The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-01-04
CHAPTER Iv-(cont,nued.l


|Tlleyy stood still in the rain and
tched her. He saw her pass the
htsd windows and open a door. Into
yellow radiance she flashed and
appeared. A minute more and the
ty form of Eben Hammond, lantern
hand, Z sou'wester on his head and
shoulders working themselves into
oilslan coat, burst out Of the door
huraedly limped down toward the
be. On the threshold, framed in
II, STOOD his ward. gazing after
And the minister gased at her.
Nom the bay came the sound Of
b In rowlocks. A bcaS was ap-
ksching the wharf. And suddenly
N tAs boat came hail.
.Ha.loo! Alloy, dad! Is that your"
There was an answering shout from
J harf; a shout Of JOY. Then d
His Of oars and a clamor OF talk.
4 Grace still stood in the doorway,
hing.
Ifhe lantern bobbed up the slope.
: n reached the tavern gaseway, the
mister saw that II was now carried
! . tall, active man, who walked with
seaman's stride and roll. Captain
ben was close beside him, talking eI-
tedly.
| They entered the yard.
Grace! Grace!" screamed Captain
Ben. Oracle, girl, look who's come!
|eok!"
| The tall man ran forward.
HI, Gracel" he cried In . deep,
Sarty voice. rs that your Aint you
q word for your old messmate"
HE girl stepped cut into the rain.
why! why, Natl" she cried.
The big man picked her up bodily
Ibis arms and carried her into the
ase. Captain Eben followed and
door closed.
lshn Ellery picked his way home
M through the puddles and the
Hnng rain.
Be found Keziah in the sitting room,
atsd by the table, evidently writing
Utter. She looked tired and grave
j her.
we'll" she exclaimed as he en-
ped. II guess you're soppin' now.
rim sure. There's light in your
)on. Take of your wet things and
uv EN- down to me, and I'll dry
p In the kitchen. Better leave
~ boots here now and stand that
hbrella in the sink. The kettles on
stove; you'd better have somethin'
-unger tea or somethin'. / told
not to go out such a night as this.
here In the world have you been?"
he minister said he would tell her
about 1t in the morning. Just
be thought he had better go up
take of his wet clothes.
ksdah dipped her pen IN the ink
vent on with her letter.
inclose ten dollars" sh~ wrote.
b all can send you noS. More
- ought to afforf. Goodness
M why I send anything, You don't
erve It But while / live and you
can't"
ne minister called Esora the land
Here Is my coat" hn said. The
and lower par. II the sleeves
pretty wet. By he way, the pack
ame In tonight. They didn't ex-
her so soon or account of the
There was a passenger aboard
pa ] think must be that Nathaniel
nmond you odd me Of"
sdahs pei stopped. The wet
struck the hall floor with a soft
mp. The ties of the clock sound
QUO In the room. A sheet O.
odrivea ram dashed the Window
va you hear?" called the minister
aid that Nathaniel HammoaE
an Eben's son. came on the prsk-
! didn't meet him, but I'm :nre
ne. Er-Mrs. Coffin, are you
~ Do you hear me-"
~ housekeeper laid the pen Town
- the unfinished letter.
aa. she said, 81 hear you. Coed
minutes she sat there, framing
Y her chair and staring At the
Then she rose, went in-o the
ncked up the coat, and took it
mo the kitchen, where she hung
ue clotheshorse by the cook
After a while she returned to
.o'e and took up the pen. Her
" the lampligkc looked more
srd grsre chan ever.