Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-04-16
THE LAST WITCH.


work After that he had served us a
sheep boy at the place Of the hardest mas
.er Of the country. where, in default of
o,hcr instruction, he learned to be sub
misaive and have patience.
l}ut he was now of age. Simon WAS in
his Goth year. and it was time to seek q
better position.
A certain Pierre IIardi wanted youth
30 work for him: so he took the road 10
:lIe farm at Boulaies. where lie hoped to
arrange matters with the master and OBJ
tain a good meal and good wages,
Simon felt the effect of the temper
n;rre In spite Of himself he slackened
!iS pace when at a turn Of the road he
met old Fasie loaded with a great basket
and two heavy packages.
The Young man knew the old peasant.
and her reputation in the country OF be-
n& in league with Satan, also OF her power
20 =, ad the future and cast spells. Partly
from fear and partly from respect to her
a~e. he had always been very polite to
the witch. and he courteously removed
his hat and inquired as to the state of
hcr health.
f%sie paused breathless.
by my baptism, but you have arrived
most apropos, my young fellow" said
r,e. and you will assist me in taking
part of my load?"
Willingly, if you are going my way,
replied Simon.
Then take the packages, said the
4orceress. "Iknow where you are going"
As he showed surprise she continued:
Do you not hope for place at the
house of Pierre Hardi? In fact, lie
wants man to work for him. Strive to
attach yourself to this household, for it
Will be of great advantage to you. The
Ii: TT has means, and the daughter, An
lcttc, is not yet promised. II you are
polite to her and true to the parents, per-
b. rs you will set yourself upon the road
lo good wedding"
Simon put far away from him this idea
rs too ambitious for poor youth without
neans. But the thought made his heart
bound, and lie could not but think OF it
IN spite Of himself. Fasie continued to
speak of Hardi, whom she knew, as she
said. from their first communion, and
ADVISED nm what TO DO.
The young man listened without ap-
pearing to do so; he even thought that
this old woman had the power to cause
him to succeed. if she had the fancy, for
every one in the parish knew that she had
power over persons and things" But
:,c was not bold enough to ask of her such
Il service.
Still the two went but slowly along, till
Simon. who had left the house of the for
MGR master rather late, began to fear that
he should not arrive at Boulaies until
Near the middle of the night. The peas
ant OWNED his impotence, and guided
him across the fields by COW paths and
hyways.
II was wonderful how this shortened
the journey. At the end of an hour ST.
mon perceived that they had left behind
!i"m the villages that had seemed so tai
to him. Unhappily the sky had become
lark, the thunder rumbled, and as they
crossed a heath all the water gates OF
the sky We're opened at once.
Simon wished to gain a group of pop.
lars that were upon their right, but the
old woman hindered him by declaring
that this was to go to meet misfortune
1T is necessary, however, to seek
shelter, Mother Fasie," said the young
man, who felt himself getting saturated
Descend on this side," responded she.
following the track which turned toward
the village.
But the water took the same course,
and both were Immediately over their
shoes in it. The storm increased. the
flashes of lightning were incessant, and
the thunder resounded from all corners
of the sky. Simon, who tloundered
deeper and deeper in the moist earth, be.
gan to regret that he had not followed his
first idea, when Fasie turned suddenly
and pointed out to him with her caue
where two of the poplars under which hs
had wished to take refuge had been shat.
tered by thunderbolt. At the same
time she urged him to hasten his steps by
indicating that they were on the road to
Il lime burners kiln.
"These white tracks show that we are
near plaster quarry, she added; "and
though it is dark it seems to ME that
l perceive it below our feet there. A
few more steps and we shall find what
we need"
In fact, they arrived after few min.
utes at the lime kiln. The burners gave
them space under their shed and before
their fire to dry themselves. A move.
ment of the eye served them in this, rs
ears were of no use. The storm still con.
tinued, and they had to exercise patience.
Bread and meat came very opportunely.
since the journey had sharpened the
Young mans appetite. Fasie perceived
with what pleasure he accepted the
smoking broth.
"Well, it is my opinion that we did
better in gaining this ravine than in
stopping in the little poplar grove"
said she, with twinkle of her eye.
This is your doing, Mother Fase,'
replied Simon, quite respectfully. "You
know more than we, and we should fol
low your directions.
The supper eaten, the old woman de-
c|ared that it was time to depart, and
having thanked their entertainers they
resumed their way.
The sky was still overcast; the atmos'
pherc was filled with dense fog which
prevented their seeing far in advance.
\ few stars shone here and there, almost
drowned in the mist The two came to
lie marshes of Fouceaux, which it was
necessary to cross.
Simon knew the place well. He sought
for an old causeway which time had