The Delta independent., 1913-03-07

come to feel for the young man.
I'm glad to hear you say so. OF
course Cap'n Elkanah is boss of the
| parish committee and
What? No. he amt nuther. He's
head of it, but his vote counts just one
and no more. What makes you say
that?'
"Oh, nuthin' Only thought maybe,
| long as Elkanah was feelin' that Mr..
Ellery want orthodox enough, he
might be goin' to make change.
didn't mean to stir you up, Zebedee.
| But from things Cap'n Daniels has
said l gathered that he was runnn'
! the committee. And, as I'm friend
, of Mr.. Ellery, it"
Friend! Well, som l, amt 1? If
you ever hear of Daniels tryin' any
tricks against the minister, you send
for me, that's all. I'll show him. Boss
Humph!"
The willy Keziah alighted at the par
sonage gate with the feeling that she
had sown seed in fertile ground. She
was quite aware CT Captain Zeb's jeal.
ousy of the great Daniels. And the
time might come when her parson
needed an influential friend on the
committee and in the Regular society.
The news of the engagement be
tween Captain Nat Hammond and
Grace Van Horne, told by Dr. Parker
to one or two of his patients, spread
through Trumet like measles through
a family of small children. Annabel
Daniels and ker father had not expect
cd hnu t1x,
pleased. In their discussion, which
lasted far into the night, Captain Elk
anah expressed the opinion that the
unexpected denouement was the result
Of his interview with Eben.
81 think, pa" she said that it's our
duty, yours and mine, to treat him Just
as we always have. He doesn't know
that we know, and we will keep the
secret. And, as Christians, we should
forget and forgive"
Ryan Pepper was another whom the
news of the engagement surprised
greatly. When Lavinia told him of 1t,
at the dinner table, he dropped the
knife he was holding and the greasy
section Of fishball balanced upon it
Remembering what he had seen in the
6AONC AS SO0lu uOL uuOSIStduu, Uut
he also remembered, even more vivid.
ly, what Keziah Coffin had promised
to do if he ever breathed a word. And
he vowed again that that word should
not be breathed.
Keziah was the life Of the gloomy
parsonage. Without her the minister
would have broken down. He called
her Aunt Keziah" at her request and
she continued to call him John" This
was in private, of course; In public
he was "Mr. Ellery" and she Mrs.
Coffin"
In his walks about town he saw
nothing of Grace. She and Mrs. Pound.
berry and Captain Nat were still at
the old home and no one save them.
selves knew what their plans might
be. Yet oddly enough, Ellery was the
first outsider to learn these plans and
that from Nat himself
He met the captain at the corner
of the Turmoil" one day late in Au-
gust. He tried to make his bow seem
cordial, but was painfully aware that
1T was not. Nat. however. seemed not
to notice, but crossed the road and
held out his hand.
We'll. Mr.. Ellery," said Captain
Nat, Il won't keep you. I see you're
in a hurry. Just thought I'd run along
side minute and say goodby. Don't
knows I'll see you again afore sail"
Before you sail? You-you are 60
ing away?"
"Yup. My owners have been after
me for good while. but / wouldn't
leave home on account of dads health
/ Now he's gone, I've got to be gettin'
back to salt water again. My ships
been drydocked and overhauled and
/ she's in New York now loadin' for Ma
Mia. It's long wage, even If
come back direct. which amt likely.
So may not see the old town again
for couple of years. Take care of
yourself. won't you? Good men, es.
| pecially ministers, are scurse, and
from what hear about you cal'late
! Trumet needs you"
I when are you going?"
Last OF next week, most likely"
"Will you-shall you go alone? Are
| you to be--to be-"
! Married? No. Grace and I have
talked it over and we've agreed it's
best to wait till / come back. She'll
stay in the old house with Hannah"
"Good-by, captain"
"Good-by. Er-I say, Mr.. Ellery,
how's things at the parsonage? Err
Keziah-Mrs. Coffin, your housekeep.
er. is she smart?"
Yes. She's we'll"
That's good. Say. you might tell
her good-by for me. II you want to.
Tell her / wished her all the luck
there was. And-and-just say that
there amt any-well, that her friend
say just that. will you?-her friend
said twas all right. She'll understand: I:
it's IA sort of joke between u.s."