Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-06-18
A COMEDY OF ERRORS.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

Squire Packenham was very angry.
Being a member of the church, he
didn't swear. But he slammed the
kitchen door so violently when he
came in that Keturah, his wife, COM
pretended at once that something was
wrong.
Dear me, Abram, " said she mildly
looking up from the apples she was
slicing for pan-dowdy, 'there amt no
occasion to take the door off its hinges.
What's the trouble now?'
"It's Betsey Briggs" answered the
squire, seating himself, with some We,
hemence, on cushioned chair. "Thc
airs that creetur gives herself exceed
everything
"Airs?" said Mrs. Packenham. 81
didn't know as them was Betsey Briggs
weaknesses.
Il dunno what you'll call it, y said
the squire. "She was out in the gar,
den pickin peas, an I jest hollered to
her, as I come by, to see if she'd be
wilIin' 70 entertain the sewin' society
at her house next Thursday. And, i
You'll believe me, she didn't say
word--neither yes nor no.
"Well, l never! !" said Mrs. Packen'
ham. but, with a gentle desire fol
extenuation, "you mustn't forget
Abram, that Betsey Briggs is near,
sighted"
THAT don't prevent her hearin'
does it?" the squire demanded, sharp
ly.
II didn't think o that, said meek
Mrs. Packenham, rejecting a COLDER
summer apple, which had a bruise oil
its mellowest side. But I'm quite
sure Betsey didn't mean no harm. Bet
sey never does.
Il dunno how that may be, sale
the squire, morosely, "but l do know
| shan't put myself out to speak to hel
ag'in, unless she sees fit to apologize.
al can't make it out at all, sale
Mrs. Packenham, slowly shaking heI
head.
Miss Carter was the next person whC
stopped at the Packenham house. Sh'
was spare female, whose exact age
like that Of the obeisk, was wrapped
in mystery, and she was book-agen
of the most rabid type and deadly ex
ecution.
"P'raps you'd like to subscribe t
the Housekeeper's Weekly Visitor
Mis- Packenham ?" said she, roundin!
off her sentences with a prodiglou
sniff.
wal, no, said Mrs. Packenham
ave aren't much o readers here.
cor maybe your husband would lik'
to take copy of the Ten Leading
American Patriots? suggested Mis-
Carter, struggling with her catarrha
difficulty.
"Abram don't read nothin but th'
newspapers" said Mrs. Packenham
His eyesight amt what it was.
who's your neighbor down unde
the hill?" sharply interrupted Mis-
Carter "Just beyond the brook, wher
the bridge is out of repair
Her name is Briggs, said Mrs
Packenham-"Betsey Briggs
"Well, whoever she is, y snOrte'
Miss Carter, "she hasn't no more man
ners than moody cow Not to motto
me, even, and me standin there, talk
in myself hoarse to her. Not even t
turn her head to look at me
Dear, dear /" said Mrs. Packenham
chat very strange Betsey dread
full sociable creetur, That don't seen
like her a bit,
We'll, that don't signify, said Mis-
Carter, seating herself, and Openin.
her leather packet. But I'd just hk
you to look at a few recent publica
tions I've got here.
ooh, don't trouble to show them t
me !" said Mrs Packenham, apprehen
sively. 81 haint no money to buy
no time to read and the churnin's be
hindhand this mornin, and I've 60
soft-soap to make"
at won't take minute, persuasive
" argued Miss Carter.
And she sat two mortal hours in th