The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-08-23

I came Within eight days of it," he
declared, although maybe can mar
row it down a day or two by and
by"
"The best thing you can do is to
say nothing about it, Mrs Bently
advised, tartly. 'More's likely it'll
turn out like that KILN frost you
predicted the twentieth day of last
June"
At this open skepticism her husband
bristled. well, there was frost
that night out in Illinois, anyway"
he said in self-defense.
"And maybe that's where your tor
nado's goin' to bel" snapped his spouse
as she gathered up her socks and went
upstairs, to be followed presently by
her husband, bearing in, his arms his
pile of treasured almanacs.
Its all right, mother" he declared
jubilantly the next morning. as he
stood warming his hands at the kit
chen fire, while Mrs. Bently hustled
about, preparing breakfast. THAT
tornado that's comm amt goin' to
interfere with your plans mite.
had a dream last night. Seemed as III
I was sittin' here in the kitchen, and
all of a sudden up come some of the
blacklist clouds, in the west that l
ever saw. And when they got up over
head-cricky, how 1T begun to blow!
The limbs came off the elms as II
they were Topped and the lilac bushes
were blowed fiat, and one end of the
shed was stove in. Seemed as if /
was readin' newspaper, an l look
ed at the headin' to see just what day
of the month it was, an l saw it was
the tenth. Then looked at my watch
an noticed it was just three, though
somehow the kitchen clock was strfk'
in six So now, you see, I've got 1t
all Strengthened out. That tornado is
due here on the tenth, some time be-
tween three an six"
"Well, it might just as well come
then as any time" said Mrs. Bently,
with grim smile 81 hain't heard tell
of any goin's-on round the tenth, SO
I guess 'twon't put nobody out much"
You get my breakfast soons you
can, will your he urged. 81 want to
get to writin' what I'm goin' to send
in to the papers, so I can go up to
the post-office in time for the after
noon mail"
Mrs. Rently, who was bending over
to whisk pan of well-browned bis
cults out of the oven, looked up sharp
ly. 81 thought you an Jim were goin'
to pillow the lower lot this mornin',"
she said
Her husband coughed uneasily. II
was intendin' to-" he admitted, "but
I guess now, so long as know exact
when this tornado's comm, ought to
write the papers about it. When
man can see the future, as can, he
owes somethin' to his fellow men,"
''No doubt" was Mrs. Bently's acid
retort.
Breakfast over he betook himself
to the desk in the front room, and
from an old tin box he drew out
number of yellowed newspaper clip
pings. They all began in the same
manner:
Uncle Harrison Bently of South
Bedford, who predicted the great
March blizzard of 'SS, and who has
not failed to give correct forecast of
the winters for the past twenty years,
now comes to the front with the an
nouncement," and so forth.
He read them over one after anoth-
| err, drawing from them, apparently,
the necessary inspiration, for he
caught UP pen, and with his spec
tacles pulled low on his nose and his
tongue pressing out one cheek, he be-
gan to write laboriously in heavy,
sprawling hand. The morning waxed;
the pen scratched on sturdily. Absorb
ed in his selfimposed task, he gave no
heed to the loud tapping on the back
| door and the sound of voices in the
kitchen which followed.
| Noon was approaching, and the work
of transferring his dire forecast to
paper was nearing completion, when
the door from the kitchen was pushed
open and Mrs. Bently entered the
room, to sink heavily into chair near
the desk.
81 wouldn't write any more ON that.
if l were you." she said, with fnality.
Harrison blotted his last line and
looked at her over the top of his spec
tacles with a scowl. 1--WE got it most
done, anyway" said he. Whats the
trouble? Dinner ready?"
mo, faint dinner said his wife.
"Annie Evans has been over to invite
you and me TO her weddin'. She's to
be married the TENTH"
The prophet squirmed uneasily in
his chair. In silence ne studied his
wife's face Mrs. Bently met his gaze
unflinchingly.
Now look here, mother, you need't
go askin' me to put it of again" he
asserted.
~ don't see but what you'll have
to-" said she. l should be ashamed,