The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-12-06


but possibly the smallness of the marks
had misled the observers, who would natu
rally be on the lookout for the steps of {
/ grown man. On the hard road no reliable
track conld be agreed upon hoof marks
there were, but they were in too great plen
| ty 1t was, however, noticed that neal
| most of thr gates that would have had tc
be opened, stone was lying, as if it had
been used to 'scotch" it and towards the
latter end of the journey some of the scar
cheers were puzzled by large and small
round mark following close on what seemed
to be about the newest imprint of cows
feet. Bnt who was likely to think that
these had been made by the crutch and the
stick of the crippled Dame at Leathem's
homestead In word no clue was found,
and all the Pensioners, squire and clergy
man included, were left in most painful sus-
pense All that was quite certain was,
that there was some one among them with
malice enough to have done an act that set
possible ruin staring in the face of every
one of the inhabitants. from the largest far
rner to the humble cottager with his single
COW. Each looked at his neighbor with
blank suspicion. One or two, who however,
others, and they belonged to the Leathem
household
True / tell yo | seed the COW myself
as they were buryin' herr and Mestur Asst
bury would only let three men touch her,
because O. their jackets and trowsers havin'
to be burned AFTER said Joseph, standing
in the dairy doorway He lived down in
the village and was the first to bring the
news of the startling occurrence up to the
homestead.
mark God knows didn't wish it
when said what did in the bottom mead
ow. Surely the Bad One put it into my
head, but didn't mean it to be So III!
never say such thing again" And
Marks mother, gazing at him in conscience
stricken alarm, trembled till the half
cleansed dairy utensi she held in her barred
arms shook and clattered against the white
table. -s....
'.Do they know who did it p asked
Mark, leaning for support against the wall,
his pallor sickly enough TO assure some per
sons that he could not be wholly innocent.
''No !" loudly answered Joseph, much
excited. '.Bur know somebody as could
tell 'em.'
"What, Joseph y gasped his wide-eyed
mistress ''who ?"
Granny - he replied, in the same high
key, looking from mother to son with
grin and then, without waiting for an an
swer he strobe heavily along the red brick
passage leading towerds the kitchen.
''Matty said to me Astbury's COWS were
going to be badly faltered Mark, in reply
to his mothers astonished gaze.
Our Matty! when ~
'Last night as | was going upstairs to
bed''
Granny couldn't walk past the top of
the lane" said Mrs Leathem, putting down
the can with a clang, her eyes still fixed on
her sons face.
"They' say it is me ~ broke out the
weak young fellow. Everybody knows
about ME an Ellen, and they'll say I'VE
done it."
''Where is Matty p said his mother, wi
ping her arms in her apron quickly, and
brushing past her, Mark following towards
the kitchen.
AS they neared the end of the passage
Joseph's voice could be heard ringing high,
and granny's miserable chuckle, was also
distipguishabe in reply, though, judgin
by the sound of the servant mans tones, he
was not within the kitchen, but was out
side talking in at the window, which was
the fact.
''Who yo made do it, dunner know,
Joseph was just then saying. | dunnel
think as it is Mark. for he hasn't got the
pluck for it. Bur such as yo' can do any.
think an Pm afeard o. the roof ia in or
yo' !"
"Mind dunner do summat at thee,if thee
tellest onybody."
81 shanner tell onybody for the sake o
the lnissus, who's got trouble enough o
her own, but would tell if it was ner fol
hur," the man answered, deiantly.
81 on'y hope a their COWS n take it, ,
Missed the wicked old woman.
Il amer afeard o thee, so long as | an
out O thee house thee can'st ner hurt me
outside" followed up the superstitiously
valiant Joseph at the window.
''What is this r. poor Mrs. Leathem asked
gliding into the kitchen, where she found
| little Matty pale as death. standing by gran
ny's side, vino sat in the chimney corner
looking towards the back window, in which
Joseph's head was visible.
A curious and most forbiddidg expression
came upon the old lady's face at sight Of heI
daughter-in-aw and her grandson /; heI
thin lips parted exposing the toothless
gums, and her glittering black eyes flashed
as she waved a lean hand for Joseph to &C
away.
"Oh, it's now't," tersely said that per
sou, quitting the window, the truth being
that he was afraid of granny's supposed
power.
"You told Mark last night Astbury s
COWS were going 70 be bad" next said Mat
tvs mother, going towards the child
''Eh what did yo' say that for p peev-
ishly burst from granny, and she clutched
Matty by the shoulder.
The trembling girl madeNno answer, but
looked appealingly up into the old womans
face, who drew her to her side protectingly.
''How did she know of it ?'' persisted
Matty's mother. now addressing granny.
Gunner ask me. was the tart answer.
They'll think I've done it because they
wouldn't let Ellen see me ~ Mark cried.
"But Joseph says you know about it,
granny ?' ] didn't want their COWS to have
the pest Who has done it ? for they ought
to know. l ant going to have them think
it's me.
cit sarves EN- right if every COW they
have goes !''
"Hush, granny that is wicked, cried
Marks mother, land I'll make Matty tel
how she knew Astbury's cows were going
to be badly J"
81 tow'd her thought So" quickly an
swered the old lady
s'Joseph - suddenly cried Mark, at sigh
of that persons visage repassing the oper
window for the third or fourth time sine,
he left. What did you say in the dairy P
s'Eh said -"
E ''Joseph is a foo, and if he dunner mind
, I'll sey it was him." iercely interruptet
) granny, shaking fist, as the man again
!, put his head in at the open easement.
''Yo ovid liar! Yo' wanted me, an
, wouldn't!''
! ''Wanted you to do it ?'' Mrs. Leather
: exclaimed turning to him.
avis She axed me to drive the COW over