The Delta independent., 1913-01-03

IdSt tO-iuOTTOW you COme right mere
I'll have things somewhere near ship
shape by then, I guess, though tn,
cleanin1l have to be mainly lick ant
promise until can really get at it
Your trunk'll be here on the coach
s'pose, and that1l be through early
In the afternoon. Get on your hat
. and coat and I'll go with you to El
kanah's"
The young man demurred a little al
thrusting himself upon the hospitality
of the Daniels hcme, but Keziah as.
sured him that his unexpected coming
would cause no trouble. So he en-
tered the now dark study and came
out wearing his coat and carrying his
hat and valise in his hand.
"I'm sure I'm ever so much obliged
10 you," he said. "And, as We are CO.
ing to be more or less together-or
at least l guess as much from what
you say-would you mind If I suggest
mutual introduction. I'm John FL
lery; you know that already. And
you"
Keziah stopped short on her way to
the door.
well, declared" she exclaimed. "If
you dropped in SO ahead of time and
in such a irregular sort of way. that
| never once thought of introducin'
anybody; and I'm sure Grace didn't.
I'm Keziah Coffin, and Cap'n Elkanah
and signed articles. so to speak, this
nornin', and I'm goin' to keep house
,or you"
She explained the reason upsettinS
the former arrangement by which Lu
rania Phelps was to have had the po
sition-
At the Daniels door Keziah turned
her new charge over to Matilda Snow,
the hired girl 1t was an indication OF
the family's social position that they
kept hired help" This was unusual
in Trumet in those days, even among
the well to do.
Good night" said the young man,
extending his hand Good night, Miss
or is 1t Mrs.-Coffin?
Mrs. Good night"
She's widow" explained Matilda.
Husband died fore she come back
here 10 live. Guess he didn't amount
to much; she never mentions his
name"
Keziah. in the midst OF her labors,
I found time to coach her employer and
! companion in Trumet ways, and par.
! dcularly in the ways which Trumet
! expected its clergymen to travel. On
| the morning following his first night
] in the parsonage. he expressed him
| self as feeling the need of exercise.
| He thought he should take walk.
We'll" said his housekeeper from
her station opposite him at the break
fast table, 'if | was you l wouldn't
take too long one. You'd better be
back here by ten. anyhow. Where
was you thinkin' of goin'?"
Mr.. Ellery had no particular desti-
nation in mind. He would like to see
something of the village and. perhaps.
IL she could give him the names of a
few of his parishioners. he might
make a few calls. Keziah shook her
head.
Gracious goodness" she exclaimed.
II wouldn't advise you to do that.
You amt been here long enough to
make forenoon calls. If you should
catch some of the women in this town
with aprons and calico on. they'd
never forgive you in this world Wait
till afternoon; they'll be expectin' you
then and they'll be rigged out in their
best bibs and fuckers. S'pose you
found Annabel Daniels with. her hair
done up in curl papers; what do you
think would happen? Mornins are no
time for minister's calls. Even old
Mr.. Langley never made calls in the
forenoon-and he'd been here thirty
odd years"
"All right. you know best Much
obliged for the advice. Then I'll sim
ply take my walk and leave the calls
until later
I'D be back by ten. though Folks'll
begin calm on you by that time"
When, promptly at ten o'clock, the
minister returned from his walk, he
found Mrs. Rogers waiting in the sit
ting room. II is prime qualification
of an alert reporter to be first on the
scene of sensation. Didama was sell
dom beaten. Mr.. Ellery's catechism
began. Before 1t was over Keziah
opened the door to admit Miss Pepper
and her brother Ryan" was nervous
and embarrassed in the housekeeper's
presence. Lavinia was n glacier, NOV
ing majestically and freezing as 1t
moved. Keziah. however. was not
even touched by the frost; she greet
ed the pair cordially. and begged them
to take off their things"
It was dinner time before the cate
chizers departed. The catechized came
to the table with an impaired appe-
tite. He looked troubled
Don't let 1t worry you, Mr.. Ellery."
observed Keziah calmly. II think
can satisfy you. Honest and true. I
amt half as bad as you might think"
The minister looked more troubled
than before: also sIIrnrised