Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-09

 about to be frustrated unless something happened to remove Lura Joyce from his path.
 ' Something must happen, ;" was his men tai decision.
 He did not follow Miss Joyce into the house, but walked down the steps and hur- ried swiftly away to the stable. Here he saddcd one of his grays, led him forth. and soon galloped swiftly down into the hollow, then up the incline to the level ground be- yond.
 Before going mile the horscman turned his animal into the thick bushes lining the road, and after going short distance came to halt and dismounted, securing the horse to a sapling.
 "I hope Mother Cabera is at home," he muttered. q have business of an impor- tant nature with her to-night.''
 He pushed through the bushes at rapid pace, consuming half-hours time, per haps, in following an ill-defined path, and then halted in front of log cabin built on the edge of deep gulch
 Night had now fallen, but light glowed through the one front window, assuring the Captain that an occupant was within. He went at once and rapped. When the door opened in answer to his summons he quickly crossed the threshold, and as it closed behind him he found himself facing an Unlocking crone, who had been engaged in the interesting operation of getting solace from the stem of black clay pipe.
 ''Eh? Cap'n Starbright as live," ejacu- lated the female, resting the gaunt end of her under jaw on the end of her thumb as she spoke, the pipe swinging to and fro at her side between the fingers of her other hand.
 Don't guess again, Mother Cabera," said the Captain, with low laugh. "Are you alone"
 ''Don't look like it!''
 ''Yes. The twins, where are theyP'
 "On one of their larls, reckin. l hain't seen hide nor hair on 'em in three days now.'
 You ought to learn them better-'
 'Learn 'cm, is itl I'd like to see you," she interrupted, with scowl.
 II shall not attempt it at any rate," was his answer. II suppose you are open to business now as ever, Mother Cabcra?' "Ef it brings something to keep the pot a-boilin' I'm ready" she answered, with a grin.
 ''It will, you may be sure. The fortune telling business must be dull at this season of the year!' II should say it was.''
 ''Nothing doing for a long timep ''Nothng."
 Il imagined so. Have you visited Lone Hollow of latcs' II haven't" '.Grace Pcnroys cousin has arrivcd.' II heard something about at she was ex- pectcd. A great beauty, s'pose, with airs enough to smother pcrson!' "Nothlng of the kind. She's mannish and 1 fiery. don't like her. and that is why I've 1 come to you.'' | ''Wcllr'
 Mother Cabcra grinned moro pronounced l ly. Her eyes were sunken deep under a narrow skull and looked very like two black, | twinkling beads. There was the glitter of avaricc plainly revealed. Her visitor knew | her well, and was cautious enough not to l commit himself in way that might after ward prove dangerous. | " Sit down and let us have quiet talk, mother" he said, at the same time placing | himself squarely on rickety chair. She 1 followed his example, and as they sat there they made an odd picture-he with his un- ] spotted garments, with oiled and combed | locks, she with gown whose original color 1 was undiscoverable from grease and dirt, | her hair in a dubious tangle and frowze.
 A unique picture indeed.
 Now, then, Mir. Starbright, I'm all ears,' she sad, carefully dcpositing her clay pipe on the floor, and leaning forward until her gaunt form, with pointed chin resting on her attenuated palm, rcsembled semicir | cle of bones.
 "Td likc," sad tho Captain, ''for this newcomer at Lonc Hollow to depart from there immediately. Her coming has com plctely upset my plans, and that is very an l noying as you may well believe"
 "Of coursc," agreed the crone. "Yor would like her to drop dead with heart dis ease or somcthin' of the kind. leetle O. my cough drops"
 ''For heavens sake, Mother Cabera stop!'' he commanded, hoarsely. II hadn'
 T ,l,,sA J. H. murdering the girl. I'm not that sort O person. hope"
 A low, whitening chuckle that caused hi!
 flesh to creep interrupted his speech.
 He glarcd at his companion, then spranG to his feet with a muttered imprecation.
 "rll have nothing to do with you, ol'
 woman, not a thing"
 Then he walked to the door, opened it ant
 gazed out into the darkness. He did not go
 however, neither did the crone offer to pre- vent. She sat lmmovablc, glaring at hin with her black, beady eyes in a way mos
 unpleasant. She knew Captain Starbrigh
 even better than he knew himself. He ha
 come to the cabin for purpose that night
 and Mother Cabera knew it. After brief moment the Captain close
 the door, slipped wooden bolt across tn
 opening, and turned once more to the pro prietress.
 : "1 an sorry tuaG you can not trust lAt
 Mother Cabera." , ''Nobody but fool would do that, Clin z Starbright," the woman interrupted. "l would take heap O sand an soap to was , your character clean, more'n can afford . perduce.'
 : Il suppose you consider yourself immacr ' late.'
 | ''Of course do; don't you!' |. There seemed no good to argue the poin q so Captain Starbright made no further T. mark, but walked back and resumed hi !, seat. A covert smile about the thin lips
 the hag proved that he had done nothin e e more than she expected. The greater pal of his indignation was simulated, evidentl! U !. "Now, then, will you listen to me U silence for a minute, Mother CaberaH' ,' "I'll make try ont, Cap'n." t "What wish to say is this. If at an 4 time during the next fortnight an accider S1 S should happen to Mss Lura Joyce no on would be found to mourn, and somebod