Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-10-01
THE EVE OF ST MARK.
BY M. r. W.

it, girls, I'm such coward, you know
Four of us who were classmates were
sitting together in Emma Lyons bed
room. We had come to spend the va
cation with her in her country home.
There were Alice Glynn, Cora Hall,
Adela Groves, and myself, all ready for
any amount of fun and daring, Emma
Lyons, as usual, taking the lead.
When [ say all, must except our
pretty Alice, who was timid, nervous
little creature, but whom we dragged
into many of our escapades" by sheer
bullying.
"Was she very pretty?" you ask.
Yes, lovely, from the long ringlets of
her blonde hair to the arch of her little
foot. We called her little, but she was
ness to be the arrant coward she was.
"Well, cowardice is your normal con-
dition, my DEAR" answered Emma. $50
it don't count for much. I never saw
the things as you call them, but then
I've looked at them through another
persons eyes. The vigil of st. Mark is
an English custom, you know, and I'll
call Mrs. White, mammals housekeeper,
to tell us about it. She has already
half-curdled my blood by her awful
stories.
"Ask Mrs. White to step here for a
minute" she said to servant who was
in the room.
Mrs. White came, tall, angular, with
long, grave face, and slow, precise
speech.
"Sit down, Mrs. White" said Emma
give sent for you to tell the girls here
what you know of the Eve of st. Mark,
if you've no objections.'
@No hobiections, miss, I'm sure"
smoothing her apron and gazing at US
with lack-luster eyes.
"In the hold country, young leddies,
in Hengland, you know, there's times
when hevil spirits gets abroad. ST..
Marks is one. Hif person will go at
midnight to the church-porch and
watch, he will see a percession of the
folks who are to die in the year, and
he'll even see hoaC they are to die.
Them that died that year will meet 'em,
too.
"Why, my own nephew's cousin saw
his own brother pass, KILN hissef with
a knife. It come true as gospel, too,
fore the year was out. He did kill his
self"
Alice cried right out, and hid her
face in her hands.
"You surely don't believe all that
nonsense, Mrs. White? ?" I asked, sharply.
"Seein' is beievin', miss she said,
grimly. II don't held to disbeIevin'
a respectable young man, my own
nephew's cousin, who scorned a lie
with his head and his heels. And.
when he tells me that his own heyes
seed the CHASTITY sight, I hain't goin' to
give him the lie. Nom; Imayn't throw
myself in the face of Providence by
peepin' and peerin' at forbidden things,
but other folk has done it, and will do
it when we're all dead and gone"
did your nephew's cousin tell what
he saw before lis brother killed him
self?" Cora asked, rather supercii-
ously.
''In course, miss, he told it right off
to Jim THAT was his brotherI. He done
his duty to him, everybody knows. I've
hearn him say, time and agin, Jim,
says, he faint no use to make any plans
for the future, fur you hain't got none.
A man can't fly from his fate when it's
fixed. All you've got to do is to con-
slider your latter bend, and make up
your mind to be cut hoff in the flower
of your days Somehow, Jim couldn't
make up his mind"
"Don't blame Jim," muttered Adela.
"Ch, yes, we all done our duty by the
misfortunate man" Mrs. White went on.
"The folks used to look mournful-like
at him, and his sweetheart quit him,
cause she said she couldn't a-bear the
thought of him maybe killing hisself
right afore her. He got awful grumpy,
and one night, says he:
I'm druv mad by all of you, and I
haint goin' to stand it no longerl' And
then he went in his room and slammed
and locked the door. Next mornin'
findin' he wouldn't answer, his mar bust
in the door, and found him dead. He'd
killed hisself. Yes, young leddies,
sperits are abroad on st. Marks eve."
Having reached her tragical terni-
nation, Mrs. White stalked out of the
room.
ooh girls, look at that goosey, Alice, "
Emma exclaimed, laughing. Alice was
61GUlLS LII IlCI uSI eyes
almost starting out of her head, and her
face as white as sheet.
"Oh, it's horrible" she gasped.
Which, the story, or Mrs. White?"
asked Adela, with a sheer. az think
st. Marks ghost was guiltless of poor
Jims death. That abominable brother,
and Mrs. White, and the rest of them
that done their duty as the poor fellow
said, 'druv him mad It was all a
made-up ghost"
"Who's talking of ghosts?" said a
voice at the door; and, looking up, we
saw Roy, Emmas brother, standing
there.
ooh Roy" cried Emma, "we've
made up our minds to keep the vigil of
ST. Mark in the church porch to-mor-
row night, at midnight But Mrs.
White, with her terrific tales, has scared