The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-05-22
CHAPTER xIv.-fcntinued.l

From him. she said. He wanted
money, OF course; he always does.
But that want the worst. The letter
was from England, and In it he wrote
that he was gettin' sick of knockin
around and guessed he'd be for comm
TO the States pretty soon and hunt1n'
me up. Said what was the use of havin'
an sble-bodied wife If she couldn't
give her husband a home"
THE scoundrel!"
Yes, I know what he is, maybe full
as we'll as you do That's why spoke
of Ieavin' you IF that man comes to
Tru1net, I'll go, sure as death"
She hurried out of the room. Later,
as the minister passed through the
dining room on his way to the door,
che spoke to him again.
john she said, 81 didn't say what
meant to when | broke in on you
Grace. knew you'd like to know and
wouldn't ask. She's goin' away,
Oracle is"
Going away"
''Yup. She's goin' to stay with re-
lation of the Hammonds over in Con
Aecticut for a SPELL I coaxed her into
g. Stayin' here at home with all this
suspense and with Hannah Founder
rvs tongue droppin' lamentations like
EeTnels out of corn shelter, is enough
To kill healthy batch of kittens with
nipa lives apiece"
EIiery took his hat from the peg
and opened the door. His foot was on
the step when Keziah spoke again.
"She-it don't mean nothin, John,
except that she amt so hard-hearted
as maybe you might think-she's
asked me about you most every time
I've been there. She told me to take
good care of you"
Eflery was thinking deeply as he
walked up the main road on his way
10 Mrs. Princess Keziah's words were
repeating themselves over and over
IN his brain. She had asked about
him.. She had not forgotten him alto
gether. Mrs. Prince was very glad to
see him. He found her in the big arm
chair with the quilted back and the
projecting wings" at each side of her
head She was wrapped in a Rising
Sun. quilt which was a patchwork
glory of red and crimson. A young
girl, a neighbor, who was apparently
a.sting in the dual capacity of nurse
end housekeeper, admitted him to the
old Iady's presence. Mrs. Princes good
spirits were of short duration Her
conversation soon shifted to the loss
Of her son and she wept, using the
corner of the quilt to wipe away her
tears. Eddie" had been her idol and,
as she said, it was hard to believe
what folks kept tellin' her, that it was
Gods will, and therefore all for the
best.
And there's Nat Hammond" con-
tinued Mrs. Prince. "A fine maD-no
better anywhere, even though his IA
Their was a Come-Outer-just goin' to
be married and all, now they say he's
drowned-why? Why was that neces-
sary?"
Ellery could not reply. The old lady
did not wait for him to do so. The
mention Of Captain Mats name re-
minded her of other things.
Poor Gracie!" she said. Its tur-
rible hard on her. l went down to see
her two or three times afore I was
took down with this backache She's
an awful nice girl. Land sakes alive!
talk about angels! snum If she
aint comm up the road this blessed
minute"
John EIlery had risen. Now he
seized his hat and moved hastily to-
ward the door. Mrs. Prince called to
him to remain. but he would not. How
ever, her good-bys delayed him for a
minute, and before he reached the
yard gate Grace was opening it. They
were face to face for the first time
since they had parted in the grove, so
many months before.
She was thinner and paler. he saw
that. And dressed very quietly in
black She looked at him. as be stood