Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-02-06
A Witch Story.

The story L am ABOUT 20 Tell you is
curious as having been told by an old
Colored woman of Virginia, a slave
Efbefore the war;" and one who can
neither read nor write.
Years ago there lived in Virginia
gentleman named McKin, who was
greatly respected by all who knew
him. He was rich; he was kindly; he
had the good wishes of all his neigh
Dors; he was an excellent master and
p good friend.
He owned a great deal Of real es-
tate, and among it was the finest mill
property in the country. 1t was
known as McKin's grist mill, and was
very valuable. He always kept a
miller there, and of course the miller
had his men, and thriving business
was carried on for years. Meanwhile
Mr.. McKin remained bachelor and
lived in the old family mansion with
his mother and sisters until the for
Eaer died and the latter married, and
people began to say that no doubt
McKin himself would marry.
However, neither maid nor widow
OF the place could flatter herself that
the bachelors attentions were "par-
1icular.'' He lived alone with his
large retinue of servants for a year,
and at last astonished his friends by
marrying a lady who was an utter
stranger to every one, very beauti-
full young woman who had golden
hair, great black eyes, skin like
cream and a brown mole on her left
cheek.
He gave great supper to introduce
her, and she was admired by all. Her
dress was exquisite. She sparkled
with jewelry, and magnificent clust-
er ring which she wore on the middle
finger of the right hand attracted
much attention. 1t was like all the
rest gift from Mr. McKin.
The host did his best. The supper
was delightful; there was band of
music from Richmond; there were
roses everywhere. Mr.. McKin had
tried to make the affair q splendid
one, but when it was over the guests
began to acknowledge to one another
that they were disappointed. Why
they could not say. Perhaps Mrs.
hcKin was cold in her manner. Some
people could not help being that. But
they had not been happy, and in old
times no one had enjoyed themselves
SO much as the McKin's.
Then some one limited 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.
''No," old Phoebe, the cook, had
said to some one, "we all don't like
madam's maid-we all don't like her.
We got no right to talk about de ma
dame nohow. But madame's maid,
she jes niger, same as de rest, and
we all reckon she mighty GURUS
mighty GURUS"
The day after the party was Satur-
day. Mrs. McKin protested herself
weary and remained in bed until sup
per time. Sunday morning, however,
she rose. AS she was eating break
fast her husband spoke of the hour.
E'We shall have to make some haste,
nay dear,' he said, Gin order to be at
church in season.
1t was some time before his wife
answered him; then she said:
Il will not go to church to- day"
81 am very anxi ous that you should, |
my DEAR" Mr.. McKin said. cit will
be expected of u.s."
"You can go alone,'' she answered
coldly.
'sAlone, the first Sabbath after nv
marriage!" he cried. ''Oh, my dear.
impossible! See what I have bought
for you for the OCCASION And he
took from a table small parcel, I'M
folded it 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 let
tiers. AS he placed it before her she
uttered a low cry and tainted away.
Pie maid rushed to her and they car
ried her to her room, where thence
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 physi-
clans. None of them could discover
what allied her. Her maid nursed her
Mr. McKin was not en-