Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-06-01

He regarded the old adage, "A place
for everything, and everything in it's
place. as a precept second in impor-
tance only to the ten commandments;
therefore. awakening suddenly one
night haunted by the vague but un-
easy consciousness of something LETT
undone, his mind was troubled.
Staring into the darkness, he racked
his brain as 10 what he had forgot
ten, and mentally checked Off the list
OF the evening duties. Brought In the
wood" he thought; put out the dog,
certain Of that. eos / recollect gittin'
the broom-locked the door; wound up
the With a resigned sigh Ezra
futile slid gently out OF bed: for the
first time during his married life he
had forgotten to wind the kitchen
clock.
Cautiously the old man CROPPED for a
match, listening apprehensvely; but
his wife's regular breathing rose from
the bed u~ndisturbed. With a sigh or
relief he lighted the little glass lamp,
and, taking a firm grip on the waist
band OF his trousers, crept softly in the
direction of the chamber door, keep
ing the dim glimmer of light carefully
shaded from the bed. II wouldn't have
Eliza wake up for the world he
thought, with a dry smile; IF she knew
/ forgot that clock I'd never hear the
last of it."
of the worn and carpetless boards
should betray him to his wife, Ezra
futile proceeded. and had arrived safe
ly at the fourth step when a startling
noise from behind caused him to nearly
drop the lamp.
He heard distinctly the tap of a stick
and the shutting, sliding step OF m
one-apparently old and infirm-delib-
erately feeling the way downstairs af-
and stared at the landing he had just
quilted. 1t was absolutely vacant.
what a fool / be- he calculated UNI
der his breath, II might ha' known
there wasn't nothin' there"
A trifie ashamed, yet feeling decid-
eddy shaky, he faced about to continue
his j~ourney-and his very first step
brought a repetition of the ghostly
sounds: the invisible stick struck the
stair sharply, followed by the same
curious. shutting footstep.
Involuntarily a vision rose out of
the past of a stout old lady. short
breathed. and bent with age n rheu-
matism, making her way laboriously
over the same stairs; even the stick
whose uncanny tapping was rending
his nerves to shreds should have been
NJ A5hN y AafNNtg N51fAAo a.
wall of the spare room cupboard-he
remembered placing 1T there himself
the day its owner had taken to her bed
for the last time.
A cold sweat broke out on the old
mans forehead and he leaned weakly
against the banister. IT'S Aunt Nab
by" he thought. striving vainly to
steady the shaking lamp, while I'M
pleasant prickles chased themselves
up and down his spine, "she always
vowed shed come back"
us that you, Aun Nabby?" he whis-
pered hoarselv Zoos IL 1t Is, JUS say
what tits you WANT amt afraid, not
q bit"
There VAS no reply. Gathering cGur-
age, the speaker went on; maybe
you're put u 'eos I sold hat lower
meadow OF your'n? You always de-
clared you'd appear to me IL l did, but
/ don't think it's quite right to blame
me for dom it-'twasn't nuthin' but a
marsh anyhow, eating itself up In
t~axes-you'd have sold II yourself In a
minute IL you'd been alive for halt
what that Teller from Londen Civ me
for It,"
Cant you say nuthin'?' he quav-
cred miserably. You used to be ready
enough with your tongue when things
didn't suit o Maybe II amt the
land after ALL" a sudden prophetic fear
chilling him to the marrow; maybe
it's me! Have you come to warn me
that I'm going to be took. Aunt
Nabby?"
From the floor OF the landing came
an instantaneous explosive crack.
sounding on Mr.. Tuttle's ear like a loud
and emphatic affirmative. .Oh,
mercy" he gasped with a jump, that's
1t, I'm going to be took; father and
mother both died suddenly"
Anxiously he waited further confir-
nation, but IL was not forthcoming:
eve a tentative sideways step down
ward failed to produce an answering
stick-tap. Overwhelming conviction as
to the truth OF his suspicion came home
with crushing force to Ezra's mind
She's gone" he said aloud, she's Civ
her warnin' n gone back; twasn't the
meadow she came ABOUT; but l kind o.
wish after all | hadn't sold it. amt
felt well the whole spring, but / never
thought 1t would come to this"
A dismal groan burst from his quiy-
ering lips. Needless OF his unfinished
errand and the creaking stairs, he hast
lily retraced his steps.
II hope it amt goin' % be tonight
Re mediated as he climbed. Maybe I'll
drop on the landing, same as father did
III the bayfield,, there's no telling;
there's always been heart disease In
the family, and mine feels frightful
queer now-sort o. flutters like"
A strange moisture dimmed his eyes.
It's a cruel shock for Eliza to wake
up and find me laying here dead; /
don't want to go without seeing her
again. either-'sidcs, / might smash the
lamp and set the house afre.'
Mar. futile held his breath as he
crossed the landing, but the dreaded
blow was mercifully withheld. and he
reached the bedside still in the flesh.
II hate to have to tell her." he thought
ruefully, looking down on the face Of
hard: we've been together a good many
years, Eliza and L."
A lump swelled painfully In the
watchers throat, and setting down the
lamp he dropped his hand gently on
the gray head buried in the pillow:
Wake W, Eliza" he said mournfulIy.
Mrs. futile opened her eyes and then
sat up, staring with increasing be-
wilderment at her husbands detected
figure.
What on earth are you talking about.
Ezra Tuttle?" cried his wife, getting
cncryetically to her feet. Il verify be-
lieve you've gone crazy, waking me
up III. the middle of the night talking
about warnins'. IL you're i'll why can't
yoa say SO an let me git you some
pep'mint or something, stead of stand
ing there like a craven image? Have
you had a chiil?"
Briefly, but impressively, Mr.. Tuttle
related his experience, stammering a
little, however, over tho fact hat he
had forgotten to wind the cIock-.I
know twas Aunt Nabhy," he con-
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