The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-01-20

In his pockets. y am glad the girl Ia
full OF this witchcraft nonsense" he
said TO himself "She is beautiful and
In many ways attractive. and u she
were like other women should be
afraid OF her"
For SEINE days the new master strug-
gled to set his school ia order classi
Tying, explaining. questioning. He was
determined to do some good TO his
pupils and TO spare no pains with
them Mam'sele Celestine visited the
school occasionally. but gave no fur
Their proofs Of her alleged powers. and
he was beginning 10 think that little
danger past when it showed Itself
again in new form. This time il came
through the resident magistrate, who
called early one morning and begged,
almost insisted, that Chat should go
with him 20 Nam Cclestine's that
evening. Some one had "set obi for
The pastor of the little chapel the only
clergyman on the island, and Nam.
Celestine had promised TO take il off.
Three persons must be present, and
the witch woman had declared that
the pastor, the magistrate and the
schoolmaster should be the three
Since obi had been set for him the
pastors animals had died. his child
had fallen i'll. his fruit had been stolen.
everything had gone wrong, and 1t
would be an act Of mercy 10 help him
ont Of his trouble. Chat 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, aud the fires Were out, the
music and dancing ended, and Pal
mier was asleep, Mr. Sweeting, the
preacher was a 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 long black coat that
set awkwardly upon him. Silently the
three followed paths under the palms
until they were within stones
throw of CeeStne'S house, aud then
the preacher paused.
Stop friends" he said Let me
have minute with my Maker befo' we
60 in.
He stepped aside few PAGES, and a
moment later they saw him on his
knees beside a giant palm, his clasped
hands high above his head, the moon
shining full upon his appraised face.
Chat shuddered TO see this Christian
minister invoking heavens blessing up
on The mummery thai he thought was
20 release him from Il witch's spell
Next minute they Knocked at Celes-
tines door.
The young obi woman answered the
summons and with a sweep of her arm
invited fhcm to enter. She took them
through the lirsl room into second,
where seven or eight candles were
burning. all short ends but one. Thick
curtains hung over the closed win.
dows and in the center Il c0rked bot
tie WAS suspended from The roof by a
cord Immediately under the bottle
was an arnschair, with banjo lying in
II. and three other chairs stood against
the wall Between The windows was
Il low cushion upon which hay Il coal
black cat, ana beside the cushion sau-
Ger hair full or water.
Be seated gentlemen" Celcstine
said Her appearance was exactly the
opposite of what Chat had expected
Instead of wearing the gaudy. bcspan-
gled dress usually affected by obi work
ers on such occasions, she was clad
from bend q foot ia back, With 40 or
namenl bur 4 smal brooch at her
throat
AS the three took The chairs to which
she pointed the cal walked over and
rubbed is bead and sides against their
legs thcn returned TO it's cushion
This is q Time Of rejoicing, gentle.
men. Cclestinc said, taking un The
banjo and seating Herself in The arm
chair ~ holy man is about to be re-
leased from Inc power OF evil. We
must rejoice with music and dancing
Your shadow has been caught. Mr..
Sweotng. but have been strong
enough 10 recover Il. Sec" And she
pointed 10 the bottle suspended above
her head II cannot release It 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 irst a few weird, mournful
sounds. which gradually grew louder
and faster til they melted into lively
dancing tune, surprisingly like a jig
She nodded her head toward lie preach
er. keeping time with The music, and
be arose aud took step or two. rs
though testing The quality Of his age
stillcned muscles Perhaps The music
and the motion revived long buried
memories OF earlier years. lie was
soon Ia full motion. round and round
Celestine's chair Faster aud faster
went the music: faster and faster few
the preacher The magistrate looked
on with awe. and Chat hardly know
10 be indignant OF to laugh.
Gradually one candle after another
burned out, leaving the room in semi
darkness. Suddenly ehe music ceased
for an instant while Celesune reached