The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-29

| was fearful to offend her. and how could he tell
but that at any moment she might suggest the
very means that he desireds So he assented,
and in kind of half mystifed way he saw her
| go and fetch bowl of water, which she placed
| in front of the fire.
| 'Kneel down." said she, ''and put the glass on
the top of the water, and tell me if you see any
| thing on the bottom of the bowl"
| He was afraid to take hold of the piece OF crys-
| tai, but on the other hand he did not know what
danger be might incur by refusing, so he did as
he was bid. OF course, when the crystal was
| interposed between the glow of the fire and the
bowl of water, there were shadows thrown on
| the bottom of the vessel and sharper lights
| where the holes were pierced; and then, again,
| these seemed to move, for he did not himself
know that his hand was SO trembling and un-
| steady.
'If it's waves, she said, slowly, and her eyes
could now watch him unseen, '1t's voyage"
| There answer. He was puzzling over
| those mysterious shadows, and too perturbed
!. to make definite guess.
| IF it's tree" she continued
cay it's more like trees, I'm thinking" he
| muttered.
| IF it's trees it's kirk YARD she said.
| He sprang to his feet.
| IA kirk yard For whom?1 he cried perfectly
aghast.
| But the old woman took no notice of this sud-
| den fright.
| "How can I tell that" said she, in the same
| calm voice, until hear what it is ye want to
learn Indeed I'll do my best for ye sir
| though there's. nothing sure, there's nothing
sure. But we've been good friend to US this
| day-Ill do my best"
| Here, then, was the opportunity. he wanted,
| and he strove to collect himself He reverently
placed the piece of crystal and the bowl on the
| table, for, although fortune-telling was not what
he was after, still these things might work mis-
| chief-and then ne began his story Truth to
say, it was very transparent fabrication. 1t
| needed no witch to surmise that he was speaking
! of himself and his own affairs. The story was
lived soberly and discreetly, trying to do
| his best by the farm, and saving up
every penny that he could save And why! Be
| cause he had niece, who in the ordinary course
was she content with thata No The idle hussy
must needs take up with a harum- scarum young
| sailor fellow; and now he was for taking her
| away from the house; and he was going to the
| lawyers to make the farmer hand all that
was due to her-though that had all been ex-
pended In the bringing of her up-and also the
| value of her share in the stock, no doubt. And
not only that but this impudent rascal Of a
sailor had challenged the former to fight, and
had miscalled him, and would have dashed him
| with horsewhip but that the whip broke in his
hands And could she wonder, he asked eager
ly, if he wanted to battle the intentions of this
robber and plunderer; aye, and take vengeance
on him for his threats and scorn? And was there
no way of doing that? The farmer would pay,
he said; oh, yes, he would pay when the work
was done Hardly as he had earned every pen
ny of his savings, he would do much to save his
niece from becoming the slave of such a scoun
drel
THAT now" he said, fixing his eyes on the
piece OF yellow metal that lay in her hand, could
not that work him mischief"
"Im no sure about that" she answered.
There's other ways-ay, there's other ways O
working harm, if it was safe to do it. But
maun have the name o the farmer and O the
young saor-lad" she added.
Surely that's no needfu," he said, rather
drawing back
Indeed but it is" she said, doggedly.
He was 10th to compromise himself so far, but
on the other hand, being apparently so near the
accomplishment of his wishes, and having risked
so much already, he could not think of giving up.
Graham" said he, with evident timidity.
"That is the farmers name. and the sailors
name, Jameson"
At the mention of the latter name there was
| curious little twitch of the old woman's eyes,
which he did not notice, and she suddenly said
to him.
'But his other name--T mean the sailor lads
"Oh, that's Alec" he said he had less scruple
about giving her that information.
"And it's him that wants the young lass with
the money!" she said, with quick glance at him.
Then she resumed her absent staring into the
fire again. He remained regarding her in 81
lence. He guessed that she was devising sure
and certain means for the destruction of his
enemy, and would not interfere
tits dangerous work." she said, at length.
SAY, but when it's done it will be well paid
IOr, Sdlu llo, eagerly, OdU We 40 IL--CaQ We 90
it, good wife, Can We bring something upon
him! or can We whisper them that can-some
thing quick and sudden, now, ere he gets time
to go to the lawyers? I tell We, the lass is
talking o leaving the farm at once, and together
they'll be at the lawyers; haste ye to think now,
can We make something befall him-something
sharp and sudden, that will END him forever? 1t
was kirk Yard l saw in the bowl-Im sure
| o't-trees and bushes it that / saw-a kirk
Yard it was-and was that for him good wifew
She seemed to pay but little heed to his malig-
nant vehemence. For little while she sat
perfectly silent and apparently absorbed, and
| then she said slowly:
There's the old and the sure way. if We are
daring enough to do it,"
What Isl what ists" he said, quickly
She looked up again.
"Are We so hard-set against the lad!"
| "Wife, wife, we dinna understand what he
threatens to me and mine" he exclaimed, but in
a low voice "Tell me what's to be done, and
leave the rest to me. And quick, quick, it maun
be, ere the scoundrel gets to the lawyers"
| Inadvertently he had confessed that he him
| self was the farmer of his imaginary story, but
she knew that already.
Its the old and the sure way she repeated,
in the same slow fashion. "Ye take wax i'm
age and We make ready big fire. and We put the
image before the fire. and when it begins to melt
sickness strikes at it's heart. Ay, and he pines,
and he pines, and no one can tell what is the
matter with him; and on the second day We put
the image to the fire again. and We begin to stick
needles into it, and with every needle We say
| Fire burn, fire stew,
Another knife I stick in you.
until the image is finished; ay, and when that's
finished the mans finished, and it's the kirk
Yard then for him, and cold stone at his head +"
"And the wax image-where could one get
that, good wife9" said he, almost in whisper
She regarded him.
Come here to night at o'clock to the minute,
and it will be ready for ye," she answered. ''And
mind We let no one see your coming in or your
| going ont: for its cOmDaSSinp a mans life.
| and what does that mean, if it is found out, but
the gallows"
He started, for there almost seemed a menace
| in her tone, but surely she as much i'm
plicated as he himself was2 However he prom
ised to be there punctually at that evening, in
| the utmost secrecy; and so he got out of the
house and into the quiet little thoroughfare.
AS he made his way back to the buster parts of