Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1904-04-14

Thomas and the other bundles out in
safety and then stepped down her.
self, leaving the pudding lying safely
on the seat of the cab. She caught
Thomas going down the steps and
whispered to him that she had got rid
of the incubus.
LADY, LADY," voice sounded be-
hind her just then. you've forgot
something"
1t was the other porter, and in his
hand he bore the devoted pudding
He came running down after her and
handed over the package with smile
SO compelling that Sarah felt forced
to ask Thomas for dime with which
to reward him.
"Never mind" she said, well get
rid of it on the train all right" Her
husband nodded his head.
"Let 6 drop it out of the window,
she suggested with a sudden burst Of
inspiration after they had found their
seats in the sleeper. That seemed a
good idea to Thomas, but, unfor-
nately, the train was one Of the latest
vestibuled arrangements, with not an
unguarded opening from one end to
the other. Thomas wrestled in vain
with a window, and when porter was
appealed to for assistance he raised
the window, indeed, but it was pro-
tected by screen which prevented
the egress of anything more sub
stantial than. hairpin. Besides, it
was cold outside, and both Thomas
and Sarah were presently shivering in
the draughts oficy air which swept in
on them. They were both relieved
when a red-faced man across the aisle
leaned over and said in an injured
tone Say, my baby isn't well, and
l wish you'd put that window down.
The porter came and lowered the
window with look on his face that
seemed to indicate that the two pas
sengers in that seat were mentally un-
sound. In the morning, after the
berths were made up, Sarah showed
the rice pudding out Of sight under
the back of one of the seats. Now,
she was sure, they would get away
from it in safety. They got off at the
station, the porter assisting. Thomas
felt so good on noticing the absence
of the pudding that ne gave the man
fifty cents. They climbed into a cab
and were half block away when
their ears were saluted with shrill
cries from the rear. The cab came to
a stop at the side Of the street
"Heah's a package you lef undah
the seat, sub, said the porter, stick
ing his head into the open door Of the
cab. 81 done run twill Ah'm out oy
breef scatchin' up to you, sub
Thomas groaned, took the loathe-
some thing in his right hand and
handed the porter quarter with the
other.
"Let me throw it away" said he,
savagely.
ooh, don't, Thomas, his wife plead
ed. "If you do we'll be arrested for
littering the streets, I'm sure.
"Do you expect me to carry rice
pudding about on my lap during the
whole of our wedding trip, madam ?
he demanded, with dignity.
"Just wait till we get to the hOtel,
dear" she said. "I'll get rid Of it
somehow"
For more than week the unfor-
tunate couple were haunted by that
rice pudding. A dozen times they
thought they had got rid of it, only
to have some porter or other messen-
ger come running after them, painting
and out Of breath, to restore the
treasure and collect his fee for thought
fulness. Once they tried to feed it to
dog, but the animal turned up his
nose at the rice, and almost bit
Thomas, who was trying to force it to
eat. They left it in room in their
hotel, and the boy who carried down
their bags brought that also, with
the remark: 81 found dis on de top
shelf in de room, mum. Once ]
found a mans laundry up dere an he
give me half dollar.
Finally they and the pudding, BY
this time riding their necks like a
Nemesis, came to a little inn in the
old Connecticut town where Thomai
had been born and reared. One aide
of their room was occupied by an old
fashioned brick fireplace. The chin
ney was old and there were big cracks
between the bricks.
"Now." said Sarah, 81 am going t.
get rid of it. "