The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-19
A WITCH BEWITCHED.

She knew quite well what it meant. She
knew whose boat was coming around
the bend in the river, but she did not
stir nor look up She was leaning against
the old oak tree at the waters edge, and
idly picking to pieces a spray of golden
rod. The sunbeams sifted through the
tree and fickered over the dusSy head,
slipped down past the lowered lashes,
Kissed the dimpies on the bare elbows.
The oars in the water ceased their regu-
lar plash and the boat glided up to where
she stood.
The bits Of gcldenrod foated by on
each side.
"An', Mona, did We have no greetin'
for me? Why did ye come"
Mona drops the last scrap of flowers
and looks at him.
SIS it that you think have come here
to your she laughs. Gerald, sure ye
don't think that
"And why notY he says, in an injured
way. 81 told ye Sunday was goin' to
the Shadows; didn't ask ys thin to
come down."
Perhaps" she says. Il have forgot.
l came down to pick the cress; 'tis busy
i am"
So she flashes one glance at him and
picks up her basket, as yet empty.
"Cress! Why, Mona, he says. "come,
get We into the boat. This cress is not
half 30 lush as some bit further. Come
on" he urges.
Mona hesitates, and swings the basket
up and down Back across the green
slope of lend she looks, across the stile
and just beyond the hill, where faint
film Of smoke creePs upourling from the
little chimney barely visible.
Gerald follows her gaze. Come,
Mona" he says. "They won't miss ye"
well" she says slowly, well" In
reality she is longing to so, but Of course
it would not do to let him see it. "Ye
needn't help me. can get in"
Lightly he dips his oars, and they
glide down the river. Mona laughs
They will be after me soon" she
says. aunt Mollie viii be a-callin'
me, but she won't know; will she, Ger
ald?"
mo, colleen" answers Gerald in de-
light at the smiling face she turns to
him. He rests his oars in the oarlocks
and lets the boat drift.
Mona" be says, bending toward her,
'Mona, listen
AN won't | catch it, tool" she says
with peal Of laughter, as though catch
ing it would be a festive occasion.
Here's the place; yes, Gerald?'
Eyes" he answers modify. "Wait,
I'll get the stuff; We needn't move"
She catches hold of the bending branch
of willow and draws the boat close in
shore. One small bare foot swings back
and forth in the water "a she balances
herself on the prov and huns softly to
herself Size knows be is angry; she
guesses what he had started to say TO
her moment ago, but what does she
care for that? The lips are demure and
serious as she thanks MIN, but the violet
eyes are laughing.
Gerald, she says, when the oars COM
menced to move, Athens here"
"Aileen?'
Yes. She has the chance to see MS
now while Lady Lindores is at home
She is still my lady's maid, We know.
Aileen is, and it's myself would like TO
be in her place"
"Monal Ye would like to go away
from-from Kilganock:"
Yes" she cries, surely"
The boats kee! ran up To the landing
place She jumped out and then turned
away with the basket in her hand. One
glance she gave him over her shoulder.
AN would We care, Gersldy7
Faith, tbs not the likes of me she
would be afther plssin'," he said to him
self as he watched the little figure trip
up the green sward and over the stile
BE forgot about the fishing expedition
he had planned. He leaned back in the
boat and fell TO thinking. All the
witches in the world are not vet sup
pressed; there are still some few left to
tangle up the senses of man and leave
him in bewllderment. The witch in
Kilgarnock must have taken up her
abode in Mona Carey's small head To
torment the lads of the village. to be-
guile and capture each unSuspecting
heart, were accomplishments in which
long practice had made her perfect.
There seemed such q Sunshiny atmos-
phere always around her that il made
her as dangerous as she was lovable and
winning.
Unlucky Gerald All her life he had
known her, even back TO the time when
she had begun TO talk in broken baby
phrases.
Although he was years older than she
Mona treated him in the same careless,
laughing way in which she did all the
other suitors. And though not one of
them could boast Of any especial mark
Of favor, vet each one believed himself
10 be ahead in the r8ce-esch one except
Gerald Shes-n. Daily he questioned
himself, tined TO understand her; but
no, Re teoSe-t bitterly, Its an omad.
haun ! am; she laughs at me.
VITA all the love OF ms passionate.
Irish nature he loved the maid. wor-
shipped pretty Mona, who would look at
him so roguishly from under long lashes
and would not listen. And now he
heard her voice calling:
"Lightfoot, Lightfoot. come up, come
M: come to me, accushia." and the tinkle