The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-12-14

me- Tor II get carr1e1 on uy >ppoks
or lost in the swamp. you know very
we'll what will happen 20 YOU"
In vain Isaac impIored me TO give
up my purpose Curiosity and the
foolhardy spirit Of adventure common
to boys Of my age prevailed over his
entreaties and my own inward fears
SO we set out toward the light; Ike
most unwillingiy following me- and
Cesar still more unwillingly following
Ike As we approached il grew con-
stantly broader and brighter until il
seemed to soar in one unbroken- un-
wavering column half as high as the
forest trees We did not venture with
in the circle Of radiance. but stopped
some distance OF and looked from the
dense shadow OF the overarching TO
liage upon wild. weird scene
We had paused on the brink Of one
Of those lagoons 50 common in a
Southern swamp On the other side
II il. on knoll that seemed 10 rise
from the midst OF a morass. a drama
was acting that thrilled me with hor-
ror and makes me SILVER now 10 think
OF. The great boles Of the forest
trees draped with funereal wreaths Of
Spanish moss. the oozy fetid water
circling the mound. the flame luridly
lighting up near objects and intensity
ing the darkness around. the wild
vines twisting from tree to tree. look
ing in the lurid light like the huge
folds Of twining serpents. all made q
fit setting for that picture
Seven figures were grouped within
that frame A white man. tall and
handsome; girl. young and very.
very beautiful; four stalwart negroes.
who seemed posted as guards. and. in
the center Of the group. an old.
withered witch-like crone with = face
black a ebony. 50 scanned with
wrinkles that il looked n II il had
just come out Of . Srimping machine.
and small. keen. jes-black. cleaning.
snal<y eyes. Those evil eyes seemed
TO warn like the rattle o. the deadly
snake: Keep on from me. / am
fatalr' Yet the young man spoke 70
her in tone Of good-humored i'm
patience. As II she were quite . com
mcnplace character.
''Ccme- Venus. hurry up and finish
this business 4 must get back 70
camp before am missed =
What an evil look she gave him,
Her besdy eyes looked more than ever
like . serpent's coiled ready to strike.
She answered with hideous chuckle:
Young mas'r en- big hurry? Alyra.
too. spose? Neb' min. mas'r: obeah
oman mex charm fetish come. den
mas'r all right, Myra. too. Lib m
Tub togeder till dark night come: den
90 togeder--where? Kin white mas'r
tell obeah oman dats NO. white man.
black man. putty gal. ugly ole oman.
all 20 en- dark togeder. But mas'r en-
big hurry; Myra. too See ere. mas'r.
see dey leaves? Dcy stain wild hearts
blood where one man shoot oder en-
duel See dis bones Dat picaniny
bone wha' der nanny strangle en- he
cradle See dis ropee Dat hang
Black Jim 'casc he kill he mas'r ~
miesuA See
'-Never mind the balance cried the
young man. impatiently. Il know
the catalogue. Eye Of newt and too
Of frog You don't suppose believe
in your gibbcrish. do your only
want 20 satisfy Myra that I mean
honestly by her. and II she thinks
your voudoo charms will bind me
closer. get 20 work with your hellish
ingredients and lets see what you
make Of them. old Satan's grand
mother"
Hi VI, young mass 90 funny. mex
ole oman laugh. Putty Myra right.
obeah oman mex charm you neb' part
nummo'. Now / work"
A. she drew near the fire. my fas-
cinnting eyes never left her for . mo-
ment The young man and girl stood
close together. His arms were clasped
around her. and she stood with her
beautiful face lifted 10 his hut his
$4,000. --.-.. -