The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-18


Mortimer, rising and holding the child on his left
arm. "There, darling, hide your face In my mantle,
for must see who this old wretch Is by all means"
replied Mortimer, adjusting his velvet mantle SO
that the chld's features could not be seen and
moving from behind the tree.
She who continued to rate Laurctta did not at first
perceive him, and therefore he had ample time to
study her malignant visage without her knowledge
that SO keen and sasacious observation going
"Ah, II Is siballa the Sorccrcss ~ ne mentally cx-
claimed, as he recognized the bag. "Now, what has
slballa, the sorccress TO do with Lauretta ~
.Idle hussyy' cried sballa, shaking her star
which was fashioned like a serpent ana raising 1t
as II about to strike the shrinking GIRL at Is well
for you that you are on the green, for l do
not wish to draw crowd or I'd lay tbs on your
dainty shoulders"
She was . large and werfal woman, Old, but rs
muscular as an athlete. Her arms, bare to the
shoulders were stained with vernilion and painted
here and there with black and cabalistc characters
and as she gestculated the muscles stood out hard
and distinct, Ike great cords. She wore kind Of
crown fashioned OF misetoe and hemock twigs,
beneath which her fierce cray eyes sparkled with
evil desires. long and dingy gown, which once
hal been crimson, covered her heavy, bury form
and traied for at least yard behind her.
The bag was vexed in spirit, for the day had been
Improbable to her purse at her own booth, which
was in another market place. No one had consulted
her all that day to ask all IN pryng into the fu
ture, great and dreaded as was her reputation, for
ival hal swept away all her custom ~ m liking small
gifts to oil who consulted nina rival who made
much show and parade and dared to ridicue her
powers Of prophecy and sneered at her wisdom.
Thus she stood before the dover booth boiling
with wrath she dared not vent upon that rival but
eager to overwhclm the helpless.
'.Do you know, idle wretch, that have not taken
in shilling oil this dayr' she continued. "a ras-
cally knave who calls himself wise Joscphus' has
attracted oil my trade-but win be even with him
yet. And behold you have not sold nowerl WHAT
do you means Did you sing as l babe you, to at
tract customerss Did you pipe up with that nne
voice of yoursg'
az have not sung. cannot sing SO loudly, so OBJ
scenely as do those bold flower girls over tnere" re-
piled Lauretta, pointing at several booths, whose
owners were females Of the commonest stamp, and
whose shrin voices clamored for customers IN vile
verses
"And did you not sng' gave you new ballad
to learn. you can read "a wen as any clerk in Lon
don. Dame Mansfield taught you that, and you can
sing ike nightingale. Are you too good TO earn
your daily breads"
~ am not too good to work. sibalia, bat am too
'IIcar the proud fool. wrote the ballad myself,
and she is too good TO sing It, while she mopcs and
lets those wenches get al the custom. Out on your
modestyw
With these words the enraged nag lifted up her
crooked stan and strucs Laureta sharp blow upon
fha sho raj he an IN rem
the brutal deed but with leap like that Of leopard
Mortimer Clair sprang forward, snatched the star
from her hand and broke IL in twain. saying a. he
pushed her hcadlong to the ground:-
(Which, but that you claim to be woman, though
you are more Of O devil would belabor you TO o
ielly."
The sorceress was much amazed al this unexpected
assault ana for moment remained hesped mp on
the grass. staring at her assailant
CHAPTER II.
THE soRcEREss AT BAY.
1hs mshap OF the sorceress was not unseen By
those near the booth OF the flower girl. and in in
stant and before sballa had scrambled to her feet
motley crowd was running toward the spot with al
that eageness which inrames the vulgar on behold
ing scene OF strife.
"Come. Lauretta,r said Mortimer, hastily. u viii
protect you. Come with me to my mothers house.
Let this eveycd bag attempt TO prevent IL II she
dare"
Slbalia however. who had by this time risen from
the ground, sprong toward Lauretta with her hands
wide stretched 20 seize her, exclaiming
'What you two know each other GIRL II you
dare forsake for him III have vengeance on Jon