Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-19

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fierce black eyes blazed from under
shaggy, white brows. Once she had been
tail, but now she was bent almost double,
ahd always walked with crutch handled
afh stick From Madge's childhood she
had had secret terror of Dinah.
Strange tales were abroad respecting
her Did not Jenny Polwhele, the
smith, die Of fever after ne had refused
I'd give her lift on the road to Penzance;
Had not she cast the evil eye on Farmer
Neat1nan's cattle last year, after his cow
hhrd had thrown a stone at her? And
when Thomas Beale, the Baptist minis
tA, more daring than the mild curate of
81. Osyth's, had bearded her in her den.
she had torn the good books he had Of
feed her into shreds before his face and
hid driven him from her door with
curses. So people said.
Perhaps Madge Trevylian carried
things to an extreme; but it was certain
that no one in Trevarrock liked old
Dinah, and many feared her. Even Mrs.
Trevylian, with all her plain, good sense,
was not free from the prevailing feeling.
That Dinah was witch was of course
nonsense; but that she had been very
wicked woman was certain.
With trepidation Madge had awaited
the result of Harold's knock, and when
old Dinah, after long delay, slowly
opened the door, she shrank back af-
frighted.
The old woman presented strange,
weird appearance. A soiled red and yell
low bandana kerchief was tied over her
floating, white elf locks, and she wore a
fsher1nan's coarse blue jersey above her
short insey petticoat. A black cat sat
on her shoulder and glared with fierce,
round green eyes at Madge and Harold,
then with spring leaped down and dis
appeared into the darkness Of the cot
tage.
Dinah moved her toothless jaws from
side to side, as if to speak, then cack.
ling, uncanny laugh made Madge shrink
still farther back.
"You'm no call to be afeared, pretty
chicken. Come in, come II. Neither
old Dinah Retallack nor her cat, Pixy,
would harm Passon Trevylian's daugh-
ter. | knowed the time when he was a
good friend to the likes O. me- Passon
would give his coat off his back to a
poor man-though his wife's nobbut a
proud madam. Poor and proud, moth
ing but trouble ever came O that. Ay,
she's had her troubles; some you don't
know on, reckon"
The old woman had seated herself on
the chest nearest the fire, and was rock
ing to and fro, mumbling to herself, ap-
parently forgetting tie presence Of her
visitors.
What can she mean? Oh, don't let
US stay here. She frightens me with her
strange words, Madge whispered, shiver-
ing. Harold pressed her hand closer to
his side, but did not move.
"Why, como, Mrs. Retallack, that is
not very cheerful greeting to travellers
who want to ask favor and are willing
to pay well for it, too"
He pulled handful of loose silver
out of his pocket and jinglad it tempting
ly. The old woman's black eyes shot a
covetous glance towards it, but she still
crouchod over the fire and did not speak
MAY we pat up our rony and trap in
your shed for few hours? You shall
have this" holding up half crown, 'if
you viii consent"
cay, we may use the shed. But ri me
the money now, chiel; it's long since
had SO much in my hand, and the feel O.
it will warm ne like And who be you?
( Tn thinking u fine, well spoken gentle
man. But there's trouble i the air, ay,
trouble"
She shook her head and looked gloomily
into the fire. The cat crept from its
corner and began to rub itself against her
chair.
Harold drew nearer aud seated him
self opposite to the old woman. bIadGe
remained standing in the doorway.
Trouble! For whom? Do you mean
for me, mother he said half earnestly,
half jestingly. He had used the last
word only in the general sense In which
it is applied to the aged, but it had
strange effect on the witch of Trevar-
rock. Her dull eyes flashed and her
lips quivered.
Mother! No tongue ever called ne
that but one. All! had he lived he
might now have been like you. He was
only 10, but Il proper man Well, he's
gone, and I'm alone-alone. | killed
him! II Do ZEE hear that? But I've
been judged; ay, that have l." Again
she rocked herself, in unutterable woe
and despair, over the dying embers.
Come, cheer up, Mrs. Retallack," he
said, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"Iou are too much alone and give way
to gloomy fancies. shall come and SEQ
you again some day and bring a few
things to make you little more com
Portable, if may" he added, looking
with pity round the bare, dilapidated
hut.
"Ay, We can come If we've mind and
bent afeared o the Witch O. Trevar-
rock" she answered, a sardonic smile
fitting over Ter gloomy brow. "They
calls me that Well, whether | be or
balnt, never mind. knows few
things, and I'm sorry 50 say it, for you've
spoken kind words to me this day.
There's trouble in store for you, sir; ay,
and for her"
The last words were spoken In whis-
per, as the ancient crone jerked her head
In the direction of the door, Madge was
standing outside, and did not know what
they were saying.
We'll, Tn sorry to hear It," said Har-
Old, still cheerfully. But, for that mat
ter, life is full of sorrow. Since, how
ever, you have told me SO much, can you
not help me out of the especial trouble
you mean, Ell, motherl'
He intended but to soothe and hu1nor