Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-05-13

He regarded the old adage, "A place
for everything, and everything in its
place. as a precept secon IN lmpor-
lance only to the ten commandments
therefore, awakening suddenly n
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 to 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, cos l recollect gittln
the broom-locked the door; wound up
the With q resigned sigh Ezra
futile slid gently out of bed; for the
first time during his married life he
had forgotten to win h Kitchen
clock.
Cautiously the Ole man CROPPED for a
match, listening apprehensively; but
his wife's regular breathing rose from
the bed undisturbed. With a sigh OF
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. Il wouldn't have
Eliza wake up for the world he
thought, with a dry smile; IF she knew
L LOl SOA NltAN " 49, ~
last of it."
With much care, lest the creaking
of the worn and carpetless boards
should betray hin 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 some
one-apparently old and infirm-delib-
erately feeling the way downstairs af-
ter him. Raising his light, he turned
and stared at the landing he had just
quilted. 1t was absolutely vacant.
What a fool l be-" he calculated un-
der his breath, Il might ha' known
there wasn't nOthin' there"
A tritle ashamed, yet feeling deCid-
eddy shaky, he faced about to continue
his journey-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 and rheu-
matism, making her way laboriously
owe the same stairs; even the stick
whose %uncanny tapping was rending
his nerves to shreds SHOULD have been
by rights resting quietly against the
wall of the spare room Cupboard-he
remembered placing it there himself
the day it's 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 n down his spine, "she always
vowed she'd come back"
rs that you, Aunt Nabby?" he whis-
pered hoarselv COS if it is, JUS say
what it's you WANT amt afraid, not
q bit"
There was no reply. Gathering cour-
age, the speaker went on; maybe
you're pvt out cos /, sold that lower
meadow of your'n? You always de-
clared you'd appear to me if 1 did, but
/ don't think it's quite right to blame
me for doin' it-'twasn't nuthin' but a
marsh anyhow, eating itself up in
t~axes-you'd have sold it yourself in a
minute If you'd been alive for half
what that Teller from London Civ me
for it."
Cant you say nuthin'?" he quay
cred miserably. You used TO be ready
enough with your tongue when things
didn't suit you. Maybe it amt the
land after ALL" a sudden prophetic fear
CilllilhS Iilil " tie 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"
AnxinJIGlv he uojtn1 f,,rthar narR,
nation, but 1t was not forthcoming;
even 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.
shes gone" he said aloud, she's Civ
her warnin' and gone back; wasn't the
meadow she came about; but i kind o.
wish after all l hadn't sold it amt
felt we'll h whole spring, but / never
thought II would come to this"
A dismal groan burst from his quiv-
ering lips. Needless of his unfinished
errand and the creaking stairs, he hast
lily retraced his steps.
II hope it amt goin' to be tonight"
he mediated as he climbed. Maybe I'll
drop on the landing, same as father did
In the bayfield,, there's no telling;
there's always been heart disease in
the family, and mine feels frightful
queer now-sort o futters like"
A strange moisture dimmed his eyes.
Its a cruel shock for Eliza to wake
up and find me laying here dead; L
don't want to go without seeing her
again, either-'sides, I might smash the
lamp and set the house afire.'
Mr.. Tuttle held his breath as ne
crossed the landing, but the dreaded
blow was mercifully withheld. and he
reached the bedside still I'm the flesh.
II hate TO have TO tell her. he thought
ruefully, looking down on the face of
his sleeping wife. She'll take it mighty
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
h gray head buried in the pillow:
Wake up, Eliza" he said mournfully.
Mrs. Tuttle 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
energetically to her feet. II verify be-
lieve you've zone crazy, waking me
up in the middle of the night talking
a hnuf uarninc,f If xn,,tra an ,,A,. ~u-