The Delta independent., 1913-02-07
Yes" rather douhtfullx

you must be proud of him."
Il am" there was nothing doubtful
this time.
Miss Van Horne! What did your
uncle say about Cap'n Mats meeting
me the other day."
Uncle Eben doesn't know. Nat
didn't tell anyone but me. He doesn't
boast. And uncle would be glad he
helped you. AS l told you before, Mr..
Ellery, I'm not ashamed of my uncle.
He has been SO good to me that new
er can repay him, never! When my
own father was drowned he took me
In, little orphan that would prob
ably have been sent to home. When
he needed money most he said nothing
TO me, but insisted that should be
educated. I didn't know until after
wards Of the self-sacrifice my four
years at the Middleboro Academy
meant to him."
so you went away to schoolf" he
mused. This is why"
THAT is why don't say never done
nothin" and be, you and 'haint
neither Yes, thank you, that's why.
don't wonder you were surprised"
She was going. but the minister had
something to say. He stepped forward
and walked beside her
Just a minute, please" he urged.
Miss Van Horne. do understand.
10 respect your uncle. We have a mu-
tual friend. you and I. and through her
! I have come to understand many
Lhings."
!
"A mutual friend?" she repeated.
"Oh, know. Mrs. Coffin?"
Yes; Mrs. Coffin. She's a good
woman and a wise one"
81 know. l feel the same way about
| her. She means so much to me. l
love her more than anyone else in the
world, except uncle, of course-and
Nat. / miss her very much since
since"
"Since / came, you mean. I'm sorry.
] wish-I hate to think / am the cause
which separates you two. 1t isn't my
fault. as you know"
oh! / know that"
Yes, and / object to having others
J choose my friends for me, people who.
! because of fanatical prejudice. stand
in the way Of If it wasn't for that,
you might call and see Mrs. Coffin.
Just as you used to do"
But it's impossible. Uncle respects
and is fond of Aunt Keziah, but he
wouldn't hear of my visiting the par
sonage."
She was close to the overhanging
edge of the bluff and the sod upon
which she stood was bending beneath
l
her about the waist, and pulled her
back The sod broke and ratified
down the sandy slope. She would have
had slight tumble. nothing worse.
had she gone with it. There was no
danger; and yet the minister was very
white as he released her.
She, too, was pale for a moment.
and then crimson.
THANK you," she gasped. Il
must go. 1t is late. / didn't realize
how late 1t was. IL must go. IL
think the sunsets from this point are
the finest / have ever seen. come
| here every Sunday afternoon to see
them"
This remark was given merely to
cover embarrassment, but it had an
unexpected effect.
"You do?" cried the minister. The
next moment he was alone. Grace Van
Horne had vanished in the gloom of
the pine thickets.
| 1t was strange John Ellery who
walked slowly back along the path. He
saw nothing real. and heard nothing.
not even the excited person who, hid
den behind the bayberry bush. hailed
him as he passed. It was not until
this person rushed forth and seized
him by the arm that he came back to
the unimportant affairs Of this mate
rial earth.
why! Why, Mr.. Pepper!" he
gasped. Are you here? What do you
want?"
Am here?" painted Ryan. "Ain't
I been here for the last twenty min
ntes waitin' to get chance at you?
Amt been chasin' you from Dan to
Beersheby all this dummed-excuse
me-afternoon? Oh. my godfreys
mighty"
why, what's the matter?"
"You-you made me do It," guarded
Ryan. "Yes, sir. twas you put me up
TO It. When you was at our house
tother day, after Laviny locked me
up. you told me the way to get square
was to lock her up. too. And / done
It! Yes, sir. ] done 1t when she got
back from meetin' this noon. ! run
Off and left her locked in. And-and"
he walled, wringing his hands Il
Il amt dast to go homo sence.