The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-05-31
Fell Downstairs.

you to go up into the garnet and get
down my quilt frames while | went
yer to see Mrs. Green about fall
pickles. Just as I returned ysu fell
downstairs with such a clatter that for
a moment | thought the house had been
struck with a cyclone. 1, was so ex,
cited and | came so near fainting away
that | don't remember what you said.
but | know you yelled out at least four
times. Samuel. | want you to tell me
exactly what you said. 1t was some
thing dreadful. but perhaps under the
circumstances I can excuse it, and
you a make a fresh start. l know
that q fall downstairs is q sudden
thing, and it is liable to throw ven a
deacon off his balance. Did one of
your expressions refer to the bad place,
Samuel"
All four Of his yells were directly
connected with the locality mentioned.
as he distinctly remembered. but the
deacon didp'I propose to enter into any
arguments or discussions. He had
said what he had said, II if Mrs.
Dolby had any doubts about it then all
the better for him, and he had made
q safe escape of it. He tried his best
to become deeply Interested in testi-
monial No. 6, which stated that the
None Such windmill only needed the
breath Of a sleeping babe to set it in
motion, and after heaving a few signs
over the general situation Mrs. Dolby
brought forward the last offense.
Shouted Three Different Times.
when | was ready to set about get
ting supper | asked you to bring me in
n pail Of fresh water from the we'll.
You went out with the pail, and L sud
denly heard some II shout out. l
went to the door and found you lying
struck your toe against the soap kettle
and fallen down. | didn't say any
thing. Samuel-nOt a word. | don't
think you even saw me. | am not ask
ing you what you said when you fell
down, because l think it was oh,
my" but what l want explained is
what you said later on when you found
the pump stuck fast. When you had
worked away at the handle and the
water wouldn't come you jumped up
and down and kicked the pump and
shouted, = 1t, - 1t, - it, three
different times. | was having q chill,
and my fingers were in my ears, and
know. You must confess to me and
trust to me to forgive you If I can.
What does a man say when he grabs
the pump handle and jumps up and
down and looks red in the face? If
you don't speak right up and tel! me |
shall think the very wOrst-that is. l
do think the very worst now. If one
of the neighbors sh"TId run in to Dor
row some saleratus I1don't know how
1 could look her in the face. I shall
keep thinking and thinking after / get
bed, INT there will be no sleep for
me unless this matter is cleared up"
But for a slight incident Mr.. Dolby
might have entered into a full ex-
PLANTATION and had the whole thing
over with. His eye caught sight of q
shirt button on the floor, and he
stopped and picked it up and gazed at
it so long that Mrs. Dolby forgot the
question she had asked and said:
and there's another thing, Samuel,
while I think Of it. A week ago one
morning while you was milking the
COW she hauled off and kicked you.
You went off the stool on your back
and lay there for two or three minutes.
you got up and pounded her with
the stool. Every time you pounded
you said something. I was down eel
lar looking over the pickles and didn't
hear it, but Mrs. Harrison says she
saw and heard everything and didn't
get Over shivering until shutdown.
What was it you said? If you will
throw yourself Upon my mercy and
tell me the truth, I'll agree not to ap-
ply for a divorce"
The deacon laid down the circular
as if he intended to make a full con
fession of the affair and depend upon
but after 4 moments thought be
changed his mind and let his eyes fall
upon the last testimonial. It was only
ten lines lOn-. and he read it over
three times. while she waited for his
answer amid deep silence. By and by
he yawned ami stretched and got no
on his feet. and. going owe to the
clock, he wound it up and carelessly
observed:
If YOU are going to make soft soap
tomOrrCr. | guess we'd better get to
bed a little early tonight"
VI. QUAD.