Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-08-18

Where are you going, my dear
asked the tramp, suspiciously. You
have not got any big cousin or uncle
or anything of that kind upstairs
that you are going 10 call to tea. are
your"
"Oh, no, there is no one upstairs
but my poor sister" she managed
to gasp. She could not have told
you why she said poor sister, unless
it was from the sense of calamity
which had overtaken them all.
In that case be spry, for I'm hun
CRY and want you to pour out my tea
for NE. like 10 have pretty face
}, opposite me at the table.
Rose dragged herself up the mar
row, Enclosed stairs and into Cassie's
room.
We'll, Rose, you must be about
tuckered out. You came up stairs as
though you were eighty, said Cassie,
looking up from the shoe she was fas-
teuing. why. what ails You? You
look as if you had seen a ghost"
"Oh, Cassie, there is one of them
/ downstairs" came in whisper.
What do you mean, Rose Bost-
wick? \ ghost downstairs"
"No-uo-u tramp"
"Whew.' and Cassie gave low
whistle. And l s'pose you're scared''
"Oh, Cassie, feel as If | were chok-
ing. Do hurry down; he may be
killing poor little Florence and the
baby-what shall we do? The bssby
has told him we are all alone. What
can we do-try to think
Cassie sat swinging the button
hook in her hand and thinking very
hard and fast.
Does he know m here"
Yes, I've told him"
Then it would be no use for me
to pretend to be Ned thinking
aloud.
IN afraid not
Another silence dedicated to
thought.
Rose"
Yes"
I'm going to be crazy. I'm going
to chase him off the farm"
"Oh, Cassie, you can't. He's
great, big, impudent wretch. What
folly to talk about chasing him Oft
the farm.
It's our only chance.
Don't count on me. can't help
you. l couldn't help chase fly"
You can scream, | spose?'
"Oh, yes, | can do that.
well. you do the screaming and
I'll do the chasing. Rush down stairs
and scream and scream-and bang
the door to, and just shrek: shes
out-she's out-she's coming down
stairs And you will see what per
fectly beautiful lunatic Il will belts
a good thing | have this old dress on
and only one shoe. Now make Il
rush-and scream
Roses over-stI aimed nerves were her
best allies, and as she flew down the
stairs it was the easiest thing in the
world for her to give one piercing
shrek after another. They resounded
from the narrow stairway through
the kitchen, and for the moment
seemed to paralyZe its inmates. As
she burst in upon them, Florence was
trausiiXed midway the table and the
stove, with the platter Of ham in her
hands-the baby had climbed upon
chair-and the tramp had arisen with
bewidered air from the table. As
her skirts cleared the door, she turned
and dashed it shut and flung herself
against it, shrieking: shes out
she's out Of her room -
To the mystilied Florence there
came but one solution of her behavior
fright had overthrown her sisters
reason, and with wall she rushed to-
ward her crying: Shes crazy , Oh,
she's crazy -
who's crazy yelled the tramp.
The baby now wildly terrified set up
loud weeping, while from the stair
way came Il succession Of blows and
angry demands that the door be
opened. 4 moment more it was forced
ajar, and head crowned with mass
Of tossed hair was thrust out, and
quickly followed by hand in which
was clutched gun.
Shes got the gun-oh, Florence,
run to the baby" cried Rose.
Who's thatg' demanded The ap-
partition. making a rush toward the
tramp.
Here, keep oT-leave me alone
backing away and warding Oft an ex-
pected blow.
She stood before him, tall, strong
aud agile.
Il won't leave you alone. What do
you mean locking me into that room
/ I'm no more crazy than you are.
What's this'' a. she stumbled over
. the hat which the tramp had put be
side the chair and into which he had
deposited the silver spoons from the
table. "Oh. | see, you are all in
league to rob me Of my gold and
DreciouS stones - and catching il up
on the uuzzle OF the gun she gave it a
whirl which sent the spoons glittering
in every direction, then advancing
upon him she thrust the hat and gun
into the face Of the Mortified man
With a yolley Of oaths he sprang
backward, upsetting his chair and
falling over it.
"Oh. don't Kill him, Cassie, don't
kill him..
We'll have a merry time" gayly