Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-10-11
A WITCH STORY.

was naf0eless. 10 was known, however,
throughout the surrounding country as
tiis Nago6 hamlet. It's dwellings were
almost mere buts, small and rneanly
constructed, and the inhabitants lived in
the most abject poverty. They barely
eked ont miserable support by cutting
word from the forests surrounding them
ab9 selling II 10 purchasers In the city.
Those M our readers who have ever
Travelled through the south Of France
have seen scattered about the traces OF
on almost lost race, separate and distinct
from the mas Of the inhabitants Of the
country. In the middle ages this com
fnunity was quite large, but they grad
uaily died out Under the injustice and
oppression with which they were treated
Nv their neighbOrs. Forced 10 remain
w themselves, and cut of from oil the
social advantages Of other people, fire.
duent interfnnrriages were not slow in
producing dwarfed and really inferior
race. B0fne N these people managed to
mako their way to this city, but 1T seems
that the feelings engendered against
them on tic other side followed them
here,
An the eyes Of the people, both here
and III France, the Nagots were infidels,
hcalhcns, poisoners, worshipers Of Satan,
and II was n favorite suspicion with them
that these poor wretches lived chiefly on
human blood, and that they were wehr-
wolves-that IL, possessed Of power 70
assume nj pleasure tho form Of wolf,
and TO pursue the destructive habits 81
that terrible monster.
The hamlet, however, had q friend in
ono Ebcn Kcrshaw, a venerable and
worthy old gentleman, who WINS faniil.
iarly called 'Unclc Ebcn." This kind
old man piticd the outcabts, and his heart
warmed 10 them ~ he daily saw the in
Justice which was henped upon them.
Ono day 'Unclc Eben" abstractedly
wandered beyond the limits Of the ham
let, when suddenly he waS startled from
lSsreverie by a loud shout Looking up
iSsaw n young girl flying In terror be-
fore crowd Of people who were pursu-
Ing her with boots and curses.
The girl saw him, and, rushing toward
him, fell 10 his feet and chung to his
coat.
'save me, Uncle Ebonp" she cried,
implorfngly. .,
The good man waved the crowd back
stcrnly and demanded what they wanted
Of the girl.
"Sho Is dcvil--a weSrwolf," said one
OF the crowd, r. stout, burly fellow
1--WE want her life before she fattens OF
more Of our blood"
"Unclo Ebcn" gnzed at tho crow
gcornfulIy for moment, and then
drawing tho girl closer to him, so!(
calmly: This Is no wchrwof. Sho |!
ono Of Gods children. Let him whC
darcs touch hcr mt his peril" He thor
No Der safely 10 tho hamlet.
aWhat have you done, Marier" nsEeC
'Uncle Ebcn," ms thcy went along.
"Nothlng, uncle. They found me nea
tho edge II tho forest and said / was
wehrwoIf, and threatened TO kill me-"
"wIiat were you doing In tho forest
my ehiIdl"
The girI blusbod and hung her head.
'.No doubt you were there 20 meet
lover. II u soP
Tho girl was still silent; but the blush
ing facs answered him and ho contin
u@ls
fiN " NbtT wv " EHlft NAhhiNf
Gle h not. uncle. lie belongs there,
and she pointed 90 the village.
MY good girl" said the old mar
kindly. II don't think this h right. 70
must b. careful % the people In the vi
Lace. They don't consider you thei
eqfsai, ard do not believe they will &c
haBosablo with you. Let them alone, G
Vs. wil have cause TO repent"
"ljsh Alfred Tompkins IL brave an
haaraile, uncle" Marie exclaimed II
dlrnansiy. "ffe loves me, though ! NJ
paag. towntrodden Nagot. And VIII
Saudi b. hot lovo met have beauty
antf aaa a. worthy ~ him ~ any of Ill
wnmem IN the village who sncer at me 6
they raa me by"
M girl spoke rapidly and with pa
atsn. nnd her face seemed 60 the good ol
nias nlcre beautiful than anything he ha
aga sern.
Mario was the daughter II an d
wtiov living 81 a small cottage III
fuotissr Ead tetn bel ridden for mo,
Esa q ycar. ard now awaited her dauSl
trF's eomDr with impotence. She knc
as - -ic haI rour t. the forest AM
knowinz tho hatred vhch was felt f
fka Narc,s. fearel that some harm b.
Iefren hrr 81 Che young girl enter
A. che ashcl her sharply what l..
atanei hcr e., l17-; anil Manc told h
- he Gl.entu91 with tho townepc0pl
sElr t,,.r fu.cEcl thc old dam
srTlsf .l-.'--.=l year father. child, aY
rsrs fag aU-ll tie yJu from me. o
GafE atle aaili / wcgll tear the,
TN4f.eas rlt. Grl e.sL If ever y,