Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1890-04-19

agony Of terror. Ruth was white, and |
both Grace and Belle looked frigh.ened |
Keturah paused, little dismayed at the |
-onsternation she had produced
4 don't think ! shall slesp a wink
tonight" cried Kitty.
sHark :" said Ruth, sharply; What
that
II sounded as if.a stepiwassspp1hachine
the house. There.was a football. on the
porch, and then asknock.
The seven ,crows have 'come'' NUT
tered Keturah, under her breath, as she
listened intently.
The knock was repeated, and then
came an imperative rap.
mo one shall open that door this
night declared 5Keturah, with a white
face.
Again tney'heard the step, and sud
denly noise arose, SO terrific and
deafening that it seemed as if cyclone
had struck the house. The windows rat
tied the door latch shook and with the
general uproar were mingled frightfnl
STAMPS and slams These sounds donbled
in violence, and low, angry. growls were
distinctly heard.
Panic stricken, the girls shrank to
gether in numb terror Keturah stood
as if frozen, but she presently managed
to say
''It's my sign! What has, happened
Oh, what has happened, It's awful :.
It's awful"
The uproar died away all at once into
light echoes.
Ruth, Ruth walled Keturah,
's'either Mary is dead Or somethn' turri-
BILE has happened to your mother. Didn't
say so2'
But before she had finished speaking a
hearty mans voice on the other side OF
the door called out:
won't you let me in' I'm Silas
Vandevender"
There was no mistaking it, and IN a
transport Of relief Ruth sprang to open
the door Silas hobbled across the
floor, over which he usually strobe, and,
carefully lifting first one foot and then
the other, he shuff1ed toward the centre
Of the kitchen
One glance at his feet told what had
happened Each foot was firmly fast
ened in the centre of milk pan full of
soft taffy, and Silas, with a queer grin,
stood regarding the pans curiously.
$50 that's what it was, was - he
sud, after the girls, in a strong reaction
from intense fear, had laughed till the
tears came. "Only some of Turys taf.
fy. Well, it's to, able sticky, 'Tury,
wonder at you settin' this stuff to cool on
the porch. Did you calc late to ketch
burglar. | come here to night primed
for stealin, bu. twas in fair way. l
only wanted to steal you from Mrs. Tot
ten."
A phenomenal blush overspread the
Kitty giggled outright.
Il set one foot in somethin' soft, !
Silas went on, IAN while I was tryin' TO
stamp it off, set the other foot inter the
same stuff. | was kind o surprised, ye
see, an danced consid' able out there
tryin' to git out o the trap. l couldn't
contrive what on airth had caught me
/ that seemed so sudden fond o my boots
! He removed the pans, each with
sticky impress of his great oowhide boots
! in the centre, and with an apology for
having spoiled the taffy, placed his adhe
/ size feet on n newspaper.
Il do hope, keturv,' he went or,
/ that when we're married you'll stand by
ne like your taffv.
Although this was intended IN strict
compliment keturah took it very ILL.,
Y on haint 90. me- yit, 81 Nandeven.
der" she said, crlsplv ands retired into
the hutterv.
Ruth brought out her fathers slippers
! and gave 81 some idea Of the nervous
state they had been in He laughed at
their uneasiness over : Tury rubblshy
yarns, as he called them, and SO reas
surod them that the little household was
once more in state of calm and content
ment before he went away.
Next morning the girls found not only
a beautiful breakfast awaiting them, but
keturah with an astonishing emerald ring
on her anger and self conscious smile
on her face Broad daylight had turned
her thrilling signs into mirth provoking
myths and she herself had quite discarded
the mood Of prophecy.