Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-01-12
A WITCH STORY.

The story am about to tell you is Gu
! rious as having been told by an old col
ored woman Of Virginia, slave before
the war" and one who can neither reaG
nor write.
Years ago there lived in Virginia /
gentleman named McKin, who was great
ly respected by al who knew him. Ht
was rich; he was kindly; he had the
good wishes Of AL his neighbors; he wa.
an excellent master and good friend
He owned great deal of real estate
and among it was the finest mill prop
erty in the county. 1t was known al
McKin's grist mill, and was very valu
able. He always kept miller there
and of course the miller had his men
and thriving business was carried OF
for years. Meanwhile Mr.. McKin re
mained bachelor and lived in the ole
family mansion with his mother ani
sisters until the former died and the lat
ter married, and people began to say that
now no doubt McKin himself would
marry.
However, neither maid nor widow oi
the place could fatter herself that The
bachelors attentions were particular.
He lived alone with his large retinue oi
servants for year, and at last aston
ished his friends by marrying lady who
was an utter stranger to every one, q
very beautiful young woman who had
golden hair, great black eyes, a skin like
cream and brown mole on her left
cheek.
He gave a great supper to introduce
her, and she was admired by all. Hel
dress was exquisite. She sparkled with
jewelry, and magnificent cluster ring
which she wore on the middle finger Of
the right hand attracted much atten-
ton. 1t was, like all the rest. a gift
from Mr.. McKin.
The host did his best. The supper was
delightful; there was band of music
from Richmond; there were roses every.
where. Mr.. McKin had tried to make
to make the affair a splendid one, bui
when it was over the guests began to &C.
knowledge to one another that they were
disappointed. Why they could not say,
Perhaps Mrs. McKin was cold in hel
manner. Some people could not helI
being that. But they had not been hap
py, and in old times every one had en-
joyed themselves SO much at the Nc
Kins'
Then some one hinted that the house
servants did not like their new lady, and
liked still less her foreign maid, little
and dark and withered as an old monkey
mo" old Phoebe, the cook, had said
to some one, I'VE all don't like madame's
maid-we all don't like her. We got nc
right to talk about de madame nohow
But madame's maid, she jes' a nigger
same as de rest, and we all reckon she
mighty cur'us-mighty Gurus"
The day after the party was Saturday
Mrs. McKin professed herself weary
and remained in bed until supper time
Sunday morning, however, she rose. As
she was eating breakfast her husband
spoke of the hour
"We shall have to make some haste
my DEAR" he said. ''in order to be al
church in season"
1t was some time before his wife an
SWereu nlm, tnen Sne SAID:
81 will not go to church today
II am very anxious that you should,
my dear" Mr. McKin said s'It will be
expected of rs"
"You can go alone" she answered
coldly.
"Alone, the first Sabbath after my
marriage!" he cried. "Oh, my dear, i'm.
possible. See what | have bought fo1
you for the occasion" And he took
from table Il small parcel, unfolded il
and handed to Mrs. McKin a beautiful
little prayer book bound in blue velvet,
with silver clasps, and her name on the
corner in silver letters. AS he placed il
before her she uttered low cry and
tainted away. The maid rushed to he1
and they carried her to her room, where
thenceforward she remained. From that
moment Mr.. McKin's beautiful young
wife seemed to be bedridden. She never
left her pillow. Mr.. McKin consulted
the most celebrated physicians. None OF
them could discover what allied her. He1
maid nursed her continually. Mr.. Nc
Kin was not encouraged to enter the
room: he always made his wife's head
ache when he spoke to her. Finally he
contented himself with brief call of in
quiry every morning. He was very
unhappy man, more unhappy than in his
bachelor days.
Old Phoebe began to tell strange sto-
ries to her friend. the housekeeper at the
hotel
''Marsy Jack mighty nigh done broke
his heart" she would say. Size mighty
sorry for Jack, but we all jes' despises de
madam. She sick in bed all day, but
in de night reckon she mighty we'll
yes'm, she mighty well den. and she get
up and dress sheself and eat big sup
per and go out OBJ de do. Yes'm, she do.
And dat little chipmunk of maid she
go along wild her, and dey done come
back jes' befo' sun up. Yes'm, we ali
knows dat de libin truff,"
why don't you tell your Marse Jack?
the housekeeper asked.
"Dere amt nobody dast tell dat var
to Marse Jack McKin," said Phoebe;
nobody"
And nobody did dare. But soon it was
whispered everywhere that Mrs. McKin
had lover whom she went to meet in
the pine woods at midnight.
But there was something else that Mr..
Jack McKin was to hear shortly. There
was trouble at his mill, and the trouble
was of supernatural sort-the miller
and his men had seen ghost.
One by one the men had been fright
ened away, aad the miller was alone at
his post. At last he came up to the Nc
Kin mansion one day and resigned his
millership. He was reluctant to give his
reasons, but finally did so. The ghosts
there were two of then-manifested
themselves every night They were not
to be frightened away, and did mischief
to the grain and set FIRE to the mill in
various places, though he had always
found the flames in time to put them out,
Now they threatened to kill him if he
was not out in three days.
II am amazed to hear such story
from q white man Of intelligence 7 was