The Cairo bulletin., 1906-01-20

In bis pockets. Il aIn glad the girl ~
fun or this wltchcraft nonsense" he
said 10 himself. "She is beautiful and
IN many ways attractive, and II she
were like other women ] should be
afraid Of her"
For SEINE days the new master stl'ug
gled to set his school ia order. classi
flying. explaining, questioning He was
determined 10 do some good to his
pupils and 10 spare no pains with
them. Mam'sele Celestine visited the
school occasionally, but gave no fur
ther proofs of her alleged powers, and
he was beginning to think that little
danger past when 1t showed Itself
again in new form. This time it came
through the resident magistrate, who
called early one morning and begged,
almost insisted. that chat should go
with him TO Nam. Celestmes that
evening. Some one had set obj for
the pastor of the little chapel the only
clergyman on the island, and Nam.
Eelestine had promised 10 take 1t OFF.
Three persons must be present. and
the witch woman had declared that
the pastor, the magistrate and the
schoolma Ster should be the three.
Since Obi had been set for him the
pastors animals had died, his child
had fallen ill. his fruit had been stolen,
everything had gone wrong, and 1t
would be IN act of mercy TO help him
out OF his trouble. Cha reluctantly
consented to go. thinking that he might
be able to show the magistrate the fol-
~ OF the performance.
When the magistrate called for the
schoolmaster that evening he had the
pastor with him II was after o
o'clock, ana the fires were out, the
music and dancing ended. and Pal
mer was asleep. Mr. SWeeting the
preacher was tall, gaunt negro Of
nearly sixty with black hair and a
thin growth of snow white beard I'M
der his chin. His feet were shoeless
and his clothing was of the island pat
tern except for a long black coat that
set awkwardIy upon him Silently the
three followed paths under the palms
until they were within stones
throw of Celestine'S house. and then
the preacher paused
stop friends he said. let me
have minute with my Maker befo we
90 IN.
He stepped aside few PAGES, and a
moment later they saw him on his
knees beside Il giant palm, his clasped
hands high above his head. the moon
shining full upon his appraised face,
Chat shuddered 10 see this Christian
minister invoking heavens blessing up
on Tie mummery that he thought was
10 release him from Il witchs spell.
Next minute they knocked at Celes-
tines door
The young obi woman answered the
summons ana with a sweep of her arm
invited them TO enter She look them
through The tlrst room into second,
where seven or eight candles We're
burning, all short ends hnt one. Thick
curtains hung over the closed win
dows and in the center n corked bot
tie WAS suspended from The roof by II
cord. Immediately under The bottle
was an arnachair, with banjo lying in
II. and three other chairs stood against
the wall Between the windows was
Il low cushion, npon which lay coal
black cal, and beside the cushion san
cef half full OF water
BE seated. gentlemen" Cclestine
said Her appearance was exactly the
opposite Of what Chat had expected.
Instead Of wearing The gaudy bespan-
gled dress usually affected by obi work
cis on such occasions. she was clad
from head 10 foot in back, With no or
nament but q small brooch at her
throat
AS The three tool, the chairs to which
she pointed the eat walked over and
rubbed It's head aud sides against their
legs. thcn returned TO It's cushion.
This is lime of rejoicing, gentle
mcn." tclestinc said, taking IN the
banjo and seating herself in the arm
chair ~ holy man is about TO be re-
leased from me power of evil. We
must rejoice with music and dancing.
Your shadow has been caught Mr.
Swecting but | have been strong
enough 10 recover It. Sec And she
pointed TO the bottle suspended above
her head II cannot release il without
dancing You must dance the evil pow
er under your feet When | play you
must dance, and You shall be- deliv-
cred "
She began twanging the banjo, max
ing at first few weird mournful
sounds, which gradually grew louder
and faster til they melted into lively
dancing tune. surprisingly like u Jig
She nodded her head toward tie preach
er, keeping time with the music, and
he arose and took a step or two. as
though testing the quality Of his age
stiflcned muscles Perhaps The music
and the motion revived long buried !
memories Of earlier years. He was |
soon ia fun motion, round aud round |
Celestlne's chair Faster aud faster I
went the music: faster and faster few /
she preacher The magistrate looked /
Ou with awe. and Chat hardly know /
to be indignant OF to laugh.
Gradually one candle after another
burned out, leaving the room in semi
darkness. Suddenly ele music ceased
for an instant while Gclestinp reached /