The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-09-07
flT I

stages Of agitation appeared at their
doors, and began to call their children.
2 Bernard, Eugeue! come in at once.
Prosper! Claudine,-here, Immediately.
What. Joseph. YOU rogue, you will not
come: Rosaiie, just wait till 1 catch
yonr'
Then other names were shouted loud
~. "Lucienne. Corale. Pierre. Celes-
tinr' The fathers did hot say any
thing but pulled ears freely, and more
than oTe boy screamed.
Evidently something of dire import
was about to occur, to thus rouse the
sleepy little borough from its natural
letharGy.
Suddenly there appeared at the far
ther end of the street. near the first
houses. Il queer. grotesQue. almost mon
Strous figure. II looked at first like a
heap OF CClored rags, propelled forward
by diStyeSsful jerks. The human frame
under this medley was, as one may I'M
ag;ne, wretchedly put together. The
two legs. thin as switches. We're of I'M
equal length and the knees knocked to-
gether: the body was bent on the left
side. and one hip made sharp prom
inence. while on the other side over
hung a shoulder OutrageouSly loaded
with abrupt swellinGs. The head, in
its effort to keep upright, was on a
line with the protruding hip. The two
long arms We're like two tentacles. and
with them the creature was able to
pick up aims without bending. \ stick
held in one hand supported this heap
Of tatters. The whole-warped, knotted,
twisted, full of depressions and promi-
nences-gave the impression Of cork.
screw on legs.
To crown all, the head was oblong,
and the hair, scant and stiff, struggled
over the face. The mouth stretched
from ear to ear, and smiled uncon-
sciously and necessarily, in manner
that was Irritating after awhile. Be-
meath this sardonic grin hung heavy
chin. and above it was nose with
wide nostrils. Flabby, overhanging
cheeks added. if possible, to the ridic-
ulous appearance of this lamentsble
creature.
There is Tortillon! Chere is Tor
tillon-' was repeated along the street,
and the village children crept into their
houses in fear.
1t was indeed a terrible fear that Tor
tillon reused wherever she went. Many
called her witch. Did she not seem
typicaily one? How-without the aid
OF the dcGil-could she find means to
live in such distorted body? More
than one asserted that he had seen
cloyen foot under her ragged skirts.
She was accused also Of travelling
through the air at night, with u broom
for steed. Indeed. she could not ap-
pear within six miles of place with
out being suspected Of stealing chill
drer to kill them in order TO drink their
blood while holding her evil orgies,
And names were given. Jeanne
Gaudru's daughter had been spirited
away; and Annette Soulas' little boy
had disappeared one morning after Tor
tilion had passed. Some few. who were
not superstitious, had the boldneSs to
say that Annette SoulaS and Jeanne
Gaudru might themselves have done
harm to their own children. But 1t
was sufficiently proved-to the rest.
Tortillon was constantly seeking little
children; she must be watched.
AS if to corroborate this, little boy,
dirty and charming, appeared at the
third house. Possessed by an impera-
tive desire to see Tortillon, because
such pleasure was forbidden, he slipped
his head through the half-opened door,
"A slice OF buttered bread between his
teeth.
The beggar stopped abruptly. 1t
must have been that the sight of the
: child was sweet to the miserable crca-
lure. for her eyes, usually half-closed,
now opened wide. and disclosed great
limpid depths, feminine and full OF
caresses. The monster was indeed
woman.
A harsh voice broke forth: $50 your
way. Tortillon; so your way, or take
carer'
The little one received slap. and
was drawn back. Uttering sigh, the
beggar drew herself up, swung her
humps backward and forward, raised
the stick which served her as sup
port, twisted herself from her heels to
her neck, and proceeded step. a
second effort, a second step. Her eyes
lowered; she was rs hideous as before
1t was May. The Sky was clear
blue, the earth all perfume. Never had
spring come in clearer garb; buds were
everywhere; birds caroled. One fe!t
life-full, ardent, mysterious-sinSins
through space,
The warmth became intense and joy
Gus: the twelve strokes of the midday
struck lazily in the village steeple.
Tortillon continued her way with diff
ficulty. She reached the door of the
parsonage at laSt-Quite exhausted. II
was the custom of the curate to give
her Orce week a silver piece. a Loaf
of bread and some fragments from the
table.
She was abou; to touch the bell whel
the door opened. Marianne, the ser
want, came out. holding child of SIX
by the hand. Evidently inspired ly III
irresistible impulse, the beggar. Will
eyes again humid, stretched her arms