The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-10-29
Wen 60 look after her at once, Ma

Wen go look a1ter ner dt ohce' Ms
rian."
They were just going to quit when
Joan appeared with a young man.
Marian could scarcely believe her w
eyesight, for that young man was no
other than Willie. Her heart re-
bounded with hopeful joy, and this
was intensified when he smiled reas-
suringly. Was the supposed witch
about TO assume the very panoply of
an earth-born angel? \ moment later
Willie and she were, in the witch's
evesight, with her sanction and APP
proyal, clasped in each others arms.
What" beamed the senior Vain
wright. hast thou. Joan Jurdie, decld-
ed to reform thy character, and in
vented this as a beginning"?
Come into my house. said she,
with the superior manner of an host
ess. Il will say what l have to say,
and then trust to your wisdom to ae-
quit me of s%candalous proceedings in
the past"
The three followed her into the
house. where she babe them he seated.
"Now." began she. 'the wicked witch
of Rossington is a childless widow, and
such she will to the end OF her days
remain; yet she hath for long had a
| child upon whom she will always ook
with eyes full of motherly love. Yes,
| William Wainwright, l have watched
her for wears. and now she is a grown
up Young woman. and it is about time
she came to terms with her future hus-
band. At this opportune moment L
have brought thine own son forward,
and nv dear miss all adjusting there
will not be so unkind as to refuse him.
| Blessed be they when they are we'd
ded: and may theirs be an eternal hap
riness. Long life to them. prosperity,
riches. and a g~Ood-looking little fam
lily"
William Wainwright was delighted.
His face looked like gala-day- The
witch. thought he. had virtues like
other Rossington m such having
only lain latent until the present hour.
He was agreeably surprised to find
that she did not mention past griev-
ances. for he had helped largely to
procure her accusation for witchcratt
before Hugh Childers at the town OF
D. He now felt sure that her repu-
tation had been wantOnly damaged.
She seemed to him to be almost toe
forgiving to be human. Her memory
of past grievances could not possibly
have failed even in the course of this
remarkable rejoicing.
The ugIiest and most grabbed person
is arrayed in lovely amenities when
she stoops to win our favor with great
gifts.
"Ah. Marian" remarked Joan. 81
was painfully and Indignantly sorry
when | found that you could not trust
me. Did YOU ever think that should
i'll repay you for visiting me and be-
ing NV nurse and comforter when
everybody else in the village spurned
me? How could | have brought to you
u man-anv man-whom you coulG not
love? Did | not already know what
man YOU were most agreeable to: Yes;
and now he is here. | will yet make
YOU two Joint pOssessors OF the t2'oot
, that | have been secretly reserving fol
YOU. The nephew of old Corney
l drowned himself last night in the Don.
! odd Corney!" caught up the senior
: Wainwright.
p Yes, old Corney. That was the Cos
sin who first dubbed me witch But
: for him | might nave been the respect
able Mrs. Joan Jurdie' to this day
? That | can well believe" said TIT
delighted Wainwright. Hes sale
some mucky things about thee in my
hearing. but | said at the time they
were too bad to be true. There. VII
l lie. lad. thatII do; you've Rugged The
$ girl enough, surely"
When Joan invited the three II
breakfast with her. on fresh-laid eggs
not one of them declined. In the mid
Gle of the meal Wainwright, senior
declared he would never come agail
10 Widow Jurdie for another farthin!
l of rent.
She was as good as h@r word. ant
Il her secretly adopted daughter becam
I the possessor of riches. This remarks
o bic act was diffused abroad, and tn
e attitude towards her was change
permanently from the hour when !
V was credited and realized as a truth
Hence. in her old age. Mrs. Joan Jun
y die became a popular member OF Kos
sington's humble society.