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


Hank was turrible sinner !. He just
'lrinked himself straight to the edge OF
the grave and the summer afternoon hc
lala strugglin' with death /. Deacon
Brown urged him 70 repent, but he
wouldn't SAYS he, III die as I've lived,
an you git out
Three clock in the afternoon the hall
door stood open, an it was so not the
dooryara flowers Topped over OF THEN
stems and hung srn Suddenly there
come sound ike a long. Geld blast Of
wind Everybody fs,t the icy chill I,
ho~lod uualrthly an the die away moan
made them shedder down their spines.
I FolIerin il came three soundin raps on
the brass knoeker They were awful.
Hank : sister I3elindy. she crep', out
ana pecked over the bsnnisters. an there
vas the hall empty, an not a livln'. soul
t IN sight high or low. Jest thenfIfah
Slve gasp an groan, an up an died.
"'nf - 60 doVn sullar with me for the
virtuals>p
Ruth hesitatcd and shivcred. >, ss.s..:~- -.
Yes, III go, 'Turah, but | don'tswant
to h"ar Of another omen tonight I'm
| getting nervous 80
The cellar was dark and gloomy ruth
I t,.i1 II ~
the necessary edibles from the swinging
shclf. The return to The warm, COSY
kitchen was exceedingly pleasant. Ruth
ate her supper sitting opposite Keturah,
End speculatlIg on the nature Ofsomens
in general. while Keturah discoursed
volubly Of her wonderful 'knack for pre-
I sentiments.
"And feel sure, she declared, over
her fourth cup of tea, ''that them crows
meant trouble here to night.
The sound of wheels and voices out
side gave quick, bright turn to affairs.
Belle, KITTY and Grace Haywood came
rushing into the kitchen, brlmming over
with merriment, and bringing a Joyous
atmosphere with them
This promises fun" cried Grace,
whirling Keturah around giddily In spite
of her protestatlons.
! s.'Turah, we want some Of your very
butteriest moasses taffv What makes
YOU look 50 sober, Ruth
They settled comfortably around the
fire. Turah brought in the mosasses Jug
and the butter lar. Ruth took down
several ears Of popcorn from the back
kitchen rafters, and tne girls shelled
them while 'Turah made the candy. At
length If was finished, and set out on the
side porch in two goodly sized milk pans.
A pyramid of snowy corn was piled up on
the blue platter, and then Grace and
Ruth fell to cracking hickory nuts on
flatirons.
Kitty had lust returned from a visit to
Ithaca. She was over1owing with ''new
ideas" and after describing the latest
fashions, she began TO dance
keturah shifted She had been sitting
by the table, listening with a pleased air
TO the girls chat, but at the sight OF
Kitty S dancing her face heightened again.
That must ha' been the very place vher
he stood = she said. dolefullv, land th
verv same KID of double shuttle he
danced. I don't like to see it, after
them seven crows to night
There was solemn mystery in her
words which made itself felt, and the
girls all huddled together IS she tolC
again the story Of the sign she had seen
that night
But cant see that the dance is very
dangerous routed Kitty.
Ever hear how your Uncle Bile died
/ Rnth' Ny mother told me. Forty
year ago Bic Tottsn lived in this house,
and he was great teller for 10 dance {
double shuttle. He was the creates
dancer in the country, BiJe was.
We'll he {had company here one
heel aud toe il for EN- He stood up am
begun 10 whistle the tune he danced to
; when all on student he stopped HI
, told en- seriously he felt he oughtn't L