The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-24

force enough to break our engagement"
Miss Keturah noticed the effect of her
words in every case and gloated 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 company l am having
this afternoon; everybody know Ana
if here don't come the minister Dear
mel 1 guess he's heard something; he
looks so SOBER
The Rev. Mr.. Fletcher seated himself
and regarded Miss Keturah reproachful-
Iy. 81 am very much surprised he be-
gan. that is to say, am greatly panied
to learn of your very extraordinary con-
duct this afternoon
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. 1 never did anything like 1T in
my whole life before. But think it does
any one good to let themselves go once
in a while. Don't you think so?" She
looked at him frankly.
mo, indeed" he answered sternly. j
certainly do not think so. Do you realize
what you have done ?-what an amount
of harm that never can be undone?"
''WeI, they had no business to tell me
the things they do. l didn't tell anything
me these things and expect me to keep
them. They make a regular moral rag
bag of me. After time, If you keep stuff
ting rag-bag, it has either got to burst
or run over. I've done one of the two to-
day, I'm not quite sure which, but any
way lit has been very nteresting-very."
The minister looked at her in Mortified
amazement. 1T would almost seem like
a case of demoniacal possession he NUT
tIotpl
stand the enormity of your offense," ne
added. You have broken up friendships
and wounded people cruelty. You have
even in one case, come between husband
and wife,
rs that SOP" said Miss Keturah Gag
crly Il didn't know l had done that. Do
tell me about it. Well, if you won't,
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
it was gone in a moment. NO" he said
quickly. II do not care to hear anything
CT 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 she
had the winding you up for your sermons
TO do, she'd manage it so that you'd run
down in a little less than forty-ive min
utes. Miss Gates says that as cure for
insomia"-but Miss Keturah was talk
ing to an empty chair, for the minister
had fled
Perhaps his words began to have some
effect on her, and perhaps she was tired
from her unusual excitement. At any
rate, she began to feel twings of re-
morse.
"Demoniacal possession" she murmured
That must be it, was possessed. 1t was
an awful thing to do. Oh, dear. dearr'
and she began to cry. II might go around
and tell folks that they were all lies, but
nobody would believe me-and they
weren't lies, either. What shall 1 dor"
She wrung her hands and rocked herself
back and forth. Just then the maltese
kitten began to chase its tail. 1t was a
very playful kitten, and it went whirring
over the floor. Suddenly it came directly
toward Miss Keturah's chair and stopped
under the rockers. ooh, 1 shall rock on
your she cried, springing up.
She woke with a start. IT dreamed
about the kitten" she said to herself,
and Immediately her mind went back to
the dreadful thing she had done.
"Oh, how could I do it?" she walled
How can bear it2" Teares were run
mig dow nher cheeks. IL wish I could
dieW
Suddenly she sat up and looked about
her. 1t was dark as midnight. "Oh, OH!
she cried out joyfuuy. II didn't do it. I
didn't do it after all. That was a dream,
too"
She reflected a little mo" she said,
with decision, Il didn't do it, I really
didn't. But 1 am not going to sleep any
more tonight. 1 am afraid I'd go to
dreaming it again. Cropping about in the
dark she found her clothes and dressed
herself quickly. 81 didn't do it," she kept
saying softly.
Finally she wrapped a quilt about her
and sat down in a rocking chair She
swayed slowly back and forth. and in her
heart was a deep peace.
oh she sighed, II am so happy and
so thankful 1t was an awful dream 1t
was warning" Then, after pause, she
added, emphatically: "And never as long
as 1 live, will L ever eat mince pie and
cheese for supper again."
In a few moments she was sleeping
peacefully and dreamlessly in her chair
Susan Brown Robbins