Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-06-06
THE SOMETHING unknown
A Tale OF Shakertown. Ky.
BY ARTHUR PENDEyNIS ST. JOHN.
Ao&o1oaoAoaAoAoAoAoAoao

oo@oSo@oSoAo%So% o%o&o@o@o@o6
The wind rose early that October
morning and came over the meadows.
shaking showers OF red leaves from the
elms. Little Sister Cynthia came out
TO me TO the dairy with her Shaker
bonnet pushed Off her glossy hair. rus
thing the heaps of leaves as she walked
and stopping to listen ut the sound as
il she liked il;
What are you doing. childy" | ask
ed. for OF late had come to fear for
her. she was SO young and SO taken up
with noticing ordinary things. like the
catbirds thae had a nest out by the
spring, or the way the hills looked
when they were spotted all over with
shadows. My heart ached sometimes
when she would turn her great shining
eyes 10 me. She was sanctined.
knew. but ii didn't seem safe for sim
pie Shaker folk 10 be seeing something
out of the ordinary in everyday things.
What am doing. Sister Caroline?
Why, just listening" she said.
Il don't see much sense listening to n
ed. Il always feel gloomy and uncom-
Portable until they're raked up and set
on fire.
That's the reason l like it," she
said. because il sounds solemn"
You'll find enough solemn things IN
this world without hunting up dead
leaves" ! answered. You are likely
TO hear solemner and awfuller sound
before long"
What do you mean?" she asked.
They are getting ready to fight" 1
said, pointing over the hills. Brother
Paul has just told me that there is go
ing TO be great battle. They Will
MAIN and murder each other"
How terrible!" she said. her lips
quvering. why do men do such
things?"
Before could answer her there
came the clatter of horses. and par
~ Of soldiers rode by. with young
Henry Pendleton at their head
"Ah." said, hes a fine lad! It's
pity he was born into wickedness to be
spoiled"
'IIe doesn't look wicked" she said
as the young officer waved his cap
TO us.
NAY. Cynthia" / returned, my fear
coming back; think not Of mans
looks. 1t does not become n child of
the church"
why. | never think of him. Sister
Caroline" she said seriously. Il never
saw him but once or twice, when he
came over to the village for Brother
Paul l can't even remember what he
is like except his voice when he laughs
and his brown. curly hair"
"Ah, my child" answered, "remem-
.ber that love is lust and leadeth to
damnationl Do not let the thought
enter your heart"
"Oh, Sister Caroline" she said, with
a shudder. you know / could sooner
bring myself to do murder than to
yield to the awful lust you have told
me OFF, And she covered her eyes, as
If that could shut out the thought.
Cynthia was molding the little but
ter pats and printing them when the
battle began. We could hear the sound
OF the cannon like faroff thunder over
the hills. At first the peals were few
and far between; then they grew fast
er until In the middle OF the afternoon,
when 1t was an angry roar sullen, like
n storm I'm August The men We're
blowing in the fields, and l could see
them stop at the furrow's end to speak
to each other. We women tried to go
about our tasks. but generally met to-
gether to shake our heads over the
wicked men who were shooting and
numbering Cynthia seemed to feel IL
more than all OF us and when the roar
grew louder shuddered as one with a
chill.
The sun went down in a smoky haze.
all red and bloody. Then there was a
pause. the very wind stopped still. and
suddenly long. deep roll ran off to the
south, louder and fiercer than the rest.
Then all grew still and the darkness
came on swiftly. Cynthia was sitting
with me, and when we heard no more
she breathed a high of relief and said,
AT last" AS she went to get the can
dies solitary horseman clattered
down the road
At daybreak there were the tramp OF
many soldiers and the ciank of arms I'm
our peaceful village. We left our break
fast half eaten ourselves TO give them
food and drink. would have spared
Cynthia. for some were rough men,
wild eyed and smoke begrimed but she
came out with the rest and even went