The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-01-31

he was disturbed and excited, exactly
the condition which the doctor said
he must not be in. Keziah and Grace
had gone away and left him. and he
could not understand why
Mrs. Higgins, Ike's mother, was at
| the shanty and she did her best to
soothe and quiet him. She was a
J kind soul and capable, in her way, but
she could not answer his questions
satisfactorily.
He rose from the chair and started
toward the living room. He would not
be put off again. He would be an
swered His hand was on the latch
of the door when that door was
opened. DR.. Parker came In.
The doctor was smiling broadly.
| His rudy face was actually beaming.
He held out his hand, seized the min
listers, and shook it.
Good morning, Mr. Ellery," he said.
TITS a glorious day. Yes, sir, bully
day. Hey? isn't it,"
Ellery's answer was question.
Doctor" he said, why have Mrs.
| Coffin and-and Miss Van Horne
gone? Has anything happened? I
know something has, and you must
| tell me what Don't try to put me off
or give me evasive answers. l want
| to know why they have gone"
Parker looked at him keenly.
'Humph," he grunted I'll have to
get into Mrs. Higgins's wig. You sit
still No, I'm not going to tell you
anything. You sit where you are and
maybe the news1l come to you. II
you move it won't Going to obey or
ders? Good! I'll see you by and by,
Mr. Ellery."
! He walked out of the room. 1t
seemed to Ellery that he sat in that
chair for ten thousand years before
the door again opened. And them
"GraceI" he cried. 80 Grace. you
you've come back"
She was blushing red, her face was
radiant with quiet happiness, but her
eyes were moist She crossed the
room, bent over and kissed him on the
| forehead.
yes, john she said; I've come
back. Yes, dear, I've come back to
to you
! Outside the shanty, on the side
| farthest from the light and its group
of buildings, the doctor and Captain
| Nat Hammond We're talking with Mrs
| Higgins The latter was wildly eXcit-
ed and bubbling with joy.
| It's splendid." she exclaimed. tits
| almost too fine to believe. Now We'll
| keep our minister won't WEI"
Mrs Higgins turned to Captain Nat
| It's kind of hard for you, Nat" she
| added. But it's awful noble and self
sacrificin and everybody'H say So OF
! course there wouldn't be much salts
faction in havin' wife you knew
cared more for another man. But still
it's awful noble of you to give her up
The captain looked at the doctor
and laughed quietly.
Don't let my nobility weigh on
your mind, Mrs. Higgins" he said.
I'D made up my mind to do this very
thing afore ever l got back to Trumet.
That is, if Oracle was willin'. And
when 1 found she was not only wiilin'
but joyful well, l decided to offer
up the sacrifice right off"
You did? You did? Why, how
you talk, | never heard of such a
thing in my born days"
"Oh, we'll, I What is it, Grace?"
She was standing in the doorway
and beckoning to him. Her cheeks
were crimton, the breeze was tossing
her hair ABOUT her forehead, and she
| made a picture that even the prac-
! teal, unromsntic doctor appreciated.
The captain went to meet her.
What is it?" Ae asked.
Nat" she whispered. will you
| come in? He wants TO see you
John Ellery was stls seated in the
chair by the window. bu. he no longer
| looked like an invalid There was no
worry or care in his coulsenance
| now, merely a wondrous jog and
serene happiness.
| He held out his hands and the CAP
tain shook them heartily.
Mr. Ellery,' he said, las they used
| to say at the circus, Here We are
again And you and l have been do
| inc all kinds of circus acrobatics since
we shook last, hey? I'm glad you're
pretty nigh out of the sick bay-and
| the doctor says you are"
Captain" began Ellery. Hammond
! interrupted him.
Hold on" he said Delay right
| there If you and 1 are to cruise in
| the same family-and that's what
hear is likely to happen caIlate
| We'll heave overheard the cap'ns and
Misters My names Nathaniel
| Nat for short"
"All right. And mine is John
| Captain-Nat. l mean-how can I
ever thank your"
Thank me? What do you want to
| thank me for? | only handed over
somethin that wasn't mine In the first
| place and belonged to you all along.
| didn't know 1t, that was the only
trouble
But your promise to your father.
I | feel
You needn't I'm doin' the right
| thing and | know it. And don't pity
| me. neither l made up my mind
not to marry Grace-unless, Of course,
she was set on it-months ago. I'm
tickled to death to know she's goin'
| TO have as good a man as you are
| She'll tell you so. Grace. Hello,
| she's gone"