The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1907-01-04
FARMvILLE, VA. FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1907

There was a slow. grinding TWIST OF
his whole body Froth appeared on
his snarlne lips and his stertorous
breathing blew ont little bubbles OF II.
Then all at once he began TO leap and
flop. He fell on the floor bounced
around. stood mp on one foot, whirled
like a teetoium and fell again. The
woman. Mortified. sat up, clutched the
bed-clothes and screamed hideously.
In the rooms below sounded a sue
cession Of thunks OF bare feet as the
household leaped out OF bed.
The rectangular-faced man now ran
round and round the room. lie butted
his head against the wall once or twice
so violently that the plaster ratified
down. lie rolled across the floor, TAX
inc up-ended chairs with him. Hands
and feet were pounding at the door and
voices were clamorine for admittance.
The woman IN bed had the CHASTITY
look Of one death-struck. The creature
tore from side 10 side OF the room,
fairly running mp the walls, dropping
on all fours and gathering himself for
another scramble All al once he
Ieaped high, went along the wall in
sprawling half-circle. knocked over the
lamp stand and its lamp and when the
blaze spurted over the carpet he made
wild plunge for the open window.
He swept both men down the ladder
with him and they all were piled in
struggling heap at the bottom. The
next moment the door of Mrs. Wards
room was burst IN with a crash. The
fire was already licking at the bed.
The draught of the open window and
door carried the flames roaring through
the upper part OF the little house, ana
70 was with difficulty that the woman,
wrapped I'm her bed-clothes. was borne
ont. In half an hour the roof fell in
and the chimneys crashed down into
the swirling flames
The relatives sat under the orchard
trees. listening once more to Mrs.
Wards recital of the dreadful scene In
her chamber. She did not understand.
The relatives did not understand,
either. The big man was not there to
explain. But I'm little while he came
busling mp. To the food OF questions
and the complaints that be had aban-
doned his charge, be put mp a protest
ing palm.
q was there was there" he In
sisted. 81 have just been TO help carry
him back TO the poor farm. lie got
scorched a little
Garry who back2'
"Why. Fitz-William. called so on ac-
count of his fits
How did he happen TO be- in
Phoebes room?'
81 put him there myself"
what for?" the husband roared.
well. I've maintained from the first
that the only way TO cure hiccups is
10 scare the patient. heard Of Fitz-
William and borrowed him.
"Im going 10 Kin you Ward
shrieked. 81 call on you an TO notice
lts justiaable homicide
Hold on" said the big man. au-
thorltatiyely, have you had a hiccup
since. Sis?" The woman and the re-
lations looked at each other For half
an hour they had been talking excited
ly without noticing that Phoebe had
recovered The woman was as aston
ished as the rest
put lunatic I'm nay wile's room and
burn the house down. That's your
idea OF curin' hiccups. hey?' demand
ed the infurlated Ward
"The fire was an accident-wasnt in
the original scheme calmly replied
the big man. The plan of cure was
all right and succeeded perfectly. My
sister owes her life TO me.
But you've burned my house down.
clamored Ward. quiycring his hand to-
ward the smoldering fire.
"A mere nothin' where my sisters
life was concerned the big man an
swered blandly. You're little
stirred mp now, Perley, but you'll come
round and thank me when you've
thought about it awhile What would
ye mther have, an old house that can
be built again with a few boards and
plaster. or a true and loyin' wife?
Just remember you're talking about
my sister," lie glowered menacingly.
The husband stared from the big
man to his sister and from the woman
TO the other relatives. One word-the
wrong word-would put him in the
light Of cold-hearted cad, and Ward
realized t. lie kept still
Good night" said the big man,
genially. Im De going home.
guess"
And he left them gazing into the still
Pickering fire, wondering what TO say
to each other.-National Magazine.