The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1913-02-28

in a fortnight"
Here was joyful tidings, the better
for being so unexpected. Keziah
leaned against the boards and drew a
long breath. Grace said nothing. but,
after a moment, she went into the
| house.
That's good thing too,r COM
mented Parker, watching her as she
went. Il wanted to talk with you, Ke-
ziah Coffin, and right away. Now, then,
there's something up. something that
don't know about, and | rather guess
you do. Young women-even when
they're Ter kind and that's as good
| kind as there is-don't risk smallpox
for any young man they pick up cas-
ually."
keziah considered. "All right doc
tor she said. when she reached de-
cision, "all right; III tell you the
whole thing"
She went on to tell all she knew of
her parsons love story.
DR.. Parker listened
HUM" he said thoughtfully, 81 see.
What made her change her mind so
suddenly? You say, or you gather
from what Mr.. Ellery told you, that
she had all but agreed TO marry him.
She cares for him, that's sure. Then,
all at once, she throws him over and
accepts Nat. OF course her uncle's
| sudden seizure was a shock and he
wanted Nat to have her, but she isn't
the kind OF girl to be easily swayed.
But never mind that, that doesn't
| count now Let's look at things as
they are this minute. She's here and
| folks know it. As they do know it
| they'll begin to talk, and the more
they talk the farther from the truth
they'll get--most of 'em. Nat, poor
chap, Is dead. so her promise to him
is Cancelled. Ellery will get well If
he isn't troubled. If she leaves him
he'll go to pieces again, so she mustn't
leave. And she can't stay without an
| explanation. | say let's give the ex-
PLANTATION; let's come right out with
the announcement that they're en-
gagged"
But she's a Come-Outer and
there's the church"
We'll, l know it. But he never was
so popular as he is now. And she
isn't by any means steady-going
Come-Outer. Why, Zeke Bassett and
the rest have been finding fault with
her and calling her a backslider.
That'll help. Then you trust me to
whoop up her heroism and the fact
that without her he would have died.
| We can do it, Keziah. Come on! I've
tackled good many Jobs, but match
making isn't one of EN-. Here goes
to tackle that"
Keziah was delighted; here was
work after her own heart. But she
still hesitated.
Doctor" she said. you've forgot
one thing, that's Oracle herself. Would
she marry him now, knowing it may
mean the loss of his ministry and all,
! any more than she would at first? 1
don't believe it."
That's your part, Keziah. You've
got to show her she must marry him
or he'll die; see?"
Keziah's hesitation was at an end.
Her face lit up.
Il say good" she cried. and now
| want to give you piece of advice,
your course for the first leg, as you
might say: you see Cap'n Zebedee
Mayo"
"Humph. Cap'n Zeb is the first
man l mean to see"
Captain Zeb listened with his mouth
and eyes and ears open. Mrs. Mayo
was with him when the doctor called,
and she, too, listened.
Well" exclaimed the captain,
when the plea for support was ended.
We'll, by the flukes of Jonah's whale!
Talk about surprises. Old lady. what
do you say?"
Il say go ahead, Zebedee. Go
ahead! If Mr. Ellery wanted to mar
ry Jezebel's sister, and I knew he
really wanted to, I'd do believe I'd
help him get her And Grace Van
Horne is a good girl Go ahead"
Say, doc, there'll be lively row,
and l kind O. like It," said Captain
Zeb.
There was, and 1t was lively enough
to suit even Captain Zeb. DR.. Parker,
on his calls that day, was assailed
with a multitude of questions con-
corning Grace's presence at the
shanty. He answered them cheer
fully, dllating upon the girls bravery,
her good sense, and the fact that she
had saved Mr.. Ellery's life Then he
confided, as strict secret, the fact
that the two were engaged. Before
his hearers had recovered from the
shock of this explosion, he was justi-
flying the engagement. Why shouldn't
they marry If they wanted to? 1t
was a free country. The girl wasn't
a Come-Outer any longer, and, be-
sides-and this carried weight In
good many households-what black
eye the marriage would be for that
no-account crowd at the chapel
Captain Zebedee. having shipped
with the insurgents, worked for them
from sunrise to sunset and after. Zeb
was something Of a politician and
knew whom to get at" He sought
his fellows on the parish committee
and labored with them. Mrs. Mayo
and the doctors wife championed the
cause at sewing circle. They were
lively. those sewing meetings, and the
fur flew. Didama Rogers and Lavinia
!.