Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-12-14


ers the lofty peak of Mount Leguinla.
Though within sight of the sleepy town,
but few of its Inhabitants have ever
climbed it's rugged sides. Yet there is
q well-beaten path leading nearly to its
summit and it has been worn almost
wholly by the feet of two men; one, an
aged negro, the other young white
manGand 1t is the latter whom we see
hurting up the steep and narrow road,
IN the FIRST gray dusk Of evening.
AS the darkness settled over the scene
q tiny spark of light flashed out from
the midst Of the dense foliage at the top
of the elevation and continued to burn
steadily.
"Ah. Castroni is at his nightly labor,
connecting his obnoxious drugs for his
credulous patrons" laughed the trav-
eler. But they are harmless, as the
poor old man himself"
'How do you know dey am harmless,
boy? l hab got up dere, in dat cabe
(cave) stuff what yill cherry man in ia
maica, s'pose dey take um."
"Ah, Father Castroni, l had no idea
that you were so near, for had but this
moment caught a glimpse of your fire
yonder."
Dat fire done burn desc yere two
hours" At this the negro stepped out
into the pathway, and most grotesQue-
looking individual he was, too.
He was naked to the waist, save
broad necklace of the plated skins of the
yellow snake, which he wore about his
neck. Around his loins, and reaching
below the knees, were wound several
yards of gunny-cloth, or coarse bag
ging, while his woolly hair was twisted
:1nIo a number of little tails which stood
out straight, making his head resemble
q huge black burr.
"Why am you come to de mountain
tonight, SOM" asked the African
Obeah-man, for as such character he
posed among the ignorant and super
etitious negroes. 81 see you lieb de
town afore de sun went down-so OATS
what bring me away from de boiling
pot. But come up to de cabe and tell
you ole brack fadder what am de mat
ter" And Castroni turned and led the
way to his rude abode, which was moth
ing more than spacious cave nearly at
the top Of the mountain.
Nov, den, my son, began the Obeah-
man as he seated himself before the fire.
.'What hab you got to say? Doan't be
afeerd to speak, for if ole Castroni hates
eberybody else in Jamaica he lubs
(loves) you, and bab eber since you poo
fader, de captin, put you into desc yere
brack arms jest afore he died in de
boat"
II know, my dear friend replied the
$oung man, grasping the negro's hand
fsrvently, 'that possess your affection.
But, Castroni, / am miserable"
"What am you mis- able fob, boy?"
because love the daughter of Hiram
Emery, the richest man in Kingston!"
"Do dat make you mis'able? When
/ lubs anybody Use happy. Why doan't
you marry de girl?"
do you suppose the wealthy banker
would allow his only child to wed the
poorest clerk in his employ? No, no;
must be content to gaze upon the object
of my love as would poor prisoner upon
the sun, through the bars of the win
dow of his cell"
"Now, you is fool, fob suah! Hab I
not allus tole you dat you am as good
as anybody in Jamaica, and dat after
Use gone dead you might be as rich as
IN 10 fc1o
Truly you have, Castrori. But am
afraid that would be feeble argument
to bring to bear upon tED> naughty ia
Their"
At this the Obeah-man placed his ell
4bows upon his. knees and allowed his
chin to rest in the palms of his bony
hands, while he sat for several moments
IN silence. At length, he began: "Your
name am Robert Stewart. Dat were
your fader's name, too. Tomorrow
when de sun hab reached dat place in
de sky when be tells de poo niggers il
am IL O'Clock, you go to de banker an
say: Nisser Emery, Tub you daugh-
ter. an l want you to glib her to me fob
my Wife"
Eyes, and be thrown out of the Office
for my audacity."
Nobody frow you outen de ONCE
You do what de Obeah-man Of Leguinis
mountain tell you. Now you go home
an doan't be a fool no longer"
sim afraid should feel myself
greater fool should follow your in
structions," replied the young man, bit
tarly. as hefarose and prepared to take
seave 81 his foster-father.
The next morning as young Stewart
stood at his desk in the Office OF the
banker the words Of the negro con-
tinued to ring in his ears: ASK the
father at IL o'clock" Now why did
cytastroni set that time?
What did he mean? He must have
had some object in doing so.
Robert Stewart, though highly-edu-
Ncated young man, possessed in a certain
degree. the awe, not to say fear, which
the Obeah-man inspired in everybody
with whom he came In contact-and as