The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1894-06-02

AAS
! sat talking softly.
"How Wong will he be laid up,
| really? 2" asked Mrs. Long.
"Well. I'm afraid he wun't work
| again fur some time, fur he've sprained
| his wrist pretty tightish.'
"Oh. dear, what shall us do! And
| only a fortnight to Christmas, too; and
| the children, poor things, hev bin look
en- forward to it,; they'll hcv but Il
pinchcd Christmas now"
BLESS me, Mary. don't meet trouble
halfway. Sunmat u!l turn up. afore
then. 1 don't DOUBT. 1 we got any
thing in the house,"
scarcely anything. Wi so many
| chilun. the money goes out as fast as
it ONE in."
We'll, then. you take this" said
Mrs. Warnc, turning out the contents
Of her purse. "Tain't much. but it'll
help you on fur a bit
oh. mother, l don't hardly like to
take it from We"
Nonsense! You can pay me back
some day if you like; and if you don't
1 shan't quarrel wi you: And l don't
doubt I'll manage the childun's Christ
mas somehow. though l don't know
how now
Mrs. Warne had not been home long
the next evening when she heard scuf.
fling footsteps approach, the door burst
open, and an old mar rushed in. "LOr
a-mussy!! Mother Warne, lor-a-mussy!!'
he calculated. 'If my fire bain't be-
witched! Come and say sommat over
1t. fur the love O. mercy, or Ill he
blowed up" 1t was an old man who
lived in Il tumble-dOwn cottage on the
other side Of the moor. He was a
wrctched, half-clad old creature, though
rcputeu rich, and indeed was very com
fortably off though so miserable he
would not spend a penny if he could
help it.
wait a moment, Sammel," said Mrs.
Warnc, putting on her shawl with an
expression of triumph. iii come and
see it, sure 'nough."
When they got outside the moor
stretched ghostly in the light Of the
stars, which were shining brilliantly,
for it was freezing hard. When they
reached the cottage, the fire had burnt
down somewhat, but the old man
brought some fresh fagots and put them
on it. Mrs. Warne taking good car to
station herself on the other side of the
room. In Il minute or two the fire GER
tainly did begin to pop and explode in
the most extraordinary manner. Bill
Holmes had well powdered it, and it
few all over the room. "LOr-a-mussy!"
began the old man again, his knees
shaking under him.
"Sammel Simmons!." said Mrs. Warne
solemnly, rs they stood outside listen
ing to the fire popping away, twas by
no good you come by they fagots. Evil
sperrits wouldn't haze no powers over
'em if you had, and it is pretty plain
to see as they has now!!"
ooh: Mrs. Warne, whatever s'',ll l
do? 1 dar'n't stay here wi them gocn
on like that"!'
81 tells you what it tbs; you must
take all they fagots you has lcft-yOu
best know how you came by 'em-over
to the crossroads and chuck 'em away"
you must come wi me. then, OF I
be afeared out O. my life"
No; 'twouldn't do no sense if I wal
to go too; you must do as 1 says. and
go alone, or 1 wun't answer for it,"
Claw sakes! 1 can't so there by my
SELF" said Samuel, oppressed by his
guilty conscience.
Yes, you must; and I must stay here
and watch the fire. You wun't come
by no harm if you does as 1 tell you,"
Mother Warne c~ondcscended to add.
At last she persuaded him to start,
giving him a final Injunction to say,
"Avaunt thee, Satan!' three times as
he threw the fagots away.
He went off, holding the bundle at
arms length.
1.-The old rascal" she chucklcd to
herself as she re-entered the cottage.
III warn't he'll hev a good fright,
and serve him jolly well right"
She began to have a good look ver
the old mans room. At last. in a cor
ner of the cupboard. she discovered a
box hidden, to which she gave Il vigor-
GUS shake. 1t was answered by a loud
rattle of money. She put it back in
it's place with a satisfied expression.
II allus did want to know If he'd got
money put away, as they said he had"
she murmurcd. In the little back room
she found Il small casket of coal, which
Mr.. Simmons had intended to last him
at least a week: but she put it all on
at once, soon having a blazing fire.
Now she placed the little kettle on it,
and going to the cupboard, took from
it some tea and made herself n cup Of
it. Then she sat down by the fire,
warming her feet and slipping her tea
with an expression of complete content
ment.
Meantime, the old man, spurred by
his guilty conscience, was hurrying
over the moor, that showed ghostly in
the pale light Of the stars. Something
white rose in front of him and startled
him; but it proved to be only a stunted
moor tree with the frozen festoons Of
snow hanging from it. BY and by he
got Off the open moor, where walking
was easier; but as he neared the ross
roads his heart beat faster and faster.
A tall tree. hung with white, stood
by the cross roads. He stopped sud-
denly, fancying he heard something
moving; but it was only Il mass of froz-
en- snow blown from the tree. 1t struck
him on tie face; and then close on it
came another sound that made Sam
uel's knees give way under him. Per
hups it was but u bough creaking. but
he could have sworn that on the wind
came a faint rattle and clang of chains
from the gallows-tree. He cast the fag-
OTIS wildly from him. shrieked out.
"Avaunt thee. Satan!" and then turned
and darted off. half falling in his haste.
He ran into the cottage. and stood
gazing ut Mrs. Warnc, speeches. with
Indignation.
"Well. Sam" said Mrs. Warnc afa-
bly,, come and set We down by the