The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-10-29

T DAN JURDIE, wife of Clement
ri Jurdie, of RosSingtOn, was ac-
cused of being a witch. She was after
wards heard to say she would be even
with William Dolfin and William Vain
wright for having slandered her char
acter. Within II days Dolfin had an OK
fall sick, then a steer, then a COW.
Joan ,Jurdie was made to appear be-
fore Mayor Childers and other Justices
at D to answer for these and other
works of darkness. Joan denied every
charge. and eventually she was al
lowed to escape the dire legal penalty
of w~itchcraft. although for 4 long time
she was given a wide berth by the vii
layers of R~ossington.
1t seems that William Dolfns
daughter. Marian, had no fear of the
village witch. Quite unknown to her
parents she visited the ancient body
often. not with intention of deriving
any benefit from her craft or OF de-
Driving her of the same, but rather
from the good motive of b~efrlendIng
one in wears who was surrounded by
enemies. In fact. Marian DOlfin nursed
Joan during two consecutive nights.
when. neither for love nor money, no.
body else would have lifted a hand to
save her from a dishonored grave. On
this and other occasions William Dol
fin knew nothing different than that
she was asleep in her own good bed,
with the room door bolted inside to
keep out the very familiar form OF the
witch, who, in fact had become a second
mother to her. Joan, of course, was
not prepossessing of appearance. and
Marian was not absolutely certain
that she was the doer of good DEEDS
but she never allowed anything TO
tvrannize over her senses of duty.
conscience seemed to tell her that she
must be the neglected old souls COM
forter. and all would turn out right IN
the end. Marian dared not be seen 60
ing there by daylight, so she went
s~teaIthily under cover of night. and
contrary to what everybody else III
the village could have believed, always
found Joan sitting placidly at home
without ever the companion of a black
cat or a white hare.
Mother Jurdie, are you as bad as
they make you out to be" questioned
Marian Dolfin. naively.
Did her only comforter lack conn
dence in her? Mother Jurdie looked
sadly put out by this thought. Nay
Marian" said she, a little plaintively
"you cannot think l am, surely?
But" pursued the girl. there mus
be some reason for their suspectint
YOU of witchery."
"You are right, my dear. 1t Is DE
cause I look like a witch, and becaus
since l came here many things nav
happened to go wrong, and because
do not associate with other folk no
do as they do
"Your looks you cannot alter, moth
err. But did you never do anythin!
really wrong?"
"Of course l did, and, to my know
edge. one thing only. l did it for tn
sake. Marian; all for thy sake"
For my sake. How now"
well. l threatened old Corney tina
- he did not leave me all his none,
7 would bewitch him. He said, IN nj
fears and trembles. l might have i
when he had done with it, if l woul
only allow him to live out his time l
neace. As We know. he is long ag
dead and buried. l foresaw that tn
child Marian Dolfin would be my onl
friend and daughter in the years I
come. so in this way I found the mean
TO provide for her"
30, Mother Jurdie,' exclaimed tn
surprised girl, "if my father knew,
would swear you had practiced som
witchery in order to draw me to you
would he? y At any rat
Marian, 1 have thee safe enough nov
and so strong is my liking for the
that thou shalt have old Corney
hoard if thou wilt promi:
to marry the young man have chose
for thee. Bless thee, bairR! am NJ
so skinny of purse as 1 am OF flesh"
But. Mother Jurdie, don't you kno
that 1 can marry only William Wal
wright's son, Willie? And then, b
sides. cannot accept what you g.
from old Master Corney, because
don't think you got it honestly"
Bah! what do you know about /
Not honestly got, indeed"
"Well, was it honestly got?"
"My dear, perhaps it was not, b
this money will honestly spend, al