The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-05-31
Mrs, wame had not been home long

he calculated. III my nfe pam I De-
witched! Come and say sommat over
it, fur the love o mercy, or I'll be
bowed upw 1t was an old man who
lived in tumble-down cottage on the
other side of the moor. He was a
wretched, half-clad old creature, though
reputed rich, and indeed was very COM
fortably off though so miserable he
would not spend Il penny II he could
help it.
wait a moment, Sammel," said Mrs.
Warne, 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 care to
station herself on the other side of the
room. In minute or two The fire cer-
tainly did begin to pop and explode in
the most extraordinary manner. Bill
Holmes had well powdered it, and it
flew all over the room. "Lor-a-muSSy!'
began the old man again, his knees
shaking under him.
"Sammel Simmonsw 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!'
"Oh! Mrs Warne, whatever shall
do? l dar'n't stay here wi them goen
on like that!'
Il tells you what it tbs; you must
take all they fagots you has left-you
best know how you came by 'em-ovcr
to the crossroads and chuck 'em away"
You must come wi me, then, or /
be afeared out O. my life"
No; 'twouldn't do no sense if l war
to go too; you must do as / says, and
go alone, or l wun't answer for it."
Law sakes! l can't go 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 cOndescended to add.
At last she persuaded him to start,
giving him Il final injunction to say,
he threw the fagots away.
He went off, holding the bundle at
arms length.
1.-THE old rascal" she chuckled to
herself as she re-entered the cottage.
IN warn't he'll hev Il good fright,
and serve him jolly well right!'
She began to have Il good look over
the old mans room. At last, in cor
ner of the cupboard, she discovered
box hidden, to which she gave vigor-
GUS shake. 1t was answered by loud
rattle of money. She put it back in
it's place with Il satisfied expression.
II alluS did want to know if he'd got
money put away, as they said he had"
she murmured. In the little back room
she found a 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 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 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 cross
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 mass of froz-
en- snow blown from the tree. It struck
him on the face; and then close on it
came another sound that made Sam
uel's knees give way under him. Per-
haps it was but O 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 at Mrs. Warne, speeches. with
indignation.
'Well, SAM" said Mrs. Warne affa-
bly,, "cOme and set We down by the
fire after your cold walk, and take a
cup o tea to keep the cold out"
'Ye old witch!' said Samuel furi-
ously, 'how dare We come into my
house and take my Goals and my tea
like that?'
"NOw, Samuel, don't We get beeallen
me; fur, as l set here, it were borne in
upon me that they fagots were stole
out O. Bill Holmes hedge! And if We
gets abusen me, I'll 60 and tell him."
mo; don't ye now" said old Samuel,
nearly collapsing under the last stroke.
eur, if I did, I've bin punished fur
it; fur, as sure as you stands there, |
heard the ghostie; and I've haed
terrible walk home! Oh. dear! And
twas becoz be so poor, can't afford
mare bit o. 'oow"
Poor! wi al that money put away"
said Mrs. Warne contemptuously. mo,
Samuel, don't you get gammonep me.
Do you think l can't tell when you be
speaker truth or no? 1 tell you what
it's, unless you gives me IS I'll go over
to Bills this very night and tell him."
give pounds! I hal't got IS in the
world! I'll give you 5 shillens, and be
pretty near rooned dozen it!'
<AAISA oVhAO LIZ o. ANAS VA
consented to give q sovereign; he fetch
ed it reluctantly, grumbling and groan-
ing all the time.
"Well, good night to zee, Sam; thank
We fur very pleasant evening"" were
Mrs. Warne's parting words as she left
him and made her way through the
snow, chuckling to herself now and
then. She did not go straight home,
but turned off to the road that led to
Mrs. Longs. Mrs. Long came to the
door, holding a candle in her hand,
which she lifted high to see who it
was.
"Why, tits Mis- Warne," she said.
"Whatever brought you out so late?'
"Well, Mary, didn't / say summat
'ud turn up7 And so it has!" said
Mrs. Warne triumphantly.
Mrs. Longs pale, tired face bright
ened as she saw the money. She half
put out her hand to take it, then drew
it back again. II didn't ought to take
it from We, Mis- Warne," she said.