The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-03-26
KETURAH'S OMEN.

Mrs. Tottcn sat before tlre~6ae- with
an open letter in her hands.
II am going to Burdett tonight,
john she said, declsively. Il gather
from this that Mary must be quite sick. "
eyes, think myself that's what you'd
better do, mother" answered Farmer
Totten.
Ruth looked up from her stocking
basket. ''It is such long drive to Bur
dett!" she said, glanclng, with look of
concern, at her mothers tired face. "1t
seems too bad to have you go tonight,
mother"
ooh, wasn't thinking of that. 1t
bothers me most to think of leaving
'Turah and you here alone all night,
though really there is no danger. Is
silas coming up, 'Turah3"
"No, he amt" came sharply and curt
ly from the pantry. Any mention of
Silas always vexed Keturah.
"Well, then, Ruth, III stop in at the
Maywoods. and ask the girls to come up
and stay all night with you. There arc
three of them, and you can pop corn and
boil candy and have regular frolic.
ThatIl take the edge off your loneliness.
Now pa, you go out and hitch up, and
I'll be ready in few minutes"
Left alone, Ruth drew closer to the
fire and resumed her darning. The furni-
ture cast shadows over the yellow painted
floor. Taddy executed series or noise
less yawns, which made him look more
like a griffin than cat. Through the
window a long bar of deep orange light
was fading slowly on the distant horizon.
The clock ticks became peculiarly dis
tinct.
Ruth's needle stopped its swift weav
ing, and she stared dreamily into corner.
A noise in the buttery startled her. 1t
was only Keturah putting up the milk
pans, but something in the vigorous clat-
ter bespoke unusual agitation on the part
of that eccentric handmade.
At length the buttery door opened,
and Keturah appeared on the threshold.
Her long, sallow face wore particularly
morose aspect, and the glance she cast on
Ruth was portentouS.
''I don't like it, your ma takiu' this
trip tonight"
"Why, 'Turah?"
"Well, while I was a-milkin' I see
seven crows hyin' up from Seneca, and,
to begin with, that's a bad number.
Then, to make it more sartin, they flew
in a zigzag across this house, and that
argu6es that something unfortunate is
bound to happen here tonight"
The silence seemed to grow deeper,
and Ruth stirred uneasily in her chair.
."Nonsense. 'Turah Seven crows fly
ing up from the lake are not at all un-
usual. Idon't believe in your signs"
"Well, you hain't lived as long as me.
an seen as many of 'em come true. The
very night my father died my mother see
ahe white death-horse peerin' in at the
winder, waitin' to carry him off,"
Ruth's involuntary glance out into the
yathering darkness was not lost on Kc
turah.
'sAud the night my Uncle Eph died
the clock threw the shadder of cotfiu
two hours before any of 'em expected
him to die. And the day before Aunt
Sallie died all her bees swarmcd and left
Iaeir hives, and hung for nearly five
minutes in front of her bedroom wiuder
before they left the farm. It's plain to
zee, Ruth, We hain't had the proper ex-
perience in signs to jedge of 'em.
s'But the greatest sign of all, ," Kcturah
continued, beginning to lay the supper
table, twas when Hank LOOMS died over
to Sugar Hill. Ever hear Of that? Yc
hain't? Well, wonder!"
"Hank was turliblc sinner. He Just
drinkcd himself straight to the edge Of
the grave, and the summer afternoon he
laid a-strugglin' with death Deacon
Brown urged him to repent, but he
wouldn't. Says he, I'LL die as I've lived,
an you git OUT
Three o'clock in the afternoon the hall
door stood open, an it was 50 hot the
dooryard flowers Topped over on their
stems and hung still. Suddenly there
come sound like long, cold blast of
wind. Everybody felt the icy chill. 1t
howlcd unairthly, an the caway moan
made them shcddcr down their spines.
Follcrin' it came three soundin' raps on
the brass knocker. They were awful!
"Hank's sister Bclindy, she crep' out
and pccked over the bannisters, an there
was the hall empty, an not Il livln' soul
in sight high or low. Jest then Hank
give a gasp an a groan, an up an died.
Want to go down sullar with me for the
victuals2"
Ruth hesitated and shivercd.
eyes, I'll go, 'Turah, but don't want
to hear Of another omen tonight. I'm
getting nervous" ."
The cellar was dark and gloomy. Ruth
held the lamp while Keturah took down
the necessary ciiblcs from the swinging
shelf. The return - the warm, cosy
kltchca was exceedingly pleasant. Rath
ate her supper sitting opposite keturah,
and specializing on the nature of omcns
in general, while Kcturah discoursed
volubly of her wonderful "knack for pre-
sentiments. >"
sAnd I feel sure" she declared, over
her fourth cup of tea, "that them crows
meant trouble here tonight"
The sound of wheels and voices out
side gave quick, bright turn to affairs.
Belle, Kitty aud Grace haywood came
rushing into the kitchen, brimmiug over
with merriment, and bringing joyous
atmosphere with them.