Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-06-20

time, if you keep stufing a rag bag ii
has either got to burst or run over
I've done one of the two today. I'm
not quite sure which, but, anyway, ii
has been very interesting-very."
The minister looked at her in hor-
rifed amazement. 1T would almost
seem like a case of demoniacal posses
sion" he muttered. 81 don't think
you even yet understand the enOrmity
of your offense," he added. "You
nave broken up friendships and wound
ed people cruelty. You have even, in
one case, come between husband and
wife.
Is that SOP" said Miss Keturah.
eagerly. II didn't know how 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 your"
For an instant an expression Of eager
curiosity crossed the minister's face,
but it was gone in moment. "No,
he said, quickly, Il do not care to hear
anything of the kind"
Miss Keturah laughed. when you
said that you looked just as Mrs. Barnes
says you look in the pulpit. You al
ways thought considerable of Mrs.
Barnes, didn't you? Well, she says
that when you are preaching you look
lust 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 45 minutes.
Miss Gates says that as cure for IN
somnia but Miss Keturah was talk
ing to an empty chair, for the minis
ter had fed. Perhaps his words be-
gan to have some effect on her, and
perhaps she was tired from her unusual
excitement. At any rate, she began
to feel twinges Of remorse.
"Demoniacal possession" she muir
INJURED. "That must be it l was pos
sessed. 1t was an awful thing to do.
Oh, dear, dearl" and she began to
cry. 81 might go around and tell
folks that they were all lies, but no.
body would believe me-and they
weren' lies, either. What shall do?'
She wrung her hands and rocked
herself back and forth. Just then the
maltese kitten began to chase his tail.
1t was a very playful kitten, and it
went whirling over the floor. Sud
denly it came directly toward Miss
Keturah's chair and stopped under
the rockers. Oh, shall rock on youl'
she cried, springlng up.
She woke with start. 81 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 t?" she walled.
"How can l bear it?" Tears were
running down her cheeks. IL wish
could die"
Suddenly she sat up and looked
about her. 1t was dark as midnight.
"Oh, oh |" che cried out, jOyfully. 81
didn't do it. I didn't do it after all.
That was a dream, too T.
She reflected little. "No, she
said, with decision, II didn't do it.
l really didn't. But am not going
to sleep any more tonight. I'm afraid
I'd go to dreaming it againl" Crop
ing about in the dark, she found her
clothes and dressed herself quickly.
81 didn't do it, she kept saying, softly.
Finally she wrapped quilt about
her and eat down in rocking chair.
She swayed slowly back and forth, and
in her heart was deep peace.
ooh, she sighed, Il am go happy
and 90 thankful. 1t was an awful
dream. 1t was warning, emphatical-
ly. And never, as long as live, will
ever eat mince pie and cheese for
supper again"
In few moments she was sleeping
peacefully and dreamingin her chair