Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-02-21

inSiOOm lndnIle, uSnteQ IL anu "SN'
up to her own room. Standing before
the old-fashioned bureau with its little
oval mirror, she hastily arranged her
hair. She did not wish to go to
prayer meeting at the chapel. but she
felt that she must. The Come-Outer
gatherings, with their noisy singing
and shouting, had grown more and
more repugnant to her.
She blew out the candle and came
out into the hall at the head OF the
stairs. She was about to descend when
she heard voices. The door Of the din
ing room opened and closed. She felt
certain that Nat had returned and
wondered who was with him. Then
she heard her uncle's voice, speaking
sharply and with unwonted sternness.
Il don't know what tbs you want to
see about" said Captain Eben. you
say it's important; well, it's got to be
20 keep me from my meetin'. l ought
to be on the Lords business this
minute and nothin' worldly's goin' to
keep me from servin' Him. So speak
quick. What is it?"
The voice that answered was one
that Grace recognized, though she had
never before heard in 1t the note Of
agitation and undignified excitement.
There were no ponderous pauses and
"Hum-ha's" now.
Don't be a fool, Hammond" 1t said.
aAnd dnnsf stand fhnr0 nRoonhfnO
Lock that door! Get a lamp! Are
you sure there's nobody but us in the
house?"
Captain Elkanah Daniels! Captain
Elkanah visiting a Come-Outer! and
the leader Of the Come-Outersii !
Grace caught her breath. What in
the world She started to descend
and then a thought flashed to her
mind. She stopped short.
Il amt the fool, Elkanah," she
heard her uncle retort sternly. 'The
fools are them who are def to the
call from on high. My foot was on the
threshold of His house when you led
me astray. It's never halted there
afore. warn you"
stop! Shut up! Eben Hammond,
tell you that your precious church
yes and mine, the Regular church of
Trumet-will go to rack and ruin II
you and me don't pull together this
night"
And / tell you, Elkanah Daniels
III have no blasphemy here. That lit
tie sanctuary up the road is founded
on a rock and neither you nor any
of your Phariseein' priest-worshipin
crew can shake 1t. The Almighty'l
protect His own. AS for the Reg'laI
church, that's no concern Of mine"
But l tell you It's your concern
Or If the church isn't, your own fam
fly is"
There was an instant of silence
Grace, crouching on the stairs, noticed
the change in her uncle's voice as he
answered.
my own family?' he repeated slow
ly. my own And the Reg1al
church What do you mean? Has
Nat"
mo, he amt. But that cussed cir
of yours"
"Stop!" shouted Captain Hammond
''Elkanah Daniels, for your own sake
now, be careful. II you dast to say {
word, another word like that, I'll
IF l dast! The hussyl But there's
no use talkin' to you. You're as crazy
as a Bedlamite. Either that, or your,
in the game with her. II you are,
warn you"
stop! What game? What gam,
do you mean? Graciel My Oracle
What is it? For mercy sakes, FL
kanah-"
"Humph! l wondered IL couldn'
get some sense into you, finally. Loci
that door!"
81 wilt l will! But Elkanah-"
Lock i'll Give me the keyI"
The click Of the lock SOUNDED
sharply.
Where's the lamp?" demanded Dan
iels. And the matches? Don't stant
there shaking"
A smell of sulphur fioated out int,
the hall. Then the sickly glow Of tn
fluid" lamp shone through the door
way.
what ails your" asked Elkanah
"Are you struck dumb? Now go an,
see II there's anybody else in tn.
house"
"But-but there amt. / know Their
Amt. Hannah's zone and Gracie's a
meetin' by this time"
"She? Humph! Well. maybe She
at meetin' and maybe she isn't May
be she's over in Peters's pines, hug
ging and kissing that man she's me
there every Sunday for l don't know
how long Here! let go, you oil,
fool Let go, tell you'll"
"You liar!" snarled Captain Eben
you low-lived liar! BY the Almighty
Elkanah Daniels! III You take tina
back or I'll choke the everlastin
soul out of you. l will"
Let go, you lunaticl You'll xii
yourself. Listenl I'm not lying. IT.
the truth. She's met a man. tel
you. Been meeting him for months
| guess. Therel now will you listen
"His names John Ellery, and he
minister Of the Regular church in thi
town; that's who he is! Herel hol
upI Good Lord! are you dying? Hol
upi"
The girl on the stairs sprang to he
feet. Her head was Keeling and sh
could scarcely stand, but she blindl
began the descent She must go Z