The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-02

himself or have little of manly indie
pendence 10 60 counting the heiress OF il
with empty hands. Jack was proudly
independent. He wanted his wife tC
owe TO him comfort and cherishing. 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 be
had set his black hirelings at another
task. "Heaven knows the place needs a
master badly enough, but not that mas
teri Rob, any dainty girl, had better be
dead. "
Roscoe fields were truly a pitiful
sight. Weeds stood as high as stalks in
the scant breadths of corn land, and
crab grass made thick, fluffy maze be-
tween. If tobacco had cleaner filth, tall
blossoming suckers Slapped the richness
of the leaves, and fat green worms in
multitude ravened at will. "And not a
niger in sightr" Jack said to himself
angrily. "Yet if they don't do some
tall wrestling with these fellows, I"
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 a
presumptuous 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 Phemy's cabin. 1t stood
upon a rocky knoll, with acres of tanglo
about it. A cold spring boiled up at the
knoll foot and sent a vein of bright wa
ter through the fields 10 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 conjure woman, though
only the bravest ever even whispered so
much. She lived alone, spendi * much
time in the woods or swamps Social
visitors she had none, yet there was not
a 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 a
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 a live rat in her hand, !
bending over a table upon which Law |
some fresh wheaton dough rudely mold |
ed III human shape. AS he looked she !
drew a 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, squared de bad.
Fass on DEATH Passl Passl Don you try ter
stay wild MEL
xfy.1
With long, hard breath, Jack went
noiselessly away.
Rob was chattering like mappie n
her father when he came up to them M.
On the back piazza. She was peeline
peaches for the blind man, who ate
mem with great relish. Her voice was
gay. but had a little shake underneath
hat set Jacks heart more than ever in
! flutter.
Come and settle this dispute of Ours.
I on are Just in time, she cried at sight
'f him. would you believe itp This
Wild parent Of mine has been preaching
nat things have no intrinsic value at
Ill; that it is all relative and depends
IN how badly you happen to want
;hem.''
HIM. Why. there are not two sides
% that question. He is entirely right. -
'ack said, with his most judicial air.
Mr.. McGregor laughed aloud.
i was proving it by story he
began.
Made to order" Rob INTERRUPTED
DO you know, Jack, he was irving to
make mo believe that we would never ,
nave had Roscoe but fora spotted ,
,eifer?" 'Po''0u
We would not, Miss Impertinence"
Ter father said, still laughing. "I will
ell Jack the story. l had not tboupbt
u 1t IN ten years until fell TALKING
lay before yesterday with BENJAMIN
Copmark"- 'i"
why, what brought him here?', Jack
,ayly: '"' e"iu
The finest new turnout in the conn.
y; at least Nam Liza says SO. And
'niy think, | missed sight of IL: was ]
way out in the fields"
IL.