Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-10-08
THE WITCH OF YELL.

The Witch sat placldly sewing IN
her doorway when I saw her first,
looking like nothing in the world but
a soncie Zetlander of some forty odd
years, with a fresh color and thick
coil of raven black hair half hidden
by her headgear, a bright blue hand
kerchief 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, and was
both hungry and thirsty.
ssAnd welcome" she said with the
pretty Shetland courtesy, eff you be
from Ireland, mistress"
81 am Irish,' said; "but wouldn't
you give an oatcake to an English
woman 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 harshly.
''Sit ye down." pointing to her own
stool; you're fair tired out, mistress"
laughed family as I accepted the
seat. 81 have been trying to walk
away from myself" I said; "and
though pve tramped through a whole
forenoon I haven't done it yet"
"Ah!" she said, smiling little, on
ly with her lips, for her eyes kept
their steady sadness. cit is a far way
you have to go, mistress; and you
must walk by night instead of day.
You're married." glancing down at
my ungloved hands. "Have you ever
born child?n I looked down at my
black dress and nodded silently. The
| woman drew in her breath sharply as
if she were hurt at heart. cay" she
said, $50 have I; and lost it too. Poor
lass!" and to my intense establishment
she stopped and kissed me once again.
CHOW old was hep" she went on grave
ly, taking no heed at the wonder in
my face. "Mine was man grown, but
| yours must have been but BARN; We
have the look of BARN yourself.'
"Have I?'' I said with dreary
laugh. can old BARN, Pm afraid. My
boy was but seven years old"
cay; and your man is alive? Do l
know your man? And what for does
he let you come here to dree for your
weird alone?"
''My man knows it's the kindest
thing he could do" I said. "And l
think, perhaps, you know him." add
ed little proudly. "Nearly every
one in the islands knows Hector Mac
Kenneth"
GAY do they; he is mani" the
Witch said emphatically, as she came
out Of the cottage with plate of ban
nocks and big cup of milk. "And
there is never a soul in the islands
but he has done kind turn or spoken
a kind word to-even to me-"
"Why even to your" | asked. "My
husband has great respect for you;
he told me you were the wisest woman
in the islands, Lief"
"Did he, now? And | his brothers.
wife!" the Witch said amusingly.
I started. s'Whose wife? Not Ronald
MacKenneth's, Ronald that died in
England?'
ssThat same Ronald" she said quiet
some brought the news to MacKen-
meth himself. But he lies buried away
in the South, | heard say, Do you
know where, Mistress MacKenneth?"
"No; I wish I could tell you, poor
soul,' said pitifully. IT wish l could
| help YOU"
eMy bonny Ronald" she said, look
ing out to the blue tumbling waves of
the Sound, her eyes grave and sad
and her voice very low. cts little you
| thought of me, but on the day we
were handfasted and the day you lay
dying.'' Then she bent down a little
and looked sharply into my face.
''Did ever any one in the islands
say to you we were not man and wife?
Did ever MacKenneth himself?''
| ssNever MacKennethu I said honest
ly.
s'Others have though" She looked
sharply at me again; then caught my
hand in hers, and dragged me up from
my seat. "Come with me I will show
you what handfasting means to a wo-
man."
I drew my cloak round me with my
free hand, and we went slowly to-
gether over the scattered rocks and
sand, and down little grassy slope,
till we stood in front of an upright
stone with round hole in it's centre.
"There," said the Witch, still hold
ing my hand fast in hers, "there's
where we were married, my man and