Keziah Coffin

by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

with the hope thatKyan had exaggerated--that the meetings in the grove had not been asfrequent as he said they were, or that they had been merely casual.She knew better. She had seen the pair together and the look in JohnEllery's eyes. No, the mischief was done, they loved each other; or, atleast, he loved her. There was the great trouble.

  Keziah, in spite of her worldly common sense, was an idealist at heart.Love matches she believed in thoroughly. If the man had not been aRegular minister, or if he had been a minister in any other town thannarrow, gossiping, squabbling Trumet, where families were divided on"religious" grounds, neighbors did not speak because their creeds weredifferent, and even after death were buried in cemeteries three milesapart; if the girl had been other than the ward of bigoted old EbenHammond--then, though they were poor as poverty itself, Keziah wouldhave joined their hands and rejoiced. Even as it was, she was stronglytempted to do it. Her sense of right and her every inclination urged hertoward that course. "Face the world together and fight it out," thatwas the advice she would like to give them. But no, the battle was toouneven. The odds were too great. They must not think of marriage, forthe present, and they must cease to meet. Perhaps some day--she tried tocomfort herself with the thought--perhaps some day, years afterwards andunder different circumstances, they might.

  --With Ellery she felt certain she could accomplish nothing by argumentor persuasion. She knew him well enough by this time to realize that, ifhis mind was made up, all Trumet and all creation could not change it.He would keep on his course, and, if wrecked, would go down with colorsset and helm lashed. But Grace, perhaps she did not fully realize thesituation. She might be made to see, to listen to reason. And, perhaps,it was possible--perhaps, on her part, matters were not as serious. Theminister had not acted like a triumphant lover, assured of success;he had seemed, now that she thought of it, more like a pleader, asupplicant. Perhaps, if she could see Grace and talk plainly with thegirl, it might not be too late. She determined to try that very night.

  She rose and again donned her bonnet and shawl. She was about to blowout the lamp when she heard rapid footsteps, the sound of some onerunning along the sidewalk in front of the house. As she listened, thefootsteps sounded on the path. Whoever the runner was he was coming tothe parsonage. She stepped to the door and opened it.

  The runner was a boy, Maria Higgins's boy Isaac, whose widowed motherlived down by the shore. He did the chores at the Hammond tavern. Hisfreckled face was dripping with perspiration and he puffed and blew likea stranded whale.

  "What's the matter, Ike?" demanded Keziah. "What is it?"

  "Have ye--have ye," panted Ike, "have ye seen the doctor anywheres, MisCoffin?"

  "Who? Dr. Parker? Have I seen--what in the world are you comin' HEREafter the doctor for?"

  "'Cause--'cause I didn't know where else to come. I been to his houseand he ain't to home. Nobody ain't to home. His wife, Mis Parker, she'sgone up to Boston yes'day on the coach, and--and it's all dark and thehouse door's open and the shay's gone, so--"

  "Who's sick? Who wants him?"

  "And--and--all the rest of the houses round here was shut up 'causeeverybody's to meetin'. I peeked in at the meetin' house and he ain'tthere, and I see your light and--"

  "Who's sick? Tell me that, won't you?"

  "Cap'n Eben. He's awful sick. I cal'late he's goin' to die, and Gracie,she--"

  "Cap'n Eben? Eben Hammond! Dyin'? What are you talkin' about?"

  "Huh! huh!" puffed the messenger impatiently. "Didn't I tell ye? Cap'nEben's adyin'. I seen him. All white and still and--and awful. AndGracie, she's all alone and--"

  "Alone? Where's Nat?"

  "She don't know. He ain't to home. But I got to find Dr. Parker."

  "Hold on! Stop! I'll tell you where the doctor is most likely. Up toMrs. Prince's. She's been poorly and he's prob'ly been called there.Run! run fast as ever you can and get him and I'll go to Grace thisminute. The poor thing! Have you told anybody else?"

  "No, no! ain't seen nobody but you to tell. They was prayin' over tomeetin', and the fellers that waits outside to keep comp'ny with thegirls ain't got there yet. And I never met nobody. And 'twas so blasteddark I fell down four times and tore my best pants and--"

  "S-sh-sh! Listen to me! Don't tell anybody. Not a soul but the doctor.Half this town'll be runnin' to find out if you do, and that poor girlmust be distracted already. I'll go to her. You get Dr. Parker and tellhim to hurry."

  "I'll tell him; don't you fret."

  He was gone, running harder than ever. A moment later Keziah followedhim, running also.

  It was a misty, black night, and Trumet sidewalks were uneven and hardto navigate. But she stumbled on, up the main road to the Corners, downthe "Turn-off," past the chapel of the Come-Outers, from the open windowof which sounded the drone of a high, nasal voice. Josiah Badger was"testifying," and Keziah caught a fragment of the testimony as shehurried by.

  "I says to 'em, says I, I says to 'em, 'I don't care about your smartmum-mum-minister and what fine sermons he preaches. Let him BE smart,' Isays. Says I, 'Smartness won't g-g-g-git ye into heaven.' ("Amen!") 'No,sirree! it takes more'n that. I've seen smart folks afore and they gotc-c-cuk-catched up with sooner or later. Pride goes ahead of a tumble,I've heard tell, and--"

  This was all that Keziah heard of Mr. Badger's testimony, for, as sheran on, a rattle of wheels and the thud of hoofs came from behind her.Then a rocking chaise, drawn by a galloping horse, shot by. Dr. Parker'scarriage, she was sure. The Higgins boy must have met the doctor anddelivered his message.

  The horse and chaise were standing by the front gate of the tavern asshe pantingly drew near it. The side door of the house was ajar and sheopened it softly and entered. The dining room was empty. There was alight on the sitting-room table and low voices came from the littlebedroom adjoining. Then, from the bedroom, emerged Dr. Parker and GraceVan Horne. The girl was white and there were dark circles under hereyes. The doctor was very grave.

  Keziah stepped forward and held out both hands. Grace looked, recognizedher, and with a cry ran toward her. Keziah took her in her arms andsoothed her as if she were a child.

  "There! there! deary," she said, stroking her hair. "There! there!deary, don't take it so hard. Poor thing! you're worn out. If I'd onlyknown sooner."

  "O Aunt Keziah!" sobbed the girl. "I'm so glad you've come. It was sogood of you."

  "Good! Land of mercy! If I hadn't come, I'd have been worse than thebeasts that perish. Don't cry, don't. How is he now? Some better?"

  She looked at the doctor as she asked it. He shook his heademphatically.

  "Well, well, dear," went on Mrs. Coffin hurriedly. "He will be prettysoon, we'll hope. You mustn't give up the ship, you know. Now you go andlay down somewheres and I'll get my things off and see what there is todo. Some good strong tea might be good for all hands, I guess likely.Where's Hannah Poundberry?"

  "She's gone to her cousin's to stay all night. I suppose I ought to sendfor her, but I--"

  "No, no, you hadn't. Might's well send for a poll parrot, the critterwould be just as much good and talk less. I'll look out for things, meand the doctor. Where's--where's Nat?"

  "He came in just after I sent the boy for the doctor. He's in therewith--with him," indicating the bedroom. "Poor Nat!"

  Keziah looked longingly toward the door.

  "Yes," she said slowly. "Poor fellow, it's an awful shock to him. He andhis father are--But there! you lay down on that lounge."

  "I can't lie down. I can't do anything but think. Oh, what a dreadfulday this has been! And I thought it was going to be such a happy one!"

  "Yes, yes, deary, I know."

  Grace raised her head.

  "You know?" she repeated, looking up into the housekeeper's face.

  "I mean I know it's been a dreadful day," explained Keziah quickly."Yes, indeed it has," with a sigh. "But there! our moanin' over it don'tcheer it up any. Will you lay down? No? Well, then, SET down, there's agood girl."

  Grace, protesting th
at she couldn't sit down, she couldn't leave uncle,and there were so many things to do, was at last persuaded by Keziah andthe doctor to rest for a few moments in the big rocker. Then Mrs. Coffinwent into the kitchen to prepare the tea. As she went, she beckoned toDr. Parker, who joined her a moment