Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-03-08

IN glaQ L came. m glaQ i was the
one to find him and help him No
matter what happens-to me-I'm
glad never was so glad before.
love him, Aunt Keziah- / can say it
to you. for you know it-you must
know it / love him and he needed
me and 1 came He was calling my
name when 1 found him. He might
have died there, alone in the wet and
cold, and / saved him Think what
that means to me-"
The door opened softly and DR.. Par
ker came out
He's asleep" he said And he's
better, much better. And I'll tell you
something else, If you won't make too
much noise about it-he hasn't got the
smallpox He is pretty close TO brain
fever, though, but l guess he'll dodge
that this time, with care On the
whole, Keziah, I'm glad you came
This young lady" with a movement of
the head toward Grace. has done her
part She really saved his life, if I'm
not mistaken Now. I think she can
go away and leave him to you and me.
I'll pretty nearly guarantee to have
him up and out of this-this pesthole
in 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 com
mented Parker, watching her as she
went. 81 wanted to talk with you, Ke-
ziah Coffin. and right away. Now, then
there's something up, something that
don't know about, and l rather guess
you do. Young women-even when
they're her kind and that's as good
a kind as there is-don't risk smallpox
for any young man they pick up cas-
uaIly.'
Keziah considered. All right, doc
tor she said. when she reached a de
cision. "all right; I'll tell you the
whole thing
She went on to tell all she knew of
her parsons love story.
DR.. Parker listened.
Hunt" he said thoughtfully, Il 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 EN-. Nat, poor
chap, is dead, so her promise too 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. l 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, 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'H 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 a good many jobs. but match
making isn't one of 'em. 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
oae thing, that's Oracle herself. Would
she marry him now, knowing 1t may
mean the loss of his ministry and all,
any more than she would at first? /
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.
Z say good" she cried And now
1 want to give you a piece of advice.
your course for the first leg, as you
might say: you see Cap'n Zebedee
Mayo"
"HumphI Cap'n Zeb is the first
man 1 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.
Welt" 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
anl he