The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-06-16

OF keepin' timid folks all

re JINNdStcI SnlHeu ScOrntully. Il
shouh Thank l was dom my part II
| came witiin eight days OF it," he
declared. although maybe can nar-
row IL 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
- 'dicted the twentieth day of last
June"
Az this open skep,icism her husband
hristled. We'll. there was a frost
that night out in Illinois, anyway"
he said in selfdefense.
And maybe that's where your tor.
nado's go.n' to be-" snapped his spouse
as she gathered up her socks and went
upstairs TO be followed presently by
her husband, bearing in his arms his
rtle 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 goln' to
Interfere with your plans mite |
had dream last night. Seemed as II
| was sittin' here in the kitchen. and
al or a sudden up come some OF the
blacklist clouds in the west that |
ever saw. And when they got up over
head-cricky, how 1t begun TO blow!
The limbs came off the Gins as IL
Trey were Topped and the lilac bushes
were blowed fat, and one end OF the
shed was stove in. Seemed as If |
was readin' newspaper, an l look
cd at the headin' to see just what day
OF the month it was. an saw 1t was
the tenth. Then looked at my watch
an noticed it was just three. though
somehow the kitchen clock was strik-
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"
We'll, It might just as we'll come
then rs any Tine" said Mrs. Bently,
with a srim smile. 81 hain't heard tell
Of any johnson round tho tenth, so
guess 'twon't rut nobody out much"
You get my breakfast soon's you
can, will you?" he urged 81 want TO
get to wrltin' what I'm goin' to send
in to the papers, SO l can 20 up to
the post-olice in time for the after
neon mail"
Mrs. Gently. who was bending over
10 whisk a ran of well-browned bis
cults out of the oven. looked up sharp
~. 81 thought you an Jim were goin'
TO pillow the lower lot this mornin'."
she said
Her husband couGhed uneasily. 81
was intendin' to- he admitted. but
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"
mo 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 a
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 CT 'SS and who has
not failed 20 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-
er, drawing from them, apparently,
the necessary inspiration, for he
caught up a pen, and with his spec
tacles pulled low on his nose and his
tongue pressing out one cheek, he be-
gan to write labo-icusly in q heavy.
sprawlng 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 a chair near
the desk.
u wouldn't write any more on that.
if | were YOU" she said with finality.
Harrison blotted his last line and
looked at her over the top of his spec
tacles with scowl. "Tvo got it most
done, anyway" said he Whats the
trouble? Dinner ready"
mo, faint dinner ead his wife.
Annie Evans has been over 10 invite
you and ne 70 her woddln' She's to
be married the TENTH"
The prophet squirmed unoasily in
his chair In silence ne studied his
wife's face Mrs. Bently met his gaze
unninch.ngly
Now look here. mother. you necd't
go askin' me to put II off again." he
asserted
Il don't sec but what you'll have
to-" said she. I should be ashamed.
If 1 were you. to 20 sroln Annies
weddin' with my croakin's about some
thin ! didn't know anythin about.
You know what Mis- Evans Is. If she
sees anyihn in the papers about a
tornado comm on the tenth. she'll
make Annie put IL off. an there ain't
anythin in this world thatU bring
worse luck than putin off a we'd
din"
Harrison got angrily to his feet. He
caught up his mornings work from
the desk, tore II into small bits and
hurled 90 to the floor