Tensas gazette., 1913-01-24
He liked you. too. No wonder, con

without bringin' all the trouble back |
too plain"
So she told him Of her brothers
sickness and death, Of having to give
up the old home, and, finally, Of her
acceptance Of the housekeeper's posi-
ton. He listened, at first with SYM
pathy and then with suppressed indig-
nation.
by the 1umpin' Moses!" he ex-
claimed And Elkanah was goin' to
turn you out of house and home. The
mean, pompous Old"
Hush! hush. he's in there with Mr..
Ellery."
Who? Elkanah?"
Yes; they're in the study"
so he's talkin' to the new parson,
hey! Bossin' him, too, I'll bet"
Il amt so sure. Mr.. Ellery's young,
but he's got mind of his own"
Captain Hammond chuckled and
slapped his knee.
"Ho. hoi" he laughed. "rve been
hearin' somethin' about that mind.
Went to the chapel last night, under
l heard about it, Wish might have
been there"
How does your father act about
it,"
Bout the way a red-hot stove acts
when you spill water on It; every time
he thinks OF the minister he sizzles.
Ho, no! do wish l could have been
there"
What does Grace say?"
"Oh, she doesn't say much l
wouldn't wonder If she felt the way
l do, though We both keep quiet. I'll
tell you, between ourselves and the
ships pump, that l sort Of glory In
the young chaps spunk."
Good! So do l. like him"
Her friend leaned forward.
"Keziah," he said earnestly, there's
no sense in your slavin' yourself to
death here. can think Of good deal
pleasanter berth than thai. Pleasant
er for me, anyhow, and re DO my best
to make it pleasant for you. You've
only got to say the word and No?
Well, then all can do is hope through
another voyage"
please don't, Nat. You know"
mo, l don't know"
We'll, perhaps you don't. But l
know. like you, Nat. count on you
as the straightest, truest friend I've
got; and want to keep on countin'
on you just that way. Mayn't y"
Course you can, Keziah. But"
"Then don't say another word,
please"
"Keziah, when you set your foot
down you're pretty stubborn; but I've
got somethin' OF foot myself. You re-
member you said SO few minutes
ago. Hi, hum! Well, speakin' Of dad
reminds me that I'm kind of worried
about him"
"You are? Whyi Isn't he well?"
pretty we'll, but he amt strong, and
he gets too excited over things like
last nights foolishness. Grace tells
me that the doctor says he must be
careful or he'll drop OF some Of these
days. He had shock FIVE or six years
ago, little one, and I've been anxious
about him ever since"
"You mustn't worry. How did Grace
look to your"
Like the harbor light on a stormy
night She's a brick, that girl, and
gets prettier every minute. Wonder
to me some Of the young chaps down
here don't carry her OF by main
strength. She'll make somebody q
good wife,"
"Um-hm. Have-have you evel
thought of her that way yourself?"
"Keziah, that's enough Of that. Are
you and dad in partnership to get me
spliced and out of the way? He was
, at me this mornin' along the same
line. Don't say anything like tha
again, even in fun. You know why"
"All right, all right. Now tell m'
E about yourself. Have you had a gooC
{ voyage? How do you like your own
! ers? How did Zach Foster ever ge
the packet in through yesterday
fogr'
Voyage was all right. Some rug
. ged weather on the trip out, but home
ward bound we slid along like slusl
bucket on a creased plank. Owner
:. are all right Good people as ever
sailed for. AS forlZach and the pacE
ct Ho, no! Somebody's comm. IN
goin' to clear out. / don't want to b
l put through my catechism yet
. while"
mo, you mustn't go. I want you I
meet Mr.. Ellery. You sit out on tn
| wash bench by the back door till &c
rid Of whoever tbs that's comm
Scoot!"
Nat "acooted," stopping to snatch u
| his hat as he ran. Keziah went int
| the dining room and admitted Captai
| Zebedee Mayo, who was painting froI
| the exertion of his walk.
| "Whew!" pulled Captain Zeb, mo-
l. ping his forehead. How be you, X,
| ziah? What? You amt all alone
| Thought you'd have a cabin full {
| CAB machines by this time. Have the
been and gone"
mo, they haven't been. L M
land, my piel"
She rushed into the kitchen an
snatched the pastry from the owe
Her new caller followed her.
$50 they amt been, hey?" he sal
y That's queer"
h "Elkanah's here. Her IN there wit
i the minister now
4 He is? Givin' fhs Foung seller Hs