Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-10-23


How hard he had no idea. And Ke-
ziah, as she YEARLY entered the par
sonage, realized that the morning |
would be perhaps the hardest OF all. |
For upon her rested the responsibility |
Of seeing that the minister's secret
was kept And she, and no other.
must break the news to him.
The dining room was dark and
gloomy. She lighted the lamp. Then
she heard a door open and Ellery's
voice, as he called down the stairs.
"Who is it?" he demanded. Mrs.
Coffin?"
She was startled. YES" she said
softly, after a moment Yes, Mr.. Ell
lery, it's me-"
Its morning." said the minister.
Are you sick? Has anything hap
pened?"
YES" she answered slowly, some
thin has happened. Are you dressed!
Could you come DOWN."
He replied that he would be down
In a moment. When he came he
found her standing by the table wait
ing for him. The look Of her face In
the lamplight shocked him.
"Why, Mrs. Coflni" he exclaimed.
What Is It? You look as II you had
been through some dreadful expert
ence."
Her heart went out to him. She
held out both her hands.
You poor boy" she cried, I'm try
ing to tell you one Of the hardest
things a body can tell. Yes, some one
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. l was there and
Captain Eben dead! Why, he was
as we'll as-as- She said oh,
; must go! / 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 t
: feel almost as II was. John. you've
= got to stay here with me. You can
go to that house You can't go II
her."
= Mrs. Coffin, what are you saying
; Do you know Have you"
> Yes, know all about it I know
about the meetin's in the pines AM
. all. Oh, why didn't you trust me an
tell me? If you had. all would hav
:, been so much better!"
He looked at her in utter amaze
% ment. The blood rushed to his face.
You know that?" he whispered.
70 yes, know"
,, Did she tell"
, mo, nobody told. That is. only
>. little. l got hint and l suspicione
70 somethin' afore. The rest l saw wit
n my own eyes"
% He was now white, but his jaw sht
a forward and his teeth closed.
IF you do know" he said. "yc
in must realize that my place is wit
~ her. Now, when she is in trouble"
r 1T amt the congregation, John
I'd she said Nor Trumet, nor your mi
istry. That means more'n you thir
1t does, now; but it amt that. "
mustn't go to her because-well. b
cause she don't want you to-
Doesn't want me? l know better
He laughed in supreme scorn.
vn "She doesn't want you, John. s.
nj wouldn't see you if you went. s.
ly would send you away again, sure, Sc
ar. tin sure. She would. And If y
sy didn't go when she sent you, y
m wouldn't be the man l hope you al
no John, you mustn't see Grace aga
ng She amt yours. She belongs to sor
ne one else.
Id. John. Grace Van Horne is goin'
hit marry Cap'n Nat Hammond. Their
irl that's the Twin truth
nd She led him over to the rockil
nd chair and gently forced him into it.
mt, obeyed, although with no appart
to realization of what he was doing. S
d. with her hand on his shoulder 6
ted went on speaking. She told him
1T! her visit to the Hammond tavern. s
ing nothing of Mr.. Peppers call !
Of her own experience in the gro
= She told of Captain Eben's seizure.
- what the doctor said, and OF the
n Come-Outer's return to consciousnt
"a Then she described the scene in
YN sick room and how Nat and Grace
m plighted troth. He listened, at f
,N stunned and stolid. then with or
HIN ing Impotence.
>K 80 you see," she said. IT'S settl
SS they're engaged, and DR.. Parker
nm tell everybody of the engagement
Nys very morLin. 1t want any great
AN prise to me- Those who have b
MI brought up together; twas the n
. raj thing that was almost bound
W happen. Eben's heart was set o.
MY for years. And she'll have a E
v husband, John, that l know. And 81
"A do her best to make him happy.
M good man and"
But l know"
do you suppose she would c.
- to you If she knew 1t would be q,
Is RUM"
He hesitated. The last time
ono' met, ages before-no, only the pi