Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-11-23
THE WITCIl OF YELL.


Zotlandcr of s0-la 30 old years with Il
fre.h color and thick coil of raven
black hair half hidden by her headgear,
q bright bluc handkerchief spotted with
white. | gave her good morning and
asked her if she would give me a glass
Of water and a hammock of oatcake, as
Lad been walking for some hours and
was both hungry aud thirsty.
And welcome, she said, with the
pretty Shetland courtesy, If You be
from Ireland mistress.
Il am II. p, said, ''but wouldn't
you give an oatcabe TO an English wom-
an my friend: MOI" as she shook her
head resolutely. And how is that;'
mo food of my baking Will pass
Scpts or Southron lips" she said harsh
". "Sit We down, " pointing to her own
stool. "Ye're fair tired out, mistress.
1 laughed family as l accepted the
seat. Il have been trying to walk away
from myself " said, and though I've
t amped through a whole forenoon /
haven't done it yet. "
"Ah!" she said, smiling littlc-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," glanciny down at my ungloved
hands. Have We ever borne a child:'
L looked down ut my black dress and
nodded silently. The woman drew in
her breath sharply as if she were hurt
at heart. Aye, she said $50 have /,
and lost it too. Poor lass" And to my
intense establishment she stopped and
kissed me once AMI again. "How old
was he:" she went on grayely, taking
no heed at the wonder in my face.
Mine was man grown. but yours
must ha' been but BARN. Yo have the
look of a BARN yourself. ~
Have l." / said, with dreary
laugh. An old BARN, I'm afraid. Ny
boy was years old. "
AYE, and your mans alive: Do |
know your man, and what for does he
let you come here to dreo your weird
alone?"
"My man knows it's the l,indest thing
he could do, Isaid "Aud think per-
haps you know him, " added little
proudly. Nearly every one in the is-
lands knows Hector MacKcuneth. "
lay, do they. He's man. the witch
said emphatically, as she came oat of
the cottage with llate Of blnnocks
and big cup Of milk. "And there's
never soul in the islands but ho has
done kind turn or spoken kind word
to-oven TO me.
"Why even 70 YOU " ] asked. MY
husband ~ a great respect for you. He
r "a me you were the wisez5 woman in
tho islands, Lief. -
Did be- now? And l his brothers
wife, the witch said musiugly.
/ started Whose wife: Not Ronald
MacKennoth' s-Ronald that died in
Englaud?'
"That same Ronald, " she said quiet.
". 'Ho died in the south, 1 know, and
some Southron brought tho news ta
Mackenneth himself. But he lies buried
away in the south, heard say. Do yc
know where, Mistress MacKonncth?'
'No; wish l could tell you, poor
soul, =" | said pitifully. Il wish / could
help you. -
my bouny Ronald. she said, look
ing out to the blue, tumblng waves Of
tho sound, her eyes grave and sad and
her voice very low. its ltle sc
thought Of me- but on the day we We're
Manifested and the day We lay a-dy-
Ing" Then sho bent down little aud
looked sharply into my face.
did ever any one in the islands say
60 ye that we two were not man and
wife? Did ever MacKenneth HIMSELF
Never MacKcuueth, - | said honest
~.
"Others nave, though. She looked
sharply at me again, then caught ny
hand in hers and dragged me up from
my scat. Come wi nAc. you wife Of
tho MacKennoth, and I'll show you
what hardfasting means to woman -
[ drew my cloak round me with my
free hand, and we went slowly together
over the scattered rocks nnd sand and
down little grassy slope, till we stood
in front of an upright stone with a
round hole in its center.
There, said the witch, still hold
ing my hand fast in hers, there's
where we were maTlied-my man and J.
Sec we here, Eleanor MacKenncth, do
you love your man, or liked yo your
first lad best?'
I cried in my heart to the dead and
gone Oscar to forgive me, and then
looked the woman fairly in the eyes and
answered her. 81 love MacKenneth
best.
Where were ye married? In kirk, Of
courst:'
In kirk, yes Wo were married in a
London church, =" said; "the Church
of st. Stephen.
Kirk Stephen, aye? Well, this il
Kirk Odin, where thousands have been
made man and wife in their day &C
you nearer to the stone, wife Of Mac
Kenneth, and you shall be married
there too, if you re no afraid.
''Do ! look afraid:' ] said with
smile, and She smiled back at me.
pat yonr hand--closcd so-througl
The hole in tie stone. ! obeyod with