Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-29

"the lads willfu1 and careth not that
the chores are undone."
Just then shadow fell across the
threshold. Adam came forward e1.
pectantly.
"Ah, bless me, Mistress Taunston!'
he exclaimed in surprise. "Methought
twas Christopher. Happen didst see
that good for naught as thou didst
come through the forest7"
II saw him not good ADAM" the
dame replied, "but walked rapidly, as
1 am in haste to reach the house Of
Sister Hemming, that my son brought
me word an hour since had been Wis.,
tied by the Lord with an affection Of
numbness, SO l bethought me that my
prayers and services might be of use
at the bedside. Did thy lad stray
away?"
"'Twas after the hour Of noon that
I sent him to the Maryland farm with a
trinket that I mended for the young
mistress" he replied. ''I' truth I would
not ha' been in such good haste to send
1t had not thy good son Josiah warned
me Of possible evil contained in the
papist symbol of the golden cross"
The woman threw out her hand in q
manner that suggested hopeless resig-
nation at the rashness Of the old mans
act and, addressing him harshly with
tragic earnestness, said: 'Thou didst
send thy lad with that emblem Of the
black art, Adam Browdie. Forsooth,"
with an ominous shake Of her head,
"'twas no wonder then that the storm
:ose betimes, turning peaceful elements
into DEVILS turmoil to bring honest folk
to their knees calling on God to save
them! All, sorrowful day" she sighed
drearily, then, raising her voice In re-
Duke, said, "'Twas thy duty, man, to
ha' burned the wicked trinket instead
o. sending an innocent lad with it to
bring destruction to him"
Adam, pale with apprehension, cow
cred back against the door. The words
Of his visitor were so positive and her
manner carried such conviction with
it that the old man was already aghast
at the possible consequences Of his fool
ish act.
II must be on my way, good neigh
bor." Mistress Taunston lifted her
skirts preparatory to leaving. But
happen thy lad returneth not by night
fall I would counsel thee to rouse the
village, call the men out for search,
and If aught Of harm hath befallen
Christopher as result Of touching that
cross" she continued sternly, with a
threatening emphasis, II wot measures
must be taken at once to force the
wearer of it to destroy it,
AYE, aver the trembling old man
concurred eagerly. "Such evil GIN
cracks worn for the sake O. wicked
vanity should be destroyed. Mayhap,
alas, enough harm hath been done
already! All, woe is me! TITS bad
time we ha' fallen onr'
Truth hast thou spoken. God keep
thee, Adam"
"And thee, good dame"
The woman passed on, grim and Sc
we're, and the shadow receded slowly
from the threshold.
That night party Of men carrying
torches searched the forest vainly for
the missing lad. calling his name loud
~, then listening with straining ears
for response. But none came to their
strong and eager cries, the accustomed
stiffness Of midnight on the mountain
being broken only by sounds Of hurry
ing feet, shrieks of birds, reused from
their nests by the unusual disturbance
and glare Of lights, as they flew through
the trees with noisy clapping Of wings,
and the peculiar wailing sound OF the
wildcat as with cleaning eyes and
showing its teeth savagely it skunk
among the underbrush.