The Fort Worth gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-189?, 1891-04-30
THE WITCH OF PRAGUE.
A Fantastic Tale.
~ E MARION CRAWFORD Author of "MR IsAAcs," DIR cLAU
SINGER"
copyrighted 1891 by the AuthorD
ell me-and, indeed, I am glad that do no
lypo,,- mona

Inc sister looked long and earnestly INTO
Unornas face. as though searching for
something. She was a thin, pale woman
over forty years of age. Not wrinkle
marked her waXen skin. and her hair was
entirely concealed under the smooth head
dress, but her age was in her eyes.
What is your life, Unorna!' she asked
suddenly. I'VE hear strange tales of it
sometimes, though we know also that YOU
do great works of charity. But we hear
strange tales and strange words.''
DO you" Unorna suppressed a smile of
scorn. What do people say OF me? never
asked"
Strange things, strange things re-
peated the nun, with n shake Of the head.
''What are they! Tell me one OF them, as
an instance
Il should fear TO offend you-indeed 1 am
sure ! should, though we were good friends
once.''
And are still. The more reason why
You should tell me what is said OF course,
l am alone in the world, and people will al
ways tell vile tales OF women who have no
one 10 protect them
No, no." Sister Paul fastened to assure
her. LAS woman, no word has reached
us that touches fyOur fair name. On the
contrary. l have heard worldly women say
mucn more that is good Of you in that re-
spect than they will say OF each other. But
there are other things. Unorna-other
y
They call YOU by name that makes me
shudder when / hear it.
"A name" repeated Unorna in surprise
and with considerable curiosity.
"A name-a wOrd-what you will-no,
cannot tell you, and besides, it must be un-
true"
Unorna was silent for a moment, and
then understood. She laughed aloud with
perfect unconcern.
Il know" she cried How foolish of
me! They call me the Witch-of course,''
Sister Paul's face grew very grave, and
she immedia tely crossed herself devoutly.
looking askance at Unorna as she did so.
But Unorna only laughed again.
Perhaps it is very foolish said the
nun. put | cannot bear TO hear such
thing said of you.n
1t is not said in earnest. Do you know
why they call Inc the Witchl 1t is very
simple. II is because / can make people
sleep-people who are suffering, or mad or
in great sorrow-and then they rest. That
is all my magic
you can put people to sleep} Anybodyl''
Sister Paul opened her faded eyes very
wide But that is not natural, - she added
in 4 perpleXed tone. And what is not
natural cannot be right
And is all right that is natural?'' asked
Unorpa thoughtfully.
1T Is not natural, repeated the other.
How do you do it, Do you use strange
WORDS and herbs and incantations!'
Cnorna laughed again, but the nun seemed
shocked by her levity, and she forced her.
self 10 be grave
No, indeed she answered Il look into
their eyes and tell them to Sleep-and they
do. Poor Sister Paul! You are behind the
age in the dear old convent here. The
thing is done in half the great hospitals of
Europe every day, and men and women are
cured in that way of diseases that paralyze
them in body as well as in mind Men study
to learn how it is donr-it is as common to-
day as means of healing as the medicines
you know by name and taste. 1t is called
hypnotism.'
Again the sister crossed herself
Il have heard the word, / Think she
said, as though she thought there was
something diabolical in it And do you
heal the sick in this way by means Of this
thing!'
Sometimes. = Unorna ans wered. "There
is an old man, for instance, whom have
kept alive for many years by making him
sleep-a great deal" Unorna smiled Il
little
But have You no words with it, Moth
ing
Nothing 1t is my will That is all"
But if it is of good, and not Of the evil
one, there should be u prayer with it.
Could YOU not say prayer with it,
Cnorna?''
Il dare say could replied the other,
trying not 70 laugh. But that would be
doing two things at once-my viii would be
weakened
II cannot be of good. said the nun '.it
is not natural, and ii is not true that the
prayer can distract the viii from the per-
Torrance of Il good deed" She shook her
head more theoretically than usual. And
it IS not good, either, that you should be
called witch, You who have lived here
amongst us
1t is not my fault, " exclaimed Unorna,
somewhat annoyed by her persistence
And besides. Sister Paul. even if the devil
is in it, it would be right all the same
The nun held up her hands in holy horror,
and her jaw dropped.
My child! my child How can you say
such things to me3'
1T is very true Unorna answered
quietly smiling at her amazement. If
people who are i'll are made well. is it not a
real good, even il the Evil One does it: Is
it not good to make him do good, if one
can, even against his Will!H
No, MOI" cried Sister Paul in great dis
tress. do not talk like that-let us not
talk of it at all, Whatever it is, it is bad,
and / do not understand it, and ] am sure
that none of us here could, no matter how
well you explained it. But if you viii do it,
Unorna, my dear child, then say prayer
each time, against temptation and the dew
lis works.
With that the good nun crossed herself
third time. and unconsciously, from force
Of habit began to tell her beads with one
nand mechanically smoothing her broad
stretched collar with the other. Cnorna
was silent for few minutes, plucking at
the sable lining of the cloak which lay be-
side her upon the sofa where she had
dropped it.
Let us talk of other things she said at
last. Talk of the other lady who is here.
Who is she! What brings her into retreat
al this time of yearl'
Poor thing-yes, she is very unhappy"
answered Sister Paul. 1T is 4 sad story,
so far as | have heard it. Her father is
Just dead, and she is alone in the world.
The abbess has received 4 letter from car
dinal archbishop, requesting that we would
receive her. and this morning she came.
His eminence knew her father. it appears.
She is only TO be here for a short time. l
believe, until her relations come to take
her home to her own country. Her father
was taken i'll in country place near the
city. which he had hired for the shooting
season, and the poor girl was left all alone
out there. The cardinal thought she would
be safer and perhaps less unhappy with US
while she is waiting
"Of course said Unorna, with q faint
interest How old is she, poor child2''
"She is not child-she must be five and
twenty years old, though perhaps her sor-
row makes her look older than she isl
And what is her name2'
"Beatrice-I cannot remember the name
of her family
Unorna started.