Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-05-15

| ShiihiuS "hOh gou ScI HOHc, IOT size IS 1eSIlHE
that your hearts changed towards her already
The stars have been whispering of it to her"
Quite cheerfully Kester trotted the grew
mare home and, as if Immediately to prove
the sage's words true, Katie came to meet him
at the gate as rosy as peony. Alick, at tha,
| minute, was escaping by the cow house door
into the pasture, after telling Katie of his vi
sit to BRAIN Rex. and preparing her for its
probable results
In the centre Of the great meadow directly
opposite KeSter Pateman's chamber window
there was fine old oak tree, quite in the ma.
turity of its years and strength Under its
wde-s spreading branches herd of cattle could
shelter from the Summer heat, and in its giant
bole was timber enough to build frigate al
most. When Kester rose the morning after
his visit to Bran Rex, he opened his window,
and his eyes fell on this tree the first thing,
as they had probably done for many year
This time he gazed at it fxedly, half expect
ing to see the leaves and branches shrivel un-
der his gaze but he spet his name backwards
three times, and there were no visible effects
He went to market after breakfast and sold
his corn, and bought a new cow so implicit
was his faith in 'Bram's charm and, meeting
Johnny Martin told him ruefully, that he must
leave off thinking of Katie for she was not
permitted to be his wife
q Why not, Master Pateman ~ demanded
johnny, to whom this sudden change was in
comprehensive
" Because thous bespoken, Johnny, for an.
other woman and there'd be contradiction
and the mischief and all if we tried to go agen
what's ordained. | spoke to Bran Rex yes
terday-it was he tel't me"
Bran Rex the vagabond fortune tellerv'
exclaimed Johnny, putting out his fat cheeks
in token of contempt, for Johnny pretended to
more light than bis neighbors. " Is that Ka-
ties best reason, Kester Pateman 2"
Maybe not, man she's no inklng that
I've changed nay mind yet l amt spoken to
her, but | maun"
But it's not fair to jilt poor fellow, be.
cause Bran Rex tells you pack of lies" re.
monstrated Johnny. I'm speak to Katie
myself, with your leave, Master Pateman, and
ask her her reasons"
Her reasons, Johnny, are that she can't
abide thee thous good lad, but it goes ageu
the grain with her to think O thee. She's a
saucy lassie, and her that's bespoken you by
the stars has mint of money
This happy invention Of Kester's was utter
ed boldly rs a consolation to the forsaken
swain, and he, as such accepted it, for Johnny
was as credulous as his neighbors.
In about month after KeSter Patemans
visit to Bran Rex there was a wedding at
Harwood, and such dance in Kester's barn
as had never been heard of in the country
side before All the defeated swains we're there.
johnny Martin and Tom Carter made the mus
c on two independents violins, and lost,
in this opportunity of distinguishing them
selves, the sore sensation of disappointment
Johnny behaved nobly he presented Katie
with u halt peck of apples as wedding pres.
ent, and looked glorious all night When Ka-
tie came near him once he whispered
Katie did YOU tell anybody about the Blue
Cow 2"
No, man it was only in fun," replied she
mischievously ard Johnny drew long breath
of relief
What dance that was TO the tune of Mer-
rily danced the Quakers wife, and merrily
danced the Quaker 1t seemed as if it would
never come to an end So loud and hilarious
was the mirth at the supper after it, that no.
body heard the thunder rattling overhead, or
saw, when all separated and went home, the
lightning leaping about the hills But there
had been certainly terrible storm that night,
lnOuSH lC" people Ut ilaT"OOu TecO!Iccl IL
and the next morning when KeSter opened his
window, as his custom was, to give the charm
ed gaze at the oak tree in the meadow, behold
one side was reft entirely of its boughs and
black, SCARED trunk faced him instead of yes
terdays majestic growth. Kester started back
affrighted. Could this be the effect of his Esil
Eye?
If you go to Harwood, as you ride into the
village, in the meadow opposite the black
smiths forge you will see the blasted trunk of
the giant oak tree and, should curiosity
prompt you to ask how it came to be destroy
ed, any gossip will tell you that one Kester
Pateman withered it away by the power of
Evil Eye-he having gazed at it every morn
ing, fasting for that purpose. They will tell
you also that, from having been one of the
most unlucky of men, he became one of the
most prosperous in the district, with grand
children and great-grand-chdren and fockS
and herds innumerable
Alick and Katie still live in the farm house
down by the water pasture, which the Squire
let them have when they were married But
dint of talking of it, they have come themselves
to believe in the Evil Eye. Bran Rex's de-
scendants live and flourish in various districts;
though Bran himself, for some mistake respect
Ing another persons property, was transported
to distant colony to exercise his craft there
with what success, this tradition sayeth not.
PUzzLlNG.--A lady being asked 10y gen.
tleman to join in the bonds of matrimony with
him, wrote the word stripes" stating at the
time that the letters making up the word
stripes, could be changed SO as tomake an an-
swer to his question. Who knows the answer.
Ray- Young Irishman, who had married
when about 10 years of age, complained of the
difficulties to which carly marriage subjected
him. said that he would never marry SO