The Newtown bee., 1900-07-27

first visits, and as some of his people
proved garrulous and seemed to think
that the new minister needed "posting,' -
he soon found himself in possession OF
much Of "the witch's" history.
Her name was Priscilla Prindle; she
| was more than half-mad, and she told of
things which she could only have learned
by magic. The children, though they
tormented her, were afraid Of her, and
many Of their elders fear.d her, too.
And-worse, even than being Witch
she was murderer,-she had poisoned
her own mother, years ago!
By mistake? Well, maybe, and maybe
not! No one could rightly say. But it
looked bad, for her own sister had turned
from her In horror and had had nothing
to do with her since that time. Her sis
ter had married directly afterward, and
the young couple had gone and settled in
distant village-to get far away from
Pris, -who from that time had steadily
grown wilder and more queer.
How did she manage to live? Why,
they supposed she must have little
money and she cultivated her small patch
of garden, but beyond that nobody knew
She might live or die off there in her
lonely home, and nobody cared!
The poor creatures terrible isolation
wrung Malcolm's heart, and he resolved
to speak with her at the first opportunity.
That opportunity soon came. He was
on his way to visit sick parishioner and
was walking rapidly up lonely road,
when sudden turn brought him face to
face with the gaunt, battered figure of
Priscilla Prindle. He stopped, with
pleasant greeting, his earnest eyes fixed
searchingly upon her hard and sinister
face.
She paused, apparently surprised that
he should speak to her. Then she
laughed mocklngly, and raised her bony
hand,
III know who you are, she said slowly,
in her harsh voice. "You are the new
minister. And I can tell you where you
are going,-you think you are going to
see Dick Goodsell's. Turn back, 60
home again." she cried commandingly.
"You are too late,-she is already dead"
"How do you know, have you been up
there?' asked Malcolm. with concern.
Tip there Ohio! ASK them-ask
Il I ever 60 up there. I'll tell you how
know, young Mister Minister; listen,-|
I'm witch!' -
SO saying she brushed past him and
went on. He laid restraining hand
upon her arm. II am coming to see
you," he said quietly. 81 want to talk
with you. lam sorry I cannot come to-
day."
She fairly gasped with anna zement, and
for once was at loss for quick reply.
But when he was far up the road she
called after him, "You needn't come |
Pris Prindle doesn't care to be converted. |
She ain't in any need of minister-yet! !"
Nevertheless. though Malcolm heard |
her words, he sought her on the following !
dag.
Again she was evidently taken by sur
prise. She had not thought that he
would come. She was at work in her
little garden and he had come upon her
unaware. "What do you want?" she
asked, sharply.
II want to thank you for the good turn
you did me yesterday. No one had {
lreamed that Mrs Goodsell was seriously
IL. Her sudden death had simply para (,
lied the family, and was able to help =
hem far more-knowing of it before.
and-than If I had gone there totally | t
nprepared." lr
II didn't mean to do you good turn" il
he said harshly, while she looked t
uriouslv at him. Then she began to
tier string Of incoherent nonsense, C
With such an evident purpose OF persuad- a
ng him that she was mad, that Malcolm b
vas soon convinced that the unhappy
woman was as sane as he was himself. g
But every interview he had with her g
nded in this same way, and after that he r
aw her many times. Often, too, his t,
uick eyes caught sight of her when she q
erself did not suspect that she was seen, /! p
Or as soon as the dusk had fallen, the
healthy figure was abroad, and Malcolm \
aw her lurking unsupported behind Ii
snces. behind roadside bushes, concealed | G
, the shrubbery, and listening cautiously IL
ehind an open window or an open door. q
Wherever knot Of villagers had gath q