The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-12-21
CHAPTER ".
WHAT TIE WITCH SAID.


While Silvsstik stood undscide q
and unnerved something touched
him, and then, rubbing itself against
his legs, the creature pUrrsd. The
familiar sound revived him. and he
felt himself again, when q lantern
came out Of the group Of stones, and
q deep voice said,
"Tsrtare Tsrtsre come home It
10 time"
The cat left of rubbing against
Silvestik, and moved toward the Ian
tern the youth followed the animal,
striving to keep down fear.
"WhO art thou ?" He had not near
ly reached the light when this stern
question came.
"I am Silvestlk Kergroes," be said
quickly; 81 come to consult you,
Mother Ursule."
"Coms In, my son, come in'-tbe
voice had q softened, almost . fawn-
ing sound in it-"lst US see how q
poor old woman can help the rich
miller OF Nizon."
Silveatik started. It was only the
day before yesterday that he had
learned his Cousins kind Intentions I;
how could the news have already
reached Ussuie, who rarely went Into
KerIon?
81 rich No, no, MOTHER he
laughed, as be followed her, rejoiced
to find that she was, after all, an ordi-
nary old woman; never expected to
be rich"
ne followed her through an open
ing in the dolmen then he paused
and looked round,
Ursule was holding up the lantern.
and he saw that he was in q sort OF
stone vault, surrounded by upright
blocks of granite. In the midst was .
huge stone-tSble. grooved in the cen-
tre, and in one corner, bstwesn two
lower stones, was q dull smoldeTing
fire. AS he looked round to the door
by which be bad entered, he started
violently. In the darkness ab)ve the
entrance were two yellow eyes glAr-
ing at him.
HCome down, Tartare - UrsuIe
said querulOusly. "Now, Siivestlk,
shall l tell thee what thou hast CONS
to seek ?"
Silvsssik stared ut her Ia wonder
while the cat sprang down from its
post OF observation, and nestled on
Ursule's shoulder.
She was very wltch-liks Rs she stood,
the yellow light from the lantern fall
ing on her skinny cheeks and narrow
spitefnl eyes. Her face was darker
than Nature had made Il, fron an
incrustation Of dirt, and tangled griz-
zled hair fell over II from beneath an
old rusty black hood.
"I am not yet the miller Of NizoU,
mother; my cousin is better, and
NAV recover-who Knows ?n
She shook her fingers in his face,
thereby displaying how lonR-nailed
and crooked they were. Sllvestik
drew back with . start. He felt as il
those brown claws could hook out his
eyes ss easily Ra the yellow-eyed cat
on Ursule's shoulder could tear out
the heart Of . bird.
"Who knows 2" she laughed. "You
are come, then, to teach, and not TO
question, young man ?"
HI am come for advice, mother; but
have no money to return for it."
He watched her face eEgerly, but IN
the dim light be saw no change from
the keen gaze she had kept on him
since he had entered her den. Then
be unbuckIed bis broad buh leather
belt, and threw IL on the table be-
tween them, the metal clasp ringing
on tue stone as it fell. "I can offer
this" he said timIdly.
UrsuIe laughed.
IWhst slss ?u She fingered the
belt, pushing out her lower lip con-
temptuously when she saw how plain
the clasp was.
SIIvestik looked puzzled. He took
off his hat and rubbed his forehead
with his orange cotton handkerchief.
''I forgot this" be said, and he began
to undo the metal buckle that fss-
tened = Drosd black velvet round the
crown Of his hat.
Keep your rubbish, boy, and be
speedy," Ursule said fercely. She
fung the belt into one OF the dGrk
corners OF the den. '5sy out at once
what you want"
SiIvestikis faith in the Witch's pow
er was shaken by her contempt Of his
poverty. How foolish he had been to
come empty-handed and yet, unless
he borrowed money Of his cousin, be
did not know how he could get any
sum sufficient TO offer to the old
witch.
"Come, be quick, loitersr say
what YOU wAnt,n she said hoarselY.
She saw that he hesitatsd, and she
was unwilling to lose fresh dupe.
"I wantn-he stammered-"thst is
how can young man who is poor
approach a."
BE stopped. His dOYneast eyes
and the flush on his honest face told
his secret.
! "SaIvestik KergToes ssks-UFsule
spoke mockingIy to the cat Oh her
shoulder-''how be is to win a rich
Psnnhsrez, (peassnt, and what steps
4 he Is to take to get her for bis wife ?'l
Silvestik's eyes opened widely, and
so did bis mouth his suEprize was
unbounded.
"WeH, mother" he said simply, ''ii
I bad not believed In you before,
believe In you now you know wish
es before they are spoken"
"He Is q young fool, Tartare ~ She
had turned her face round to the cat,
showing 8 hideous vrinkled throat in
the action. "He forgets, TartAre, that
bsfore . man hints bis love he must
} make sure that gill will listen with
patience, at least"
"Yes. yes, mother, / know shs
would listen with patience be said
eagerly. "Annik is sweet and gen
tie, but want TO know what ber aD
sver will be. Only hope that she
loves could encourage me to ask her
and ss she is rich and / am poor"
TRich to, to be calls q few hun