Keziah Coffin

e in his people's regard was now assured, the attendance was increasing, and the Regular church was now on a firmer footing, financially and socially, than it had been in

y stops fault-findin', the millennium's so nigh port

bly thinner during the past month, his manner was distrait, and, worst of all in the housekeeper's eye

pie? Why, a week ago you ate three and looked kind of disappoint

erend John. "No, I'm not sick. I j

ason, his healthiness is pretty shaky. What does ail you, Mr. Ellery? Got somethin' on your mind? If you have, I'd heave it

ortly afterwards, intently regarding nothing in particular with a rapt stare. She watched him for a few moments and then, with a puzzl

venings, before prayer meeting, and after he had

our head. Don't have any of his granddad's New England rum, do you? They tell me he's got some of that down cellar that he d

nied acquaintanceship with

the other thing. You a

d, colored, and was

epeated. "In lo

d a male at last, has she? She's a

received settled the question of An

kin' for himself-Elkanah and his daughter would do all that was necessary. So you're not in love. Then I don't know what does ail you. I'll say this, though, for a body that ain't in love you certainly stay with

, on the opposite side of the road, two hours before. But she wa

Not all the time. I-er-

ng that walk he had entered the s

his chair, while Keziah, looking up from her mending, watched him and guessed and wondered. After he had gone to his room for the night, she would hear him pacing the

y book. She read for an hour and then, finding it difficult to keep her mind on the story, gave it up, closed the book and, rising, walked to the window. But the misty, hot loneliness of the afternoon, was neither interesting nor cheerful, so she turned away and w

rs, was smooth with a shine that suggested oil, and in his shirt front was a large pin, which might possibly have been mistaken by a credulous observer for a diamond. Mrs. Coffin looked at t

or did she hear the cautious footsteps in the rooms below. What aroused

eziah, are

d ran out into the hall, t

ked sharply. "Mr. E

-Nat. Are you busy, Keziah? I

riedly thrust the l

n, Nat," she answe

his Sunday suit of blue and his soft felt hat was on the c

habit. This is the second time you've sneaked into the house and scared me 'most to

ply she caught a g

What is the matter? Is any

's as well as he has been lately

Gr

t few weeks-or I've seemed to notice that she has-but I cal'late it's nothin' se

it? Why don't

u, Keziah. That's wha

ke a lighthouse, shuttin' out the whole broad

l chair in the apartment and sat down upon i

ues as the bottom of the Whale Deep, a look at that face of

ds I'll practice tryin' to believe that.

uble enough. Dad and I

s mouth and

ried, in utte

er dinner to-day. It would have been a real one if I hadn't walk

ppin' much. Nat Hammond, I'm surprised a

, enough sight worse. Somethin' I can't do-even for dad-and won't either. Keziah, he's dead set on my marryin' Grace. Says if I

at

to founder 'most any time. He says that don't worry him; if he knew Grace and I were provided for he'd slip his cable

for a moment. Th

does she feel about it

He got red hot in a jiffy. I was ungrateful and stubborn and all sorts of things. And I, bein' a Hammond, with some of the Hammond balkiness in me, I set my foot dow

o that but yes. Then back he comes again with 'Then why can't you?' At last, bein' frightened, as I said, that he might have another shock or s

ded rugs on the floor. Her face was very grave and the lines about her mouth seemed to deepen. Her ha

e thing I can say. And that's wha

sprang fro

ncredulously. "Wha

at. Why can't you marry Grace?

ffin, you sit there and ask me

s,

We're not jokin' now. You know why I can't marry

can't ma

lieve just that. We went together when we were boy and girl, to parties and such. We was promised when I first went to sea. If it hadn't been for that fool row we had-and 'twa

t! hush!

th me on board my ships. That, when I come down the companion on stormy nights I might have found you there to comfort me and-O Keziah! we aren't young any more. What's the use of foolin'? I want you. I'm goin' to have you

n't,

re for me? You've let me think-well, at any rate,

earth. But I can't marry you. Oh, don't keep aski

this month, or even this ye

s no use of this goin' on any lon

n't, yo

ish to think so

by an

nd by. Never,

hand across

ated, more to hi

. Yes,

verlastin'! I'l

better do just what your father asks you to do. Marry Grace, if she wants you and will have you. She'll make you a good wife; you'll learn to c

want to listen to such stuff. I tell you I'm past

at

reason on God's footstool why you won't have me

trouble with your father has upset you. You don't mea

, Keziah. I've lived for you. And now-O Keziah, take it back! G

ish I could. But 'twouldn't

table and strode to the doo

aid chokingly. "A

oth of the kitchen. Then the b

he chair from which she had risen and her head dropped forward upon her arms on the table. The letter she had been reading before Captain Nat's arrival fell from her wais

r the horizon of ocean and bay the fog banks were rolling in tumbled, crumpled masses. Th

up the dropped letter and went to admit the visitor, whoever he or she might be.

said, opening the door

tone step, and shifting uneasily from one foot to

it. Well, is La

n't. She-she

he know you

n't cal'lat

ll, what d

ishai's proposal of marriage, but she had never quite forgiven him for making

u want?" sh

plainly

," he announced. "It's all right

n earth should

id I was goin' to-to talk about what we talke

ason to be afraid if THAT was what you come for. W

ted to see

ut. Goo

keep him bu

you. Do you want t

o, I gue

t impo

to ask his advice about somethin'. It's a se

call again? Or ask him

tarted to go, now hur

you tell him that. I wouldn't have him co

secret, then?" Keziah s

you tell her I come here, will you? I'l

I was you. Elkanah might not like to

Danielses', not as late's this,

ousekeeper look

fternoons-and why he goes, too. Mr. Ellery and

Pepper! What are

nothin'.

Come in the house

eally, I'd love to

n, I te

ind to refuse, Mr. Pepper entered the dini

that the minister and you are in some sort of secret? H

er told nobody afore, anyhow

l run right up and ask your sist

Keziah. Don't! Laviny don't know wha

you s

nday afternoon. He don't know anybody knows, but I

n' Mr. Ellery wouldn't want told?

id that! I-Keziah Coffin, don't you ever tell I told you. I've said more'n I meant to. If it comes out there'd be the biggest row in the church t

the housekeeper had no mercy on him. She was beginning to fear for her parson and, for the

ing on the row in the church? WHO does Mr.

Sunday afternoon after he leaves Elkanah's. There, now!

ed Mr. Pepper by the lapel of

Mr. Ellery meets Grace Van Horn

the bank over the beach. He's met her there every Sunday for

red to spy on-I think you're l

now, walkin' up and down and talkin'. What would I want to li

y he was on his way to the door. B

d to a livin' soul of what you say you've seen. Don't you even think it, or-or dream it. If you do I'll-I'll march straight to Laviny and tel

at do you say when you swear? I'll say

ow clear out quick. I want to think.

she sat there, striving to grasp the situation. Then she rose and, putting on her bonnet and shawl, locked the dining-room door, and went out through the kitchen. On the step she looked cautiously back to see if any of the neighbors were at their windows. But this was Sunda

ter, with Grace Van Horne of all people, if he should dare think of marrying her, it would mean the utter wreck of his career as a Regular clergyman. His own society would turn him out instan

the breach between father and son would widen beyond healing. If it were merely a matter of personal selection, Mrs. Coffin would rather have seen her parson marry Grace than anyone else on earth. As it was, such a match must not be. It meant ruin for both. She must prevent the affai

shes and entered the grove. The pine needles made a soft carpet which deadened her footfalls, and the shadows beneath the boughs were thick and black. Sh

cross the clearing, along the bush-bordered path and into the shrubbery beyond. John Ellery was

KNEW now and she knew, also, that the responsibility was hers. She must go home at once,

the grove when another figure passed stealthily along that narrow path by the bluff edge. A female figure treading very carefully, rising to peer ov