The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-29
with 1885; Rights
THE WISE WOMEN OF INVERNESS.
A STORY BY WILLIAM BLACK,
Of Of
etc.,. Ell
P A r T II.

J. Il.
dark or fair Not that I ken
anything about that, or that l would do
sic thing; but come in and see my sister, and
tell her what your business is. Folk call her a
wise woman-but what's that7 It's just that she
has the skill and experience o. a long life, and
many one she has helped, though many's the
i'll name that both O. US get in return for it And
did / thank ye for this money, sir2 It's a poor
life we lead, for she's nearly blind, and I'm not
so quick with the needle as 1 was"
She opened a door in the partition dividing the
lower floor of the house, and preceded him into
the back room. It was about the same size as
the one in 'front.' but much more poorly furn-
ished: and it was darker also. There was
small fire burning in the crate, though it was
far from being cold weather without; and in an
easy chair by the side of the fire sat little old
woman-oder than her sister, and whittier of hair
who was wrapped up in thick shawl, and
wore on her head an old fashioned mulch"
She looked startled and even frightened, when
she saw the stranger, and quickly turned to her
sister,
tits a. right, Nancy the taller woman said.
'"The gentleman has glen me a good handsel;
and I'll leave him to tell We his business himself.
So saying, she withdrew: and then the inter
view on which the old farmer had staked all his
vengeful hopes began. And at first it proceeded
slowly enough; for the little old woman, who
seemed to have remarkably sharp eyes, consider
ing that her sister had said she was nearly blind,
would admit nothing; pretended that she only
gave good advice then admitted that she prac-
tised little harmless forecasting by means of
cards, and so forth. At times, the farmer grew
angry; then, fearing to offend her, would become
quite humble again. and finally he had recourse
to further money persuasion. The fact was he
was desperate. If they could not help who couldl
Would he have to part with his niece, and her
share of the profits Of the farm that lie had held
back, and her share of the stock as it stood, and
all because an insolent young puppy had chosen
to interferel And this was the only way of meet
ing him; and time pressed and why would this
old woman--that he had been assured had dark
and mysterious relations with the unseen powers
-prevaricate, and make false assurances, and
refuse to aid him2
But this further bribe though the parting
with these two pounds was like rending his
heart in twain, prevailed; and the little old
woman rose from the chair and hobbled across
the apartment, and for little while was busy
in little cupboard there. When she came back
she had something or other wrapped up in her
apron.
"Ay, ay," said she, in her quavering voice. as
she sank into the easy chair again. and pre-
tended to keep her eyes fixed absently on the
fire, IF the police or the fiscal was coming, he
would be here ere now and its only when one is
sure that one can speak out; and its no often
nowadays, when there's so few that believes
there's SO few that believes Well WELL poor
things maybe it's better they shouldna ken
what's going to happen. What use isit to them to
ken beforehand that the head of the house will
never come back frae sea, or that the BARN will
be taen from them, or that the money they hope
for will never be theirs! And if they dinna be-
lieve that harm can be Tended off-weel, weel
they must suffer, poor things. 1t wasna so once
l mind the days when folk were glad to take
warning-ay, and to pay for the warning-and
to take heed, and guard themselves against the
i'll that was coming. But there's few that be-
lieve nowadays and poor old wife has amaist
lost the secret OF though its them that's nearest
the grave that can see best"
He let her humble or, apparently to herself;
for, partly, he was hoping that she would of her
self come to the mysterious art of which he was
bit overawed. There was something gruesome
in being in solitary converse with a reputed
witch; she did not seem to heed him now; she
kept her eyes on the smoldering fire as if she
saw things there-Shipwrecks, funerals children
crying women sitting and moaning alone And
if the hope in his heart burnt fercer it also
made him afraid He was coming close to these
awful and unknown influences, and how might
they not affect himselfs He had been most
propitiatory to this old woman and her sister,
but after all, they were only instruments.
And when once his purpose was known, would
the vague powers that compassed evil and harm
be on his side, and work with him and for him.
or might they not turn against him, and wither
him with their malignant craft2
And now that she was satisfied he did not
mean to betray her--that he was in reality seek
ing supernatural aid and willing to pay for the
| same-she seemed bent on convincing him that
he had not come hither in vain.
"But there's no many now that care to be
warned" she continued still vacantly staring
into the fire. 1T was different in former days
Maybe you've heard O. Wilox the Warlock?"
II remember the name, but l never saw him, :"
| the farmer said and the very sound of his own
voice made made him start, so intently occupied
had he been with his fancies and his fears.
poor man, he died in thirty three I mind
him well. Macgregor was his real name And
do We ken what gave him power over the spirits
-ay, so that he could raise storm on loch
and drown a boat ere ever warning could reach
them2 1t was what they call talisman, that
had been handed down to him; and this was the
way of it. In former days there was a water
kelpie in Loeb Ness, and he would Ii ON the
road by the side of the loch in the Aape of a
fine horse all saddled and bridled, and when
| some tired traveller would fain come along and
get ride for mile or two, no sooner was he in
the saddle than down into the loch ran the
kelpie and drowned him. But one o. the Mac
gregors heard o. the kelpie and attacked him.
and slashed at the head o. the horse with his
claymore, and cut away the end O. the Bride
and piece O. the bit; and it was this that was
handed down to Willox the Warlock, as they
called him, and many strange thing he did wi
it, as the folk will tell We till this day. Well
sir, We haze been kind to two poor auld women
and I'm sure yere no in league with the police
and I'm just going to show We that very tails
man--that was well known in this countryside
when was young lass"
She opened her apron and took up piece of
yellow metal, and held it out for him to look at
But he would not touch it; he did not know what
subtle power it might yet possess, and perhaps