Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1891-10-21

pretended trouble. Along one jaw, the
left one, occasionally capered a grumbling
sensation. 1t kept me awake an hour or
so trying to determine whether that was
all there was of it, or whether there was
something to come after which would
need my wakeful presence TO contend
against Thus pondering | fell asleep,
and forgot all about the trouble. don't
know how long | slept, but | fell TO
dreaming that | had made match of
fifty dollars a side to fight a crosscut saw
in steam mill, and was we'll to work on
the job, when the saw got my head be-
tween its teeth. thought this was ia
vorable time to wake up, and | did so.
1t Immediately transpired that might
better have staid where | was and taken
my chances with the saw.
| found myself sitting straight up in
bed with one hand spasmodically grasping
my jaw and the other swaying to and fro
without any apparent definite purpose.
1t was an awful pain. 1t shot around
like n dog which had been cruelty cam-
phened 1t bored like lightning through
the basement of my jaw, darted across
the roof of my mouth and then ran
lengthwise Of the teeth. If every flying
pang had been a drunken plow chased
by demon across a stump lot, | think
the observer would understand my con-
dition. could no more get hold of the
fearful agony that was cavorting around
in me than could pick up piece of wet
soap when in hurry.
Suddenly it stopped. 1t went off all
at once, giving me a parting kick that
fairly made me howl.
"What on earth is the matter with
you?" said voice from one corner of
the room.
looked out into the dark astonished.
"Maria, is that you?" said |.
"What there is left of me-" was the
curt reply, followed by fumbling about
the mantle.
Presently light was struck and Mrs.
Perkins appeared before me. She had
on her short stop clothes. Her hair stuck
up in all directions. Her nose was very
red and her eyes were expanded to their
fullest capacity.
"Well, l declare, Cyrus Davidson, if
this hasn't been night of it What in
the name of mercy is the matter with
you? Are you gone clean crazy, or have
you sat on a pin? For one whole hour
you have been cavorting around on that
bed, groaning like dead man and flap
ping your bony arms in all directions. ]
was literally knocked out of bed, and
here | have been doubled up in corner,
the very life frightened out Of me, and
wondering whether you were going to
set fire to the house or bust out my
brains with hatchet. If you have got
through with your contortions I'll come
to bed and try to get wink Of sleep"
had got through, there was no doubt
of it, and felt, in the relief | experienced,
that it would be a comparatively easy
matter to forgive Mrs Perkins the sus-
picions Of her alarm as for Draining her
with hatchet,I never thought Of it. We
haven't got one.
l though / was rid of the teeth ache,
but a grumbling set in again next morn
ing. 1t was just like the feeling Of the
night before and still voice said to me,
"Look out, Perkins"
1 did. l went right away to the den
tist who has pulled the teeth Of our fam
lily and knew our peculiarities. There
was an uneasy smell about his Office. 1t
was very suggestive of trouble and as |
shifted it in | experienced sinking feel
ing in the pit of my stomach. looked
at him and sickly smiled. He was never,
even on a holiday, the handsomest of
men, but now his appearance was very,
very depressing He looked like corpse
with lighted candle inside of it.
told him what was the matter with
me, how that | had been up all night
! with four story pain, how my wife had