Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-15
Hetty shook her head quickly in the

May, Margaret, the whole village
was wild with fear, no one but the
leech being venturesome enough to go
near her. The town council, having
great authority in these parts, met in
consultation, hastily brought the wom-
an to trial and sentenced her to be
burned at the stalker
Margaret shuddered and covered up
her eyes as If to shut out the sight.
AN was this cruel thing done? Burn
ed they the poor creature?" she cried
pityingly.
Aye, Margaret" Hetty replied; "they
did SO in the presence Of q crowd of re-
joicing neighbors. And my mother said
'twere we'll done, otherwise the woman
would have spread constant disaster
all about her. Mayhap an her evil in
clination induced her." she continued
mysteriously in low voice. Sarah
Goodwin had changed human beings
into animals, called up the resting
spirits of the dead and put the curse of
her black magic on those who might
have innocently approached her. But,
prithee. good Margaret, look not so
downcast ut the outcome of my tale.
for witchcraft among our mountain
people hath ever been thought the
blacklist Of crimes, no punishment or
torture being considered too great to
suffer in expiation. Ills thing with
which we have no tolerance, cousin,
for Of all evil happenings in the world,
of a truth, 1t is the most vicious and
malignant
Margaret shuddcred and turned
away.
"Methinks thou couldst have chosen
cheerful subject, Hetty, wherewith to
while away the hours Of gloomy
morning." she said reproachfuliy.
Rising from the couch, she walked
to the window and, throwing open the
lattice, looked out Of doors.
"Ah, happy day." she exclaimed.
Sunshine at last! See yonder cloud,
cousin. Bright rays are breaking
through it. Old Giles was right this
morning when he said that the ferc
wind had shifted and now lay in the
western quarter, promising that we
would see the sun before night Re-
joice with me, sweet Hetty."
For a time in silence they watched
the beauty of the golden tinted clouds
breaking apart and drifting about I'M
der the blue sky; then Margaret, whose
face expressed great happiness and
who seemed unable to contain her high
spirits, said: art not aweary Of the
close, damp air of the house? Come,
let US walk on the old stone wall by
the pasture, for the ground is much too
water soaked, and witness for our
selves what havoc the storm hath
played"
Hastily procuring a light cape, she
threw it over the muslin house dress
she wore, and, Hetty following, the
girls, refusing to listen to the protests
of ,Elsbeth, who met them on the stairs,
against going out of doors on such q
morning, stepped out on to the ground,
picked their way daintily-with much
light laughter-oyer the wet paths,
climbed the wall and, holding hands,
ran gayly with the light heartedness of
school children set free after long con-
inement along the top Of the broad
stone wall.
~ faith, tits worth pound to get
out into the open and breathe fresh
air again. Margaret exclaimed, her
blue eyes sparkling and her cheeks
aglow.
Tyha rihLo, 4bo+ Io,,nd her ho{. % N,
loose, and in very abandonment Of
youth and health she threw 1t away,
freeing her heavy masses of hair to the
embraces of the wind, which caught 1t
up tenderly, allowing the sun to kiss
1t with its sparkling rays. gently toss
ed it about her head; then, as If CATCH
ing the gay mood of Its owner, 1t grew
more playful and roughly swept the
tresses before Margaret's eyes, so that
she almost stumbled as she ran. A
large oak branch hung low over the
wall With cry Of pleasure Margaret
caught hold Of it and, lifting her feet,
swung out into the air and back to the
wall again, laughing joyfully at her
achievement as she ran on to the end
Of the wall.
''Margaretw Hetty exclaimed, run
ming after her cousin, rather breathless
at the whole proceeding. What merry
spirit Of mischief doth possess thee?"
Take my hand, sweet cousin, and
run some Of the Puritan stiffness out
Of thee" Margaret replied with flush
ed face and smiling lips. my blood is
coursing through my veins and my
heart beats gayly today because the
roads are drying up that lead from
London to this village. Look not SO
bewildered, sweet. Thou'lt know
anon why thy cousin welcomes wind
and sun. See, the clouds are scatter
ing and drifting far away! Come, Het-
ty, once morew And, taking her cousin 8
hand, they ran together to the end Of
the wall
"I'm out O. breath. but back again!
I'll wager I'll get there before thee,
slow Hetty."
She paused a moment, looking to-
Il