Keziah Coffin
Page 58
ifI live a thousand year. I, and two or three other young shavers, was hidin the little room off the vestry--the room where they kept the dishesthey used for church suppers--and we heard the whole business. Of coursenobody knew that Nat was goin' to marry Keziah then, but they did knowthat he wa'n't goin' to marry Grace Van Horne, and had given her upto the minister of his own accord. So Daniels's guns was spiked and hedidn't stand no chance at all. However, you'd never have guessed itto look at him. He marched into that meetin' and up to the platform asstiff and dignified as if he'd swallered a peck of starch. He calledthe meetin' to order--'twas a full one, for all hands and the cook wasthere--and then got up to speak.
"He opened fire right off. He raked John Ellery fore and aft. Theparson, he said, had disgraced the society and his sacred professionand should be hove overboard immediate. 'Twas an open secret, he said.Everybody knew how he, minister of a Reg'lar church, had been carryin'on with a Come-Outer girl, meetin' her unbeknownst to anyone, and so on.As he got warmed up on this subject he got more bitter and, though hedidn't come out open and say slanderous things, his hints was as nighthat as a pig's snout is to his squeal. Even through the crack of thedish-closet door I could see the bristles risin' on the back of Cap'nZeb Mayo's neck.
"At last Cap'n Zeb couldn't stand it no longer.
"'Belay there!' he sings out, jumpin' to his feet. 'I want to ask youone question, Elkanah Daniels: Are you tryin' to say somethin' againstGrace Van Horne's character?'
"Well, that was a sort of sticker, in a way, and I cal'late Danielsrealized it. He 'hum-ha'd' and barked a little and then give in that hecouldn't swear the Van Horne person's character wa'n't all right, but--"
"'Couldn't swear!' snorts Zeb. 'You better not try to, not when theminister or Nat's around. Aw, belay! you want us to fire John Elleryout of this society--the best minister it ever had or ever willhave--because he had the sense to get sweet on a good clean girl and thespunk to ask her to marry him. And you're down on her because she's beenbrought up in a Come-Outer family--at least, that's the reason you giveout, though some of us have suspicions 'tain't the real one. Why! sherisked what she thought was smallpox to keep him from dyin' that nightshe picked him up, ravin' distracted, in the middle of the lighthouselane, and if he hadn't married her after that I, for one, would havebeen willin' to vote to give him his walkin' papers, Come-Outer she mayhave been, but, by time, she's got religion that's good enough for meand I'll be proud to see her the wife of my minister. Don't let's haveno more chin music. We know what you want and what you called thismeetin' for; now let's vote on it.'
"Three or four sung out 'Question' and 'Vote.' But Elkanah held up hishand.
"'Gentlemen,' says he, 'before I ask for the vote I want to say just oneword. I've worshiped in this meetin' house ever sence I was a child. Iwas christened in it; my father worshiped here afore me; I've presidedover the meetin's of this body for years. But I tell you now that if youvote to keep that rascally hypocrite in your pulpit I shall resign fromthe committee and from the society. It'll be like cuttin' off my righthand, but I shall do it. Are you ready for the vote? Those in favor ofretaining the present minister of this parish will rise. Those opposedwill remain seated.'
"Every man on the floor stood up. Daniels himself was the only one thatstayed settin' down.
"'It is a vote,' says he, white as a sheet, and his voice trembling.'Gentlemen, I bid you good day.'
"He took up his hat and cane, give one look around the vestry, as ifhe was sayin' good-by to it, and marched down the aisle as straight andstarchy as he'd come into it. Only, when he reached the door, he put upone hand as if he was steadyin' himself. There was precious few in thatvestry that liked Elkanah Daniels, but I'm bettin' high there wa'n't aone who didn't feel sorry for him then.
"'Twas quiet as could be for a minute or so after he'd gone. Then Cap'nZeb draws a big breath and flings up his hand.
"'Shipmates,' says he, 'this is the Almighty's house and we've got to doit quiet, but I propose three whisperin' cheers for the Rev. John Elleryand the lady that's goin' to be his wife.'
"So they give 'em--hearty, too, if they was whispered--and that's allthere is to that meetin' worth tellin' about."
Captain Daniels and his daughter moved to Boston that summer. They nevercame back to Trumet to live. Annabel remained single until after herfather's death; then she married a man very much younger and poorerthan she was. It was remarked by acquaintances of the couple that thedifference in age became less and less apparent as their married lifecontinued.
"Humph!" observed Captain Zeb, summing up the situation, "he startedabout ten year astern, but he'll beat her on the run into the cemetery,now you mark my words. Annabel's temper's cal'lated to keep any averagechap drivin' on that course, bows under. There's a three-reef breezeblowin' off her tongue, day and night."
On a Sunday morning, a few weeks after the committee meeting, theRegular church was crowded. John Ellery was to preach his first sermonsince the San Jose came ashore. Every member of the congregation waspresent. Even Mrs. Prince, feeble but garrulous, was there. GaiusWinslow, having delivered his brood of children at the church door, madea special trip in his carryall to fetch the old lady. Captain Zebedeeand Mrs. Mayo beamed from their pew. Dr Parker and his wife smiled atthem across the aisle. Didama Rogers's new bonnet was a work of art andher neck threatened to twist itself off as she turned to see each onewho came in.
Lavinia Pepper sailed to the front. She was dressed in a new blackalpaca which rustled so very much like silk that nearsighted peoplemight have been deceived by it. With her was a man, apparently sufferingfrom strangulation because of the height and tightness of his collar."It's Caleb Pratt, from Sandwich," whispered Didama. "Thankful Payne'srelation, you know. Have you heard what folks are sayin'? I guessit's true, because--Look at Kyan! you'd think he was goin' to his ownfuneral."
Abishai's expression was not cheerful, certainly. He followed Mr. Prattand his sister to the Pepper pew and subsided sadly in the corner nextthe wall. Occasionally he was observed to wipe his forehead and once--itwas during the prayer--he groaned audibly. Lavinia's dig in the ribsprevented his repeating the sound, but, judging by his looks, hecontinued to groan in spirit.
There was a stir at the door. All heads swung in that direction--all butMr. Pepper's, that is. The minister and Grace were coming up the aisleand behind them came Captain Nat Hammond and Keziah Coffin. Nat wassmiling and self-possessed. Never before in his life had he entered theRegular meeting house as a worshiper, but he seemed to be bearing theordeal bravely. It was Grace's first visit to the church, also, and shewas plainly embarrassed. To be stared at by eighty-odd pairs of eyes,and to catch whispered comments from the starers' tongues, is likely toembarrass one.
Yet the comments were all friendly.
"I declare!" whispered Mrs. Prince, "I never see her look so prettyafore. I knew she was the best lookin' girl in this town, but I neverrealized she was SUCH a beauty. Well, there's one thing sartin'--we'vegot the handsomest parson and parson's wife in THIS county, by about tenmile and four rows of apple trees. And there's the other bride that'sgoin' to be. I never see Keziah look so well, neither."
Keziah did look well. Her parson had emerged triumphant from his battlewith disease and adverse fate and was more than ever the idol of hiscongregation. He was to marry the girl of his choice--and hers. Thehousekeeper's ears were still ringing with the thanks of John and Grace.Both seemed to feel that to her, Keziah Coffin, more than anyone else,they owed their great joy. Some of the things they said she would neverforget. And her own life, too, was freed forever of its burden, thesecret which had hung over her for so many years. Only a very few knewthat secret, and they would not disclose it. Toward the memory of theman buried in the stranger's lot at the cemetery she felt almostkindly now. While he lived she had feared and dreaded him, now she wasbeginning to forgive. For he had paid his debt with his life, and withher, beside her, was the other, the one whom she had loved, had givenup, had mourned for, and who was now
to be hers always. No wonder Keziahlooked well. She was happy, and happiness is a wondrous beautifier.
The minister went up the stairs to the pulpit. He was still white andthin, but his eyes were bright and his voice clear. He gave out theopening hymn and the service began.
They said it was the