The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-03-05

multitude rayened at will. "And not
niger in sight!' Jack said to himself
angrily. "Yet il they don't do some
tall wrestling with these fellows"
crushing fat worm as he spoke, "tho
whole crop won't pay the taxes, much
less half Of it, Something has got to be
done, my little darling. Maybe I'm
presumptuoas fool, but 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 Ehemy's cabin. 1t stood
upon "a rocky kaoll, with ceres of tangle
about it Acold spring boiled up at the
knoll foot and sent vein of bright wa
ter through the fields to the creek,
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 conjure women never cared
for people, and all her world knew Aunt
Phemy for a conjure woman, thougl
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
o house high or low roundabout that
would not have made her eagerly well
come. for, said popular belief, she was
one to be conciliated IL 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 go back. If the
money was gone, he might be sure of
tho wished fog 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 q 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 effigy beneath, the while half
chanting:
"Death wus in dis han. Death went wrong.
Death hit de good, spa-ared dc bad.
Pass on DEATH Passl Pass! DON you try ter
stay wild mel"
With a long, hard breath, Jack went
noiselessly away.
Rob was chattertug like magpie to
her father when no came up to them up
on the back piazza. She was peeling
peaches for the bl.ad man, who ate
them with great relish. Her voice was
gay, but had O little shake underneath
that set Jacks heart more than ever in
a flutter.
"Come and settle this dispute of ours.
You are just in time, she cried at sight
of him. "Would you believe it? This
wild parent of mine has been preaching
that things have no intrinsic value at
all; that it is all relative and depends
on how badly you happen to want
Them"
"H-m. Why, there are not two sides
to that question. He is entirely right"
Jack said, with his most judicial air.
Mr.. McGregor laughed aloud.
II was proving it by a story he
began.
"Made to order" Rob interrupted
edo you know, Jack, he was trying to
make me believe that we would never
have had Roscoe but fora spotted
heifer?''
"We would not, Miss Impertinencs,
her father said, still laughing. II will
tell Jack the story. ] had 1T thought
of it in ten years until fell talking
day before yesterday with Benjamin
"Why, what brought him here?" Jack
interrupted. Rob looked away, but said
gayly:
"The finest new turnout in the coun-
ty; at least Nam Liza says so. And,
only think, missed sight Of it; was
way out in the fields"
"He came to see me, I" Mr.. McGregor
said, with dignity, Ito say, poor fell
low, how sorry he was that he bad not
been in three years before. Now, in his
own sorrowful desolation, he is learn
ing"-
Excuse me, dad, but what has his
grief to do with spotted heifer-and
Roscoe?" Rob asked saucily. Her ia.
ther patted her hand.
"You shall hear in good time" he
said. Jack will pardon an old mans
The story is not much, after
all. You both have heard me tell about
coming out of Virginia, boy of II,
riding at my fathers elbow. He had
not bought land before coming out, and
as soon as we CHANGED upon this place
he made up his mind that he wanted it.
It belonged to man named Pickins
then, one of the poor whites. But. odd.
~ enough, he had good title, though
most of his sort merely squatted where
they chose. He wanted to sell and move
to one of the prairie states, but his wife
vuoo anaipot ~ Che mould foot baro