New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-20
THE WITCH or YELL.

| years. with a fresh color and thick coil of
| raven black hair half hidden by her headgear a
| bright blue handkerchief spotted with white
| gave her good-morning and asked her If she
| would give a glass Of water and a hammock
of oatcake as had been walking for some hours
and was both hungry and thirsty.
| And welcome" she said with the pretty Shet-
land courtesy. "if you be from Ireland. mistress"
| Il am Irish.' said; but wouldn't you give
| oatcake to an Englishwoman. my friend? Mop"
as she shook her head resolutely. And how is
| that?"
mo food of my baking will pass Scots or
| Southron lips" she said, harshy. "Sit We down."
| pointing TO her stool; "ye're fair tired out
mistress"
| laughed family as accepted the seat 81
have been trying to walk away from myself"
said; "and though I've tramped through
whole forenoon haven't done IT yet"
"Ah." she said smiling little. only with her
lips for her eyes kept their steady sadness. IT'S
a far way you have TO so, mistress; a..d you
must walk by night stead o day. You're
RED" glancng dowr at my ungloved hands.
Have ye ever borne child?' looked down at
my black dress and nodded silently. The woman
drew In her breath sharply as If she were hurt
at heart "Ay," she said. so have /; and lost 1t
Poor lass," and to my intense establishment
she stopped and kissed me once and again How
old was he?" she gravely, taking no
heed at the wonder I'm my face Mine was
man grown. bu; yours must ha' been but
BARN ye have the look Of BARN yourself.
Have ~ I said with a dreary laugh. AN
old BARN. I'm afraid. My boy was seven years
old"
"Ay; and your mans alive? Do know your
man? And what for does he let you come here
10 dree your weird alone?
MY man knows rs the kn.es thing he could
do" said And think perhaps you know
him." added little proudly. Nearly every one
In the islands knows Hector MacKenneth'
LAY do they: he's a man" the Witch said en-
phatically. as she came out OF the cottage with a
plate Of bannocks ard Zig cup Of milk. And
there's never soul IN the islands but he has
done a kind turn spoken kind word to-even
to me"
has great respect for you; h. told me you were
the wisest woman in the islands, Lief.
ibid he. now? And his brothers Wife. the
started Whose wife? Not Ronald Mac
Kcnneth's Ronald that died in England?
That same Ronald" she said quietly lie
died i'm the South. know and some Southron
brought the news 10 MacKenne,h himself. But
he lies buried away in the South: l heard say
DO yc know where. Mistress Mackenneth! o,,
NO; | wish / could tell you poor soul, said
pitfuy Il wish | could help you
INV bonnv Ronald" she said. looking out to
the blue tumblIng waves Of the SOUND her eyes
grave and sad and her voice very low us
Ii;tla " thought OF NE but on the day we were
Manifested and the day ye lay a-dying linen
She bent down little and looked Sharply INTO
my face. 49, 49,,
"Did ever any one in the islands say 10 We that
We TWO were not man and wife? Did ever Mac
Kenneth himself"
Others hav. thoug," She looked sharply at
me- again: then caught my hand in hers; ana
dragged me up from my seat Come WI me.
vnu wife II the MacKenneth and III snow you
what handfastinE means TO woman
I drew nv cloak round me with my free hand,
and we went slowly together over the scattered
rocks and sand. and down little grassy siope'
nm we stood in front Of an upright stone with
round hole In its centre.
There" said the Witch. still holding my hand
fast I'm hers there's whore We were married
49,. man and / See We here. Eleanor MacKen-
Meth do you love your man, or liked we your hfst
lad best?" -, o.
~ forgive me- and then I looked the woman fairIy
in tho eyes. and answered her: Il love Macheh-
Where were We married? In kirk. OF course"
"Tn kirk vos We wer- married In London
church said. THE Church of st. stephen
'Kirk-Stephcn ay? Well. this Is Kirk din
where thousands have been made man ana "ile
IN their day Go YOU nearer 10 the stone WIZ
Of MacKenncth. and you shall be married there
too. II you're no afraid"
'Do look afraid" said with smile; ana she
smiled back at ne.
put your hand-cosed. so-through the hole in |
the stone" obeyed with some difficulty. for the
hole was unevenly cut. and It's edges were JagSeu
Now" said the Witch open your hand' ana
hold 1t SO. and now say after me-
hesltated moment and then repeated after
her In the name of the One-Eyed the name or |
Odin hold thee and have thee through this life, |
ana mat life and All lives to follow call thee |
and keep thee my hand for the witness. my lips |
for thy kissing my strength for they weakness,
my tears for thy sorrow. my breast for they head
when thou bounc thee to sleeping. my life Tor
thy Calling Then she stopped and looked
vaguely at and beyond me. and flnished the
ga IN with words that rose In my mind. though |
had never heard them before: a.
MY life for Thy calling. my death for thy Nv
ing Hear Thor. and hear. Odn. ana Hector
MacKenneth" Then / drew my hand out from
the hole and turned to the Witch; bur the next
minute saw that her thoughts were NOT with
me or with this material world at all ana
vent softly away leaving her standing with her
back To the sea and her eyes fixed on the great
stone listening, listening intently ana vaihly with
her hand against her ear.
So I saw her the next time passed her neat
cottage She had been gathering some herbs
and now she stood listening again. with the
herbs held tightly to ne, breast This time !
stoned 10 speak to her. Lief Mackenneth,' |
said quietly, "arc You not going to give your sis
ter the morris greeting?
She gave me a quick Wild. wondering look
and her eyes filled with sudden SUNSHINE. "God
bless you for the MacKenneth.' she said earn
estly. "and for the sisterhood- but you must
not stop with me to-day.
"Why?" / said Eve are not going to have
storm Lief"
Are we no?" she laughed. woman, dear.
you're no Zctlander. There be a storm on US
inside. OF an hour. and black wind strong
enough to blow the heart out o your breast,
"Or the dead out Of their graves" I said with
and her face lighted up again.
MAYBE" she muttered, maybe. Now go
home. You wife IF MacKcnneth. and dream o
your man. and the BARNS to be. On ay. as l
drew back flushing hotly. I'm not wltch Tor
nothing and | can their shadows round you.
Eleanor MacKenneth. two. three and four. Now
she turned and caught my hands IN hers ana
kissed ME on lips and cheek and forehead Win
eager close kisses. There now go home. Flea
nor woman, and shut the storm out Wheh 90
you go to your own home-soonF
Next week" answered Il told Hector 10
expect me on THURSDAY -,
''Ay; and a fine calm journey TO YOU dear
heart But I'll see you again 10 now ana
goodby. woman dea'." e.
| heard very little Of the storm that night, TOT
slept as soundly as a child and when toward
| began TO dream my dreams were
pleasant enough, though they were all OF Llet
The last dream OF all was the one which made ,
the deepest impression on me. 1t was OF Liet |
again. but as had never seen her' 1ouis' anu
= l. -.