The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-05-31

Mrs. Warne, remembering TINT Mrs.
March had been to her little time
back to complain that Jim was "too
fond o his glass o an evening"
I'll warrant mover WILL" said Jim,
and he never was from that time.
The moor was darkening, and the
sunset crimson had died out of the
west, when Mrs. Warne returned to
her cottage. She was overtaken as
she reached her garden by the milk
maid from the farm. II wants you to
give me charm to hang on Brindle's
horn," she said. "There never was
such a nasty COW. She Kicked the
bucket over only this morning. /
thinks she's possessed by summat
evil"
"Vurry we'll. I'll give you something
as ull cure her if it's she's possessed
by summat evil. But is It's only bad
temper l can't do nothing, or I'd made
my fortune long ago." chuckled Mrs.
Warne, going into the cottage and
bringing out what looked like string
of very ordinary brass buttons cut
from Il mans coat; but the wise
woman said they were charms, and
every one believed her. She drew one
off and offered it to the girl.
"Missus said l was to bring you some
milk for the CHARM, she said, taking
it, and bringing out little can from
under her shawl.
Presently shepherd came to warm
some milk for his lambs by her fire.
'"TiS freoZen harder nor ever" he said,
as he came in. There be such bitter
wind comen athwart the moor, and the
stars be so thick, and glintens like di'-
mOndS;"
"Ah! it's amany years since I've
known it so cOld-nOt since | were Il
young maid, when we had such n hard
frostie they'd pick up the heares and
rabbits friz dead by it,"
How many years ago were that,
Mis- Warner" asked the shepherd curl
ously.
"Amany, many years ago-long afore
you were horned, Fred" answered Mrs.
Warne indefinitely.
I've brought you a fagot o. fuZ,"
said the shepherd, dropping his prick
ly burden on the hearth.
Put Il bit on the fire, and I'll warm
you some elderberry wine," said Mrs.
Warne, bustling into the other room
and fetching Il bottle of wine, which
she poured into n little saucepan and
set on the fire, that was now blazing,
cracking, and flaring up the wide,
black chimney, lighting up the shep-
herds clear-cut, thoughtful face and
every detail of his clothing-his long
frieze coat, corduroy tronsers st%pped
in at the knee, his white linen jacket
and great thick lace boots-and making
the face of the dignified old woman op-
posite him look more lined and strongly
marked than ever.
1T be cold out in the fields now,
Fred?"
"Ah, I'll warrant it to be!' said Fred,
drinking off his hot wine at a draught.
Then he stood up, Strengthened himself,
took his crook and milk can and de-
parted. When he had got to Il little dis
lance he looked back at the lonely cot
tage, with it's one bright window and
the bleak line of moor behind it, "Tis
a terrible lonely place fur single 'om-
an, he thought. But there no one
wouldn't do nOthen to She"
Mrs. Warne came to the window and
watched him go, dark figure save
where the light from his lantern
caught him. 1t threw q wide, brilliant
light on the sparkling snow. Away
and away he went till the light was
but speck, and then the darkness hid
him. A few minutes after there came
a loud knocking at the door, She
opened it to see old Samuel outside,
waving his arms and shaking his fist.
"You sly, crafty old thingr' he cried
furiOusly. "Who was it told Bill
Holmes to put gunpowder in his
wOodW
Il did," replied Mrs. warne, anna
bly,.
''Ah! you knows it bain't no good to
deny it, and you cOmen and gammonen
me. Oh, you artful old thing! And
| believes now as how you knoW'd I'd
money put away was because you
went and found it when you'd sent me
away"
'Quite right, Samuel; so I did"
"Oh, you old witch! But I'll sarve
body about your
BE you agoen to tell everybody as
you stole Bills fagots, my sOn?"
Samuel stopped short in his gesticu-
latiOns and looked down into the room
for moment The strong gusts of
wind coming in blew the candle, and
by its wavering light Mrs. Warne look
ed more witch-like than usual as she
peered at him. The cats eyes in the
dark chimney corner looked like round
green globes; and the punches of herbs
on the rafter swinging backwards and
forwards cast long fantastic shadows
on the wall. Then he turned and
walked slowly off, shaking his head
and groaning: ooh! you be a wicked
old woman! that you ber'
mo, Samuel" Mrs. Warne called in
bland accents after him. you means
a wise old w0man"