Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-06-18

ply, which did not come then he
sighed and walked on.
These single sisters are perhaps a
triAe difficult to manage" said he.
But doubtless experience will smooth
my pathway in time
And, naturally enough, the Rev. Mr.
Sweetlands stepped in at sister Pack
enhams to ask her how she thought
he could possibly have offended Miss
Betsey Briggs.
And just as he was detailing in Mrs.
Packenhams puzzled ears the tale Of
his perplexity, a stout, elderly man,
with sea-farng aspect, raped at the
door with knobby stick
"Ahoy, there r said Captain Giles
Gilliloe. Il hope amt intrudin',
but these is all strange waters to me.
I've Just hailed neighborin craft
Betsey Briggs by name, and she don't
lower no signals. P'raps I've sighted
the wrong COAST
Miss Bnggslives at the next house,
Mrs. Packenham said That's true
enough"
I'm her cousin, said Captain Giles
Gilliloe. "She has invited me to moor
my craft in these parts for awhile, but
| amt used to heave anchor along side
o them as don't speak to Inc civil.
And hope I've made my log-book
clear
q really can't account for it, said
Mrs. Packenham, with a troubled ex-
preston of countenance. "Set down,
Capn Gilliloe, I've often heard her
speak of YOU, and I'm sure she wouldn't t
intend any incivility. Set down and
have a chat with Mr.. Sweetlands, our
minister, and III step over to Betsey s
at once and see what all this means.
The sun had gone down in the Grim
son blaze which belongs only to July
skies-a soft, purpling twilight was
broodiag over the swamp meadow,
and the orange lilies glowed mystl-
cally in the apple orchard, as Mrs.
Packenham hurried toward the old
Briggs homestead, whose chimney
stack rose out of a wilderness Of tall
lilac bushes. There, sure enough, was
Miss Betsey in the vegetable garden,
her sunbonnet tapping in the evening
breeze, but just as Mrs. Packenham
laid her hand Oh the latch of the
picket gate, Bowse, farmer Ponds big
red bull, knocked his horns against a
weak spot in the adjacent pasture fence
and came laundering into the inclos-
ure with his tail in the air, his huge
head lowered almost to the ground,
and a low-muttered note Of defiance
breathed through his threatening nos
trils.
LA, me, cried Mrs. Packenham,
there's that brute loose again And
not a man in sight And Betsey
Briggs with her red caliker gown on.
She'll be killed as sure as the world.
Oh, dear, oh, dear!'
AS the reflection eddied through
her mind, the animal made an infuri-
ated charge toward the figure darkly
outlined against the hedge of silver
green pea-vines, uttering a savage
below as he rushed past, and Mrs.
Packenham hurried, screaming, down
the hill.
"Abram Mr.. Sweetlands Cap
Gililoe !" she shouted. Help! help
Oh, why don't somebody come? Farm
er Ponds Bowse has knocked poor
Betsey Briggs down into the pea-vine
and is a-gorin' her awful Help help
help! She'll be killed as sure as the
world Help help"
Just as she burst into the door at
the end of the kitchen. the opposite
one opened, and'in walked-Betsey
Briggs herself, cool, calm and COM
posed, with veil folded neatly over
her dove-colored silk hat, and trav-
cling bag in her hand.
Mrs. Packenham sat down and be-
gan to laugh and cry hysterically 4;
Mr.. Sweetlands opened his pale blue
eyes ike watery moons; the squire
stared; Captain GillilOe held out his
two brown hands and waved fore
castle welcome.
Miss Betsey looked around in gentle
establishment.