Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-02-17


other niggers, who, poor fools, took her
for a conjure woman. This was IN
Teddy's mind. His speech was so civil
that without in the least intending it
Mrs. Annis had spent So with him before
she rode away.
Jack Talbot drove home at slapping
pace. He would have been amazed but
that be was so furiously angry. There
must be something in Teddy tale. And
why should that old virago prick up her
eyes and scowl at the mention Of Rob?
The Annises he recalled as distinctly
direputable folk. He knew his father
and Mr.. McGregor had said "Good rid.
danoep' when they went west 10 years
before. He recalled, too, that he had
heard of them anew within the last
month. Somebody at the courthouse had
said the old man was dead, and his wife
and son had struggled back and rented
the Nolan place, poor, lean farm in
the edge Of the hill country ten miles
away. Why should the old beldame ride
all that distance to do her trading?
There were at least three stores nearer
than Topmark's, and in either Of them
she might look for better bargains.
Clearly her concern was with Topmark.
It could not be with Rob-his Rob,
whom he would 70 and see at once.
His Rob, his own true love! Now he
faced the knowledge with which for
three years at least be had fenced and
played. Before that he had told him
self she was his little sister. He had
even tried to keep up that pleasing fig-
ment after he came to find his heart
beating like trip hammer at sudden
sight of her. Of course he had known
in the depths of consciousness what it
meant, but love, marriage, were not for
him until he had Strengthened all the
tangle of home affairs. He had sort Of
chivalrous idolatry for his parents, and,
though he rejoiced to know that his IA
ther understood Rob and loved her as
she deserved, he knew, to, what his
mother felt. If only she had been harsh
in Judgment, be might have thought OF
defiance. 1t was the gentleness of her
disapproval that gave 1t so much weight
with her son.
There was the question of money too.
Meager as was the return it brought,
Roscoe was unquestionably a valuable
estate. A man needed to think we'll Of
himself or have little Of manly inde-
peBdence to 60 courting the heiress of it
with empty hands. Jack was proudly
independent. He wanted his wife to
owe to him comfort and oherishing. But
what ought he not to put aside to save
his love from the insult Of Ben Top
marks wooing?
maybe the land is what he's after,
confound himp' Jack said to himself as
he strobe across fields to Roscoe after he
had set his black hirelings at another
task. "Heaven knows the place needs q
master badly enough, but not that mas
teri Rob, any dainty girl, had better be
dead"
Roscoe fields were truly pitiful
sight Weeds stood as high as stalks In
the scant breadths of corn land, and
crab grass made thick, tufty maze be-
tween. If tobacco had cleaner tilth, tall
blossoming suckers sapped the richness
of the leaves, and fat green worms in
multitude ravened at will. "And not a
niger in sight!' Jack said to himself
angrily. "Yet if they don't do some
tall wrestling with these fellows"
crushing fat worm as he spoke, "the
whole crop won't pay the taxes, much
less half of it. Something has got to be
done, my little darling. Maybe I'm
presumptuous fool, but I shall ask you
to marry me out of hand. "
He had come to this proper and rea-
sonable conclusion just as he came like
wise upon Aunt Phemy's cabin. 1t stood
upon q rocky knoll, with acres of tangle
about it, A cold spring boiled up at the
knoll foot and seat Il vein of bright wa
ter through the fields to the creek, a
mile away. Aunt Phemy had chosen
the site herself. She YVES Mr.. McGreg-
or's foster sister, and, though saving her
mother had cost him so dear, showed
little of open affection for either himself
or his child.
But then conjure women never cared
for people, and all her world knew Aunt
Phemy for conjure woman, though
only the bravest ever even whispered SO
much. She lived alone, spending much
time in the woods or swamps Social
visitors she had none, yet there was not
house high or low roundabout that
would not have made her eagerly well
come, for, said popular belief, she was
one to be conciliated. If one had NOR
tai enemy, he need only go in thick
darkness and whisper his grudge to
certain hollow stone in her chimney.
Then he must put money in the hollow,
wait three days and 90 back. If the
money was gone, he might be sure OF
the wished for vengeance, but If the
coin lay untouched he must take it and
make off with all speed, never telling
anybody how he had been baked, upon
pain of having the witch throw her
spells upon him.
All this Jack had heard at piecemeal
from his frightened black people. For
the most part he had laughed at their
tales. He was too young and open
minded for belief in the black art. Yet
now, in spite of himself, he shivered.
Through the narrow batten window,
which stood wide, he saw the black
woman, with a live rat in her hand,
bending over a table upon which lay
some fresh wheaton dough rudely mold
ed in human shape. AS he looked she
drew q knife across the rats throat and
held it so the squirting blood dyed the