Keziah Coffin

with a table and chairs and the melodeon upon it, rows of wooden settees for the congregation-that was all. As the minister entered, th

usy wrestling with the tune to turn and look at him. A child here and there in the back row twisted a curious neck but twisted bac

beard, puritanical with its set, smooth-shaven lips and tufted brows. Captain Eben held an open hymn book back in one hand and beat time with the other. He wore brass-bowed

weep when the

hall shou

have a desire to improvise. They sang with spirit, however, and the rhythmic pat of feet grew louder and louder. Here and there men

a six-foot, raw-boned individual whose clothes smelled strongly of fish, and whose hands, each swung at the end of an exposed five inches of hairy red wrist, looked like flippers. At the end of the third hymn this personage sprang straight up into the ai

cket and wiped his forehead. The thin, nearsighted young woman who had been humped over the key

h he took from the table beside him. Clearing his throat, he anno

e heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of

one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the wo

at the fine print through his spectacles. And as he read, there was a sudden rustle on one of the bac

awled on to the

ildren are gone forth from me, and they are not: there is non

h and have not sought the Lord: the

-M

kiel was the father of Susannah B. Bassett, "Sukey B." for short, who played the melodeon. He had been, by successive seizures, a Seventh Day Baptist, a Secon

tion, he found himself treated to a view of their back hair. Nearly every head was turned toward the rear corner of the roo

a prayer meetin' or-or-what? Br

on of righteous indignation changed to one of blank astonishment. He, too, gazed

of old, had enforced obedience aboard his coasting schoo

eet his. Then he regarded his abashed but exci

e said, "let us

prayed for the few here gathered together: Let them be steadfast. Let them be constant in the way. Th

. O Lord, strengthen us to-night to speak what's in our hearts, without fear." ("A-men!") "To prophesy in Thy name! To bid the mockers and them that dare-dare to profane this sanctu

reached the sticking point only a half hour before, was the result of considerable deliberation. He had argued with himself and had made up his mind to find out for himself just what these people did. He w

that the pastors become brutish and have not sought Thee and that they shan't prosper. Help u

iel Bassett rose to "testify." The testimony was mainly to the effect that h

needed somethin' else. I needed good times in my religion" ("Hallelujah!") "and I've found 'em right here. Yes, sir! right here.

phthisic, "wheezin' like a busted bellerses" and 'twas "up and down, trot, trot, trot," to fetch and carry for him day in and night out, did the folks from the Reg'lar church help her? She guessed NOT. The only one that came nigh her was Laviny Pepper, and she c

e been at their height and half a dozen Come-Outers on their feet at once, relating their experiences and proclaiming their happiness. But tonight there was a damper; the presence of the leader of the oppositi

u afraid? If your faith is real, nothin' nor nobody should keep you from cryin' it o

s for the comfort this little society of true believers had been to him. Ellery realized that here was another so

mous hands. His name was Josiah Badger and he was, according to Trumet's estimate, "a little mite lackin

KE. When I used to g-go to their old Reg'lar meetin' house, all I done was to go to sleep. But I don't go to sleep here, glory hallelujah! No, sir! There's too much b-b-blessed noise and we have too g-good times to g-go to sleep here. That old K

me of the older members interfered with Mr. Badger's fervent

lence! Brother Badger, I beg

ght had evidently been der

's about all," he st

looked over

nterfere with our duty to the Almighty. And I will say," he added, his voice rising and trembling with indignation, "to him who came here uninvited and broke up this meetin', that it would be well for him to remember the words of Scri

came from all parts of the little room. They c

since my arrival in this town, of this society and its meetings. I had heard, too, that there seemed to be a feeling of antagonism, almost hatred, against me among you here. I couldn't see why. Most of you have, I believe, been at one time members of the church where I preach. I wished to find out for myself how much of truth there was

n a buzz of whispering. Captain Eben, who had heard

"the forty-second hymn. After which

d into a public justification, and now he was quite sure that he would have been more politic to remain silent. He realized that the evening's performance would cause a sensation and be talked about all over town. The Come-Outers would glory in their lea

curious company. When he rose to speak he had seen her in the front row, beside the thin, middle-aged female who had entered the chapel with Captain Hammond and with her. She was looki

it was almost a rain. The wind was blowing hard from the northwest. The congregation dispersed in chattering groups, their lanterns dipping and swinging like fireflie

-give it to him. He looked toler'ble white under the gills when he riz up to heave out his s-s-sus-

as the lights were blown out, one by one. The minister frowned, sighed, and turned homewa

s when there was a rustle i

voice, "Mr. Ellery, may I

led in

n Horne!" he excla

riedly and in a low voice, "I-I felt

another moment he clumped past them in the middle of the road, the circle of light from his lantern just missing them as they stood in the grass at the sid

Grace finished her sentence. The minis

explain. I am SO sorry you came here to-night

, "because I-well, because I thought it

But it wasn't.

myself called a fool already since I left your churc

takable. And a little laugh from his comp

haps it is funny. I did no

the theological school, where young divines are taught to take themselves seriously. He w

ed him as he wa

one, you know. I was thinking of his testimony in meeting and how he called Ky-Abishai-a pepper shaker. That was ri

e remained where he was, and heard the dr

e my uncle for what he said to-night. He wouldn't have hurt your feelings for the world. He is a good man and d

ot in the mood to be greatly impressed by Eben Hammond's charity or innate goodness. The old tavern

declared. "It seemed to me that

us. Some of the Regular people do, people who aren't fit to tie his shoes. And so he spoke against you

all right. I th

you're a Regular minister. He isn't ashamed of hi

supposed

ry. All I ask is that you don't think t

and it was the mini

s a hard thing to say, "that perhaps I ought to apologize, too. I'm afraid I

a swooping downpour that beat upon the trees and bushes and roared u

let me-Miss Van Hor

m a short distance

called the gir

an ran after her. He caught up with her in a mome

the umbrella. Really, you must. You h

the umbre

ruly I am. And I don't care for this hat; it's an old one. You have

elf-sacrificing reply, "then I

on't wis

d through this flood. Especially as you might have been at

ou mus

sha

till in the middle of the road, while the rain drops jumped as they struck t

; "then I suppose I s

ha

nd you'll get dreadfully we

his own on the handle. He

hat is unreasonable. I SHOULD get wet and, th

arply, "what are

r gate. I'm sorry, if my c

silent, merely removing her hand from the handle. She took a step forward; he followed, holding t

arm to prevent her falling. To his surp

g your pardon. Of course I wouldn't think of going another step with you. I

fer the umbrella and ag

he gasped; "but-oh, d

ed dark. This was the most astonishing young person he

l, perhaps it is. Our idea

your congregation would say if they knew you had been to a Come-O

ately Miss Annabel rose before his mind's eye. He hadn't thought of his co

rnfully. "I guess it is

ill you leave me and go

you take t

k, don't you think so? Mr. Ellery, I'm afraid w

y n

e your sermons that way, too? Captain Elkanah

an intense desire to bid the Daniels family mind

surprised if he knew you were with me. Perhaps

Poundberry, our housekeeper. He doesn't know where I am. I wonder he hasn't tu

ry wondered what on earth he should say to Captain Ha

y walls. Now it was not. Through the rain he could see the shadowy silhouettes of bushes at the road side. Fifty yards away the lighted windows of the Hammond tavern gleamed yellow. Farther on, over a ragge

e was due this morning, but we didn't expect her in till to-mo

The minister would have followed wi

stly. "No, please don't. I'm all

farther on

," she whispered, the laugh retu

minute more and the bulky form of Eben Hammond, lantern in hand, a sou'wester on his head and his shoulders working themselves into an oilskin coat, burst ou

w-locks. A boat was approaching the wharf

oy, dad! Is

ut of joy. Then a rattle of oars and a clamor of t

ter saw that it was now carried by a tall, active man, who walked with a sea

tered t

Captain Eben. "Gracie, gi

man ran

arty voice. "Is that you? Ain't you

epped out i

, NAT!" s

arms and carried her into the house. C

y homeward through the pu

ted by the table, evidently writing a le

w 'em down to me, and I'll dry 'em in the kitchen. Better leave your boots here now and stand that umbrella in the sink. The kettle's on the s

he thought he had better go up and take off his wet clothes. He declined

n in the ink and wen

ow. More than I ought to afford. Goodness knows why I send anyt

called from

he way, the packet came in to-night. They didn't expect her so soon on account of the fog

with a soft thump. The tick of the clock sounded loud in

d, Captain Eben's son, came on the packet. I didn't meet him, but

the pen down beside t

d, "I hear you

ked up the coat, and took it out into the kitchen, where she hung it on the clotheshorse by the cook stove. After a

xplanation he must make to Captain Elkanah and the rest. But the picture that was before his closed eyes as he lay there was neither of Captain Elkanah