The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-03-18
ynteQigeuter,
TN a TRANCE.

I'm "a TRANCE.
scarcely know how it happened, but tim
ber must have fallen and struck me 0a the
head.
The first thing that realized after it was
that was straight and still on something hard,
and when I tried to move myself and speak, L
found it impossible to do so. I concluded that
must be in some very tight dark place, tor !.
could not see; in fact soon learned that tno,
nerfectly conscious, I could do nothing but
hear. A door opened and footsteps approach.
ei..s but I felt cloth taken from my face, and
a voice which I recognized as that OF Mr..
Jones. the father of my wife that was to be-
said :.
ion, whose voice knew to be the village un-
dertaker, Hopkins by name, lightly
eBetter looking dead than alive. How does
Jerusha feel about it? Take OF much 2"
aOh, no, she had her eye on another fellow
: ANYHOW, and better match, too, excepting the
money part. Though / had nothing against
Ben, only he didn't know much, and was about
the homeliest man ever knew. Such mouth,
why it really seemed as though he was gong
to swallow knife, plate and all, when he opened
itat dinner"
ssWell,N said the cheerful voice of Hopkins,
ehe'll never open his mouth again" And
then he proceeded to measure me for my coffin,
for IL seemed that was dead, or they thought
was, which was all the same to the greedy
pocket of the undertaken. had heard OF ur-
dertakers who always whistled joyfully when
tEsy got o measure, but I never believed it be-.
foys. But the man actually whisbled subdued
dancing-tune while he measured me, and 1t
seemed 10 me that three or four icicles were
rolling down my back, to the music OF his
whistle.
His duty done, they covered my face again
and left me to my own reflections, which were
not particularly comforting, although had
often heard it remarked, that meditation was
GOOD for the soul, and this was the best chance
ever had of trying it.
An hour must have passed when the door
again opened, and two person came whispering
along to where 1 lay, and the voice Of my
promised wife fell upon my ear.
ct 6Tead to look at him, Bob; he was 80
mortal homely, alive, he must be frightful,
dead"
ground my teeth in Imagination, as re-
membered how often she had gone into rap.
lures, or pretented to, over my noble brow, and
expressive mouth and how she had often de-
clared that if I were taken away from her she
would surely pine away and die.
One of them raised the cloth, and knew
they were looking at me. Bob was her second
cousin, and knew he was that "other fellow, =
whom her father had mentioned.
Seems to me you don't feel very bad about
his dying, Rusha," remarked Bob, meditative-
esWell, to tell the TRUTH" said my dear be-.
trothed, "I don't care very much about it. Ii
he had lived T should have married him, be-
cause he was rich, and father wanted me to
but was getting about sick of my bargain, for
y know should always be ashamed Of him, he
looked SO much like a baboon."
ssBut you loved him." remarked Bob.
mo, j didn't My affections were wasted
long ago upon one who never returned my
love-" and my fast fading idol sighed heavily.
'.About how long ago, Rusha Z" asked Bob,
earnestly.
ssA year, or such matter" with another
deep sigh, which ended in fit of squeezing. !.
"About the time went away Z" interrogated
the cautious Bob, coughing little.
"Well, yes, som'res near" assented my dear
afianced.
aNow, Jerush, you don't mean to insinuate
that L."
sI don't mean to insinuate anything, Bob
Smith !'' and the angelic sweetness of her voice
was somewhat sharpened.
ssNow, see here, Rusha, I've loved you ever
since you were knee high to q gopher, but l
thought when you came home that you was
sweet on that other. chap; but swan believe
you liked me all the timeP'
"Oh, Bob" said my was-to-be, In gushing
sort of way.
ssMine own Jerusha p remarked Bob.
Then I heard subdued rush, accompanied
crate my teeth, or do something to relieve my
outraged feelings, but not kick nor a CRATE
could I raise It was an awful fix to be in, but
had to stand it, or rather lay it, 80 laid still
and let 'em alone until they got tired of it, and
then they went out, and was again left to my
own pleasant reflections.
Night came, and 90 did lot of young fellows
with their girls, to sit up with me; and they
had Jolly time of it, although it was against
my principles to enjoy it on so solemn an oc-
casion.
It seemed an age until morning, but it came
at last and they went away. heard them say
that I was to be buried that day at o'clock,
and I was beginning to feel decidedly shaky,
room and began arranging for the funeral.
aRush,n said her mother, "hers is that snuff
colored suit of poor Ben's; of course he will
:. never have any more use for clothes, so just
put them away among your carpet-rsgs; they
will make splendid stripe"
Now, that particular suit Of clothes was just
the neatest one ever owned-arm holes, COL
lars, wrist bands, buttons, all just the thing,
and my blood boiled to hear them talk so cody
ofusing them for stripes in rsg-carpet. They
kept on talking as they swept, busted aud
cleaned up the room.
.Bob says he will take the Martin farm to
work this year" said Jerusha, ehserfully, "and
as soon as we are married we shall 60 to house
keeping IN that little cottage close 70 the road.
Now must get my carpet done, just as soon as
possible, for I want it in that nice little front
room. These duds of Ben's will make out
enough rags, guess. His folks live SO far