Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-09-29
THE WITCH OF YELL.

freSh color ana thlck coll or raven black hair half hidden by her headgear, bright blue handkerchief spotted with white. I gave her good morning and asked her if she would give me a glass of water and a hammock of oatcake, as had been walking for soma hours and was both hungry and thirsty.
 And welcome," she said, with tho pretty Shetland courtesy, Eff you be from Ireland. mistress 7"
 ''I am Irish,' said, but wouldn't you give an oatcake to an English wom- all, my friend? No?'' as she shook her head resolutely. And how is that:''
 No food of my baking will pass Scots or Southron lips" she said harsh ly. Sit ye down." pointing to her own stool. We're fair tired out, mistress "
 I laughed faintly as I accepted the seat. II have been trying to walk away from myself,'' '' said, ''and though I've tramped through a whole forenoon I haven't done it yet ''
 "Ah!' she said, smiling little-only with her lips, for her eyes kept their steady sadness. Its far way you have to go, mistress, and you must walk by night stead O day. You're mar ried," glancing down at my ungloved hands. Have ye ever borne . child?' I looked down at my black dress and nodded silently. The woman drew in her breath sharply as if she were hurt at heart. Aye" she said, ''so have I, and lost it too Poor lassr' And to my intense astonishmcnt she stopped and kissed me once and again. How old was hc:'' she went on gravely, taking no heed at the wonder in my face. "Mine was d man grown, but yours must ha' been but bairn. Ye have the look of bairn yourself.
 Have I:'' I said, with a dreary laugh An old bairn, I'm afraid. My boy was years old"
 Aye, and your mans alive? Do I know your man, and what for does he let you come hero to dree your weird alone:''
 My Ilan knows it's the kindest thing he could du." said. And think per haps you know him., added, a little proudly. Nearly every one in the is- lands knows Hector MacKenneth.
 ''Ay, do they. He's mani" the witch said emphatically, as she came out of the cottage with plate of bannocks and q big cup of milk. And there's never soul ill the islands but he has done kind turn or spoken kind word tO-evcn to me. -"
 Why even to you?' ' asked My husband has q great respect for you. He told ne you wero the wisest woman in the islands. Lief"
 Did he, now? And I his brothers wife!' the witch said musingly.
 I started. Whose wife? Not Ronald MacKennoth 's-Ronald that died in England:'
 That same Ronald,'' she said quiet ly. He died in the south, I know, and some SOuthron brought the news to MacKenneth himself. But he lies buried away ill the south, heard say. Do ye know where, Mistress MacKenneth?'
 No; wish I could tell you, poor soul," said pitifully. ''I wish could help you.
 My bonny Ronald," she said, look ing out to tine blue, tumbling waves of the sound, her eyes grave and sad and her voice very low. Its little ye thought of me, but on the day we were manifested and the day ye lay a-dy- ing" Then she bent down little and AOoAtb cAISA4 HANN AlAlO AIS IASc- Did ever any one in the islands say to yc that we two were not man and wife: Did ever MacKenneth himself?"
 Never MacKenneth. said honest ly.
 ''Othcrs have, though" " She looked | sharply at me again, then caught my hand i'll hers and dragged me up from my seat. Come vii me, you wife of | the MackcnnCth, and I'll show you what handfasting means to a woman. "
 drew my cloak round me with my i free hand, and We went slowly together over the scattered rocks and sand and down little grassy slope, till we stood in front of an upright stone with a round hole ill its center There" " said the witch, still hold ing my hand fast in hers, there $ where We were married-my man and l. See yc here, Eleanor MacKenneth, dc you love your man, or liked ye your first lad best?''
 cried i'll my heart to the dead and gone Oscar to forgive me, and then looked the woman fairly in the eyes anC answered her, "I love MacKennetI best
 Where were ye married? In kirk. ot course:''
 ''In kirk, yes. We were married in [ London church, said; ''the Churcl of St. Stephen. ''
 Kirk Stephen, aye? Well, this Ii Kirk Odin, where thousands have beeI made man and wife in their day. Gt you nearer to the stone, wife of Mao Kenneth. and you shall be married there too. if you're no afraid"
 "Do I look afraid:" I said, with smile. and she smiled back at me
 Put your hand-closed so-througl the hole i'll the stone" I obeyed witt some difficulty, for the hole was un evenly cut, and its edges were jagged 'Now." said she witch, ''open you hand and hold it so. and now say afte me'-
 I hesitated a moment and then re peated after her. "In the name of tn One Eyed. the name of Odin, I holt thee and have thee through this life and that life. and all lives to follow.
 call thee and keep thee, my hand fo - the witness, my lips for thy kissing , my strength for thy weakness, my tear
 for thy sorrow, my breast for thy hea
 when thou boune thee to sleeping, III life for thy calling'- Then she stoI ped and looked vaguely at me and bt
 yond me, and I finished the oath wit
 words that rose in my mind, though
 had never heard them before:
 GErF-- fbr- rallipn ,1,u daat