Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-02-25

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 90 and see at once.
His Rob, his own true Lowell Now he
faced the knowledge with which for
three years at least he 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 be came to find his heart
beating like trip hammer at sudden
sight of hor. 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, too, what his
mother felt If only she had been harsh
in judgment, he might have thought OF
defiance. 1t was the gentleness Of her
disapproval that gave it SO much weight
with her son.
There was the question Of money too.
Meager as was the return it brought,
Roscoe was unquestionably valuable
estate. A man needed to think we'll OF
himself or have little Of manly inde-
pendence 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 him!" Jack said to himself as
he strobe across fields to Roscoe after he
had set his black hirelings at another
task. Heaven knows tho place needs
master badly enough, but not that mas
ter! Rob, any dainty girl, had better be
dead.
Roscoe fields were truly a pitiful
sight. Weeds stood as high rs stalks in
the scant breadths Of corn land, and
crab grass madc thick fluffy mazo 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 II
Niger in sight!' Jack said to himself
a. c,y,,p
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
prosumptuous fool, but l shall ask you
to marry Inc out of hand.
He had come to this proper and rca-
sonablc conclusion just as he came like
wise upon Aunt Phemy's cabin. 1t stood
upon rocky knoll, with acres OF tangle
about It, A cold spring boiled up at the
knoll foot and sent a vein of bright wa
ter through the fields to the creek, a
mile away. Aunt Phemy had chosen
the site herself. She was 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 conjuro women never cared
for people, and all her world knew Aunt
Pherly for conjure woman, though
only the bravest evor even whispered 80
much. She lived alone, spending much
time in the woods or swamps. Social
O., chn hol tbprn not
house high or low roundabout that
would not have made her eagerly well
come, for, sold popular belief, she was
one to be conciliated. If one had NOR
tai enemy, he need only 90 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 go 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 live rat in her hand
bending over table upon which lay
some fresh wheaton dough rudely mold
ed in human shape AS he looked she
drew knife across the rats throat and
held it SO the squirting blood dyed the
white etfigy beneath, the while half
chanting:
"Death wus In dis han. Death went wrong.
Death hit dc good, spa.ared de bad.
Pass on deathl Passl Passl Don you try ter
stay wild mel"
With long, hard breath, Jack went
noiselessly away.
Rob was chattering like q magpie to
her father when he came up to them up
on the back piazza. She was peeling
peaches for the blind man, who ate
them with great relish. Her voice was
gay, but had little shake underneath
that set jacks heart more than ever in
flutter
"Come and settle this dispute of ours.
You are just in time, =" she cried at sight