The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-11-04
oAy JuRDlE. wife of Clement

ToAy JURDlE. wife of Clement
:, hurdle. Of Kossington, vas ac-
O.d fleeing a witch. She was after
,r.-,s heard 70 say she would be even
vi.b William Dolfin and William Vain
yriglt for having slandered her char
acter. Within II days Dolfin had an OK
sau .ck. then a steer. then cow.
loan Jurdie was made 10 appear be-
fore Mayor Childers and other justices
an ID to answer for these and other
works of darkness. Joan denied every
charge. and eventually she was all
loved TO escape the dire legal penalty
Of witchcraft. although for long time
she was given wide berth by the vii
layers of Rossington.
Ii seems that William Dolfin's
daughter Marian. had no fear Of the
village witch. Quite unknown 10 her
parents she visited the ancient body
often. not with intention Of deriving
any benefit from her craft or Of de-
priying her Of the same, but rather
from the good motive of befrie nding
one in years who was surrounded by
enemies In fact. Marian Dolfin nursed
Joan during two consecutive nights,
when. neither for love nor money, mo-
body else would have lifted 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 ont the very familiar form Of the
witch. who. in fact had become second
mother 10 her. Joan. of course. was
not prcpossessing OF appearance, and
Marian was not absolutely certain
that She was the doer of good deeds.
but She never allowed anything TO
tyrannize over her senses of duty
Conscience seemed TO tell her that she
mus; be the neglected old souls com
forter. and all would turn out right in
the end. Marian dared not be seen GO
Ing there by daylight. so she went
stealthily under cover of night. and.
contrary to what everybody else IN
the village could have believed, always
found Joan sitting placidly al home,
without even the companion OF black
cat or white hare.
Mother Jurdie. are you as bad as
they make you out to be - questioned
Marian Dolfn. naively.
Did her only comforter lack conf
dence in her? Mother Jurdie looked
sadly put out by this thought. NAY
Marian" said she. a little plaintively
you cannot think | am, surely"
But" pursued the girl, there must
be some reason for their suspectine
you Of witchery."
"You are right. my dear. II is be
cause look like a witch. and because
since | came here many things have
happened to 90 wrong. and because
do not associate with other folk mol
do as they do
"Your looks you cannot alter. moth
er. But did you never do anything
really wrong?"
"Of course | did. and. to my know
edge. one thing only. ! did it for tn,
cake Marian; all for thy sake"
For my sake. How now?"
"Well. | threatened old Corney tina
u he did not leave me all his none.
1would bewitch him. lie said, in hi
fears and trembles. | might have !
when he had done with IT, IL ] woul'
only allow him to live out his time il
peace. As We know. he is long ag
dead and buried. ! foresaw that III
child Marian Dolfin would be my onl
friend and daughter in the years Z
come so in this way found the mean
TO provide for her"
.,
20. Mother Jurdie," exclaimed tn
surprised girl, "if my father knew, h
would swear you had practiced som
witchery in order TO draw me to you.
Would he? At any rat,
Marian. | have thee safe enough nov
and so strong is my liking for the
that thou shalt have old Corney
hoard tomorrow II thou wilt promis
10 marry the young man have chose
for thee. Bless thee, bairni ! am n,
90 skinny Of purse as ! am OF flesh"
But, Mother Jurdie. don't you kno
that can marry only William Wal
wrights son. Willie? And then, b
sides, cannot accept what you &,
from Cd Master Corncy, because
don't thiak you gos it honestly"
Bah! what do you know about 1
Not honestly got. indeed"
well, was II honestly got%
my dear, perhaps il was not, b
shis money will honestly spend, al