?"
He hesitated. The last time the
Q met, ages before-no, only the prev
e Gus afternoon-she had told him
b was his happiness and his future onl
= that she thought of. He choked an
drew his hand across his eyes.
d Mrs. Coffin" he said, you tell m
d It will be her ruin. You tell me 81
y You say she doesn't want me. l te
:. you that the only thing that will kee
It me from her is hearing that from he
own lips. When she tells me to leav
= her l will, and not before"
r She'll tell you, John; she'll tell 20,
g And know Grace. She's made up b
l. mind and won't change 1t. But l &
ask you this ask you not to go nov
Wait a little while, do. l left h,
asleep, worn out by what she's bee
through and under the effects Of Il
Doctors sleepin' medicine. He sa
\ she must rest or ne was afraid b,
\ brain would give out. For her SAX
then, wait little. Then, If you dor
hear from her, maybe can arrange
meetin' place where you can see b.
without anyone's KNOWN It. I'll tr
v But do wait q little while, for b
n sake, won't your"
\ At last he was listening and hei
1 tating.
Wont your" begged Kezian.
, YES" he answered slowly. II
: wait. I'll wait until noon, somehow,
' l can. I'll try. But not a minu
later. Not one. You don't know VIII
you're talking about, Mrs. Coffin"
Yes, / do. know well And
thank you for her sake"
But he did not have to wait un
noon. At six o'clock, through the de
soaked grass of the yard, came I