The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-14

entered IL as unceremoniously as the wom-
an mad aone.
An aged woman sat In the middle Of the
room gnawing a piece of stale bread. Her
hair was white. her skin was almost black
from age and exposure. There was scarce
ly any furniture in the hut, and she wore
a single garment of faded calico; but both
herself and abode were clean. Herbs of
all varieties hung from the rafters, and
on a shelf were a number of Walls.
No dwelling could be more commonplace,
but it stood alone in valley that no other
living creature would inhabit; and its
owner for thirty at least of her eighty
years had been known as the witch of
Baja California, and credited with the
making of love philtres. charms. and hoo
docs. Gamblers, love-sick girls. men Of all
degrees, haunted her solitary abode. What
passed between her and her customers no
third person ever knew. Publicly. she dis
claimed all occult powers whatever, and
vowed that she gave no one anything but
advice to have nothing to do with senseless
superstitions. But her disclaimers were
put down to terror; her life had been in
danger more than once.
She glanced up with a CLEAN of fear in
her eyes as Gaspar strobe into the room,
but dropped them quickly, and went on
with her scanty breakfast.
THAT was Manuela, the bride of Paulo
Martinez, who came here just now,' he
said. peremptorily. "and she came for a
hoodoo for my sister. Paulo like a fool
danced with her last night, and this fend
| of a Manuela is jealous. What have you
| given her?'
The old woman shook her head. 81 gave
her nothing she said, sadly. ''Why do
| you accuse me of such things? / spend my
| life helping the poor, and spending on them
the money these fools press into my hands
| when they come to me for advice, but
do no harm to anyone-none-none." Z
"Oh, we've heard all that before" said
the young man, contemptuously, land
| Manuela is not the woman to go away
without getting what she wants. Tell me
this, at least, did she ask you for hoodoo
or a poison?'
The old woman shook her head. II never
| say what they come to ask, but L give
them nothing. nothing"
Gaspar. who had been pacing up and
down the room excitedly. suddenly stopped
and shook his fist in her face.
| "Buenov' he exclaimed. Hear me. If
anything happens to my sister, I'll kill you.
Do you understand? Kill you. So if you've
| put a hoodoo on her take 1t off If you care
| anything for your own life. And If it's
| poison you've given, go after that devil
and get it back. 1 can get to my house
before she dares go there, and it won't be
given to-day, whatever she may do later.
| Do you understand"
The old woman wrung her hands. 81 can
do nothing, for 1 have done nothing she
cried, her gnarled face pickering with
fright. IF anything happens to your sis
| ter shall be blamed-Madre de dios!-and
1 can do nothing
! But Casper had left the hut, and was
| climbing the wall of. the canyon. He was
long reaching the top. but he found the
mustang quietly grazing. and when he
pointed her for home she went fieetly
enough.
The town was awake when he reached it,
and he met Paulo, Manuela, and their init
mate friends starting for the ranch. Man
uela looked very pale, and sat on her
husbands horse. encfrcled by his arm.
AS she met the menacing eyes of Casper
she flushed and turned away her head.
he made his way down the street of many
| excavations rapidly as he could, then
abandoned the mustang, and climbed the
rock on which he lived with his brother
and beloved sister.
I The house quiet. Francisco was
doubtless sleeping off his debauch, and
ISABEL of late had spent half the morning
in her bed His anxious spirit could brook
no delay, and he went directly to her room
There was no answer to his knock, and he
opened the door and entered. Ysabel lay on
her back picking at the bedclothes, and
muttering foolish words.
I'LL
Before the day was half over the whole
town of San Mateo was talking of the be-
witching ISABEL Pera by old Brigida, OF
the Sandy Canyon. Gaspar had rushed
from house to house asking IL anyone ha6
seen Manuela Martinez climb the hill to
his home. No one had, although severa
had been smoking their morning cigaritos
in full view Of it,; and others had seen he,
return and go straight to her own home
Clearly, then. it was not poison that hat
wrought the terrible change in Ysabel
but the still more fatal .'hoodoo'
Gaspar and Francisco were frantic ant
were for killing the witch at once. Blu
there are always calmer spirits even among
excited Mexicans, and these counseled, beg
ging. bribing, or threatening Brigida to re
move the curse.
For what she has done she can undo,
they said; land If she dies Ysabel must di,
too. Brigida is the only hope. Let her liv,
at least until she has plucked out tn,
| curse"
Gaspar, therefore, mounted his feetes
mustang and rode furiously to the hut IL
IN the Sandy canyon. Brigida threw up he
arms and gave low wall as he burs. int,
| the room.
"Ay, de NIL" she cried. "It is done, an,
they think 1t Is To
Gaspar went down on his knees "She 4
dying," he cried Lift the curse, and tho,
shalt have a bag of gold, / swear it. An,
a ranchita, too. If thou wilt leave this vii
canyon. Francisco and I will work for tn
rest OF your life to make you live Xix