Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-10
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The Demoniac Possession OF
MISS KETURAH.
Nv Susan Brown Robbins.


bones" People might say the most
unpleasant things about each other'
hut if they were said to Miss keturah
that would be the last OF them.
She never was known to make the
least bit of trouble among the neigh
bors in all the As years. of her quiet
life.
The knowledge of this was in her
subconsciousnesS, even at the time
when she told young Miss Vincent that
Mrs Overton had said that she thought
Mrs. Vincent and her husband were
the softest couple she ever saw. ana
she had seen a good many. first ana
last, too. Miss keturah then went on
to tell what others had said in dispar-
agement of Mrs. Nincents housekeep-
ing, and it was not long before her
caller went home in tears.
Now. | wonder" thought Miss ketu-
rah what made me do that? l never
did such a thing in all my life before.
NV. but IcoulS make a lot of trouble II
| set OUT
Somehow she had not the least COM
junction about what she had done. ana
when few minutes later Mrs. over
ION CAME III MISS Netui an
~ began to tell her guest what mad
been said about her butter by Mrs
Vincent.
She said she believed YOU put in $"
much salt to make it weigh more. and
she had a mind 10 buy salt in the first
place and save money" Miss ketu-
rah repeated this remark with great
relish. .Of course. l don't agree with
jnL ten
and | like il salt. Mrs. Miles was in
here the other day and she was talk
ing about your butter. She thinks as
l do. but she said she did not get milk
at your house: it smells so strong of
the BRAN
Mrs. OvertOn looked very angry.
I'm going to see Mrs. Miles right
now" she declared. III tell her that
she needn't bother to get milk of US
if she don't want to. We can find plen-
ty of folks that will be glad to buy it.
and folks that will pay us without
waiting six months about it. too. And
III go and see Mrs. Vincent and tell
her to use SOAP grease for butter II
she don't like any salt
Mrs Overton had hardly gone before
another neighbOr came. In fact. there
was a continuous stream of callers.
Each one went away angry with some
other neighbor. A little girl was cry
ing softly because some one had made
fun of her clothes. A young lady OF
musical tastes was flushed and excited
He'd rather hear it thunder than TO
hear me sing. had he? Well. he'll have
to hear me just the same, and | shall
open the windows when l practice.
Another girl was pale and dry-eyed
SO he said he thought l was good
little girl. but without much force of
character. He will discover tonight
that have force enough to break our
engagement.
Miss Keturah noticed the effect of
her words in every case and gioated
over each victim There won't be
anybody in town on speaking terms
with anybody else by night she said
to- herself. My. what a string of com
pany / am having this afternoon; ev-
erybody l know. And if there don
come the minister. Dear me. l guess
he's heard something. he looks 50
sober
Rev. Mr.. Fletcher seated himself and
regarded Miss keturah reproachfully.
Il am very much surprised" he be
gan, that is to say. l am greatly
panied to learn of your very eXtraor-
binary conduct this afternoon.
s'Then YOU have heard of it? They
say bad news travels fast" and Miss
keturah laughed. You don't know
what fun it has been. l never did any
thing like it in my whole life before
But l think it does anyone good to let
themselves go once in while. Don't
YOU think so?" She looked at him
frankly.
NO, indeed he answered sternir
Il certainly do not think 50; 10 Hol
realize what you have done?-what am
amount of harm that never can be nm
done?"
We'll. they had no business to tel
anything but the truth. They come t"
me and tell me these things and eE-
pect me to keep them. They make y
regular moral rag bag OF me. After -"
time if YOU keep stuffing Il rag bag.
il has either got to burst or run over.
I've done one OF the two. today. n.
not quite sure which. but anyway. 1t
has been very intereSting-verY.
The minister looked at her in horri-
fed Amusement 1T would almost seem
like a case of demoniacal possession. he
muttered. Il don't think. YOU even yet
understand the enormty of Your offense.
he added You have broken up friend
ships and wounded people cruelty. You
have even. in one case. come between
husband and wife.
lis that so?' said Miss Keturah, eager
w. Il didn't know how ! had done that.
Do tell me about it. Well. if you won I.
wouldn't you like to have me tell you
what folks say about you?
For an instant an expression of eager
curiosity crossed the minister's face, but
ii was gone in a moment No. he said.
quickly Il do not care to hear anythin;
of the kind
Miss Keturah laughed. when you
said that you looked just as Mrs. Barnes
says you look in the pulpit. You always
thought considerable of Mrs. Barnes
didn't you? Well she says that when you
are preaching you look just like an old
woodchuck. And Lydia says that if sh.
had the winding you up for your sermons
TO do. she'd manage il so that you'd run
down in a little less than - minutes. Miss
Gates says that as cure for insomnia =
but Miss keturah was talking TO an
empty chair. for the minister had fled
Perhaps his words began to have some
efect on her. and perhaps she was tired
from her unusual excitement At any
rate. she began to feel twinges of re
morse.
DemOniacal possession she muir
INJURED. That must be 1t. ] was DOS
sessed. 1t was an awful thing to do
Oh, dear, dear" and she began to cry
Il might go around and tell folks that