Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-05-09

uran. we want some OF your very
buttcricst molasscs taffy. What makes
you LOOK SD sober, Ruth.''
They settled comfortably around the
fire. 'Turah brought in the molasscs jug
and the butter jar. Ruth took down
several cars of pop corn from the back
kitchen rafters, and the girls shclled
them while Turah made the candy. At
length it WAS finished, and set out on the
side porch in two goodly sized milk pans.
\ pyramid of snowy corn was piled up on
the blue platter. and then Grace and
Ruth fell 70 cracking hickory nuts on
liatirons.
Kitty had just returned from visit to
lthaca. She was Overlooking with ''ncw
ideas, and after describing the latest
fashions, SHE began to dance
kcturah smiled She had been sitting
by the table, listcningsvith pleased air
TO the girls chat, but ut the sight of
Kitty dancing her face heightened again.
'tThat must h' been the very place where
he stood, she said, dolcfully, "and the
very same kind of IA doublc-shutiic he
dauccd. don't like to see it, after
them seven crows Tonight"
There WIS Il solemn mystery in her
words which made itself felt, and the
girls all huddIcd together ms she told
again the story OF the sign she had seen
that night.
''But can see that the dance is very
dangerous" poutcd Kitty.
"Ever hear how your Uncle Bic died,
Ruth? My mother told me. Forty
year ago Bic rottcn lived in this house,
aud he was great Teller for to dance Il
double shuttle. lie was the greatest
dancer in the country, Bic was.
"Wcll; he had company here one
night, and of course they asked him to
heel and toe il for 'cm. lie stood up and
begun TO whistle the tune he danced to,
when all on II suddcnt he stopped. He
told EN- seriously lie felt he oughtn't to
dance it. Somcthin' told him not to.
But they persisted and jokcd him, till
finally he give in.
"'I do it, says he, 'agin my convic-
tons. And when he comes to the place
where he give three high hops, he just
fell over, spang! And up and died before
his wife could get 10 him. But he
seemed bound an determined for to fin
ioH tiltlI uNuGC
"Oncc Il year, on the night that he
died, at twelve o'clock, the family reg
ularly heard that double shuttle a-goin'
on in this kitchen, and then all to once Il
heavy thud--'
go 'Turah stop" cried Kitty, in an
agony Of terror. Ruth was white, and
both Grace and Belle looked frightened.
kcturah paused, II little dismaycd at the
CONSERVATION she had produced
az don't think l shall sleep wink
tonight" cried Kitty.
"Hark!' said Ruth, sharply: ''What's
that?"
1t sounded as if step was approaching
the house. There was football on the
porch, and then a knock.
'Thc seven crows have comet NUT
tered Kcturah, under her breath, as she
listened intcntly.
The knock was repeated, aud then
came an imperative rap.
mo one shall open that door this
night" declared Kcturah, with "A white
lace.
Again they heard the step, and sud-
denly Il noise arose, so terrific and
dcafcning that it seemed as if cyclone
had struck the house. The windows rat
tied, the door-iatch shook, and t the
general uproar were mingled frightful
stamps and slams. These sounds doubled
i'll violence, and low, angry growls were
distinctly heard.
Panic-strickcn, the girls shrank to-
gcthcr i'll numb terror. Kcturah stood
as if frozen, but she presently managed
to say:
"lt's my sign, What has ha opened
Oh! what has happened? It's awful!
It's awful"
The uproar died away all at once into
light echoes.
"Ruth, Ruth" walled Keturah,
''cithcr Mary is dead or somethin' turri-
bic has happened to your mother! Didn't
l say soa'
BIT before she had finished speaking
hearty mans voice on the other side of
the door called out:
won't you let me in? I'm Silas
Nandevcnderl"
There was no mistaking it, and in
transport of relief Ruth sprang to open
the door. Silas hobblcd across the
floor, over which he usually strobe, and,
carefully lifting first one foot and then
the other, he shufilcd toward the centre
OF the kitchen.
One glance at his feet told what had
happened. Each foot was firmly fast
cncd in the centre of milk-pan full OF
soft taffy, and Silas, with queer grin,
stood regarding the pms curiously.
so that's what it was, was it?r he
sid, after the girls, in a strong reaction
from intense fear, had laughed till the |
tears came. "Only some of 'Tury's taf-
fly. Well, it's tol'ablc sticky, 'Turyl
wonder at you settin' this stuff to cool on
the porch. Did you calc'latc to kctch n
burglar2 come here toni ht primcd
for stealth, but twas in fair way. Il
only wanted to steal you from Mrs. Tot
tcnl"
a phenomenal blush .overspread the
gathering chagrin on Keturnhs face.
Kitty giggled outright.
81 set one foot in somcthin' soft"
Silas went on, San while 1 was irwin to
Stan,n If off 7 act fho ntbor foot to-. a.