The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-03

Her supposed charms so carefully hidden beneath thick dr aperies. were reputed to be irresistible, and Mistress Dorothy. Susan or Joan, who showed their own pretty faces unblushingly, were not sufficiently versed tin noun tebanks' tricks to realize that Mirreb's thick veil was without doubt only means for arousing the jaded curiosity of idiers from the court.
 Bc that as 1t may. it was. an estab- iished fact that no one had seen the soothsayer's face and that Mistress Dorothy who was pouring out a huge eankard of sack for her own attend ant swain. was exceedingly annoyed thereby.
 "Bah.' she said contemptuously, as Abra and his magic devices were being discussed at the table. The is but lout. tell thee. Matthew. that thou'rt fool to take count of him. But the wo- man. she addel under her breath. "is possessed of the devil"
 Matthew. the shoemaker. took the tankard. which his sweetheart had flied for him, in both hands. and took long draught. before he made any re- ply. Then he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. patNupon the ground. and looked significantly at the circle of friends who were gathered rounl him
 T tell you. my masters" he said at last with due solemnity. that I saw that witch last night fly out from yon- der tree astride upon a giant bat"
 "A bat?"
 holy shudder went round the en- tire assembly. Pretty Mistress Susan crossed herself furtively. whilst Joan in her terror nearly dropped the hand ful of mugs which she was carrying.
 Everyone hung on the shoemaker's lips
 Short and somewhat tubby of body, Matthew had round and chubby face, with pale blue. bulging eyes and slightly elevated eyebrows. which gave him the appearance of an overgrown baby. He was for some reason, which has never transpired to this day, re- puted to have wonderful wisdom. His items of news. gleaned from a nephew who was scullion in the royal kitchen, were always received with boundless respect, whilst the connection Itself gave him a certain social superiority of which he was proudly conscious.
 Like the true-born orator. Matthew had paused a moment in order to al- low the full strength of his utterance to sink into the minds of his hearers.
 "Aye!" he said after awhile. "she flew out from between the branches and up towards the full moon, clad | only ..
 A brusdue movement and a blush i from Mistress Dorothy here stopped |
 
 "Er hem ." he concluded more | ttamely. q saw her quite plainly" More shame then on thee. master" retorted Dorothy, whose wrath was far | from subsiding:. flor thus gazing on the devils work"
 But the matter had become of far | too great import to allow or feminine | jealousies being taken into account.
 And I know" added an elderly ma tron with quakingsvoice, that my sis l ter Hannah's child caught sight of the 1 witch outside her tent this morning | and forthwith fell into convulsions the | poor innocent lamb"
 She hath the evil eye. lepend on | it." quoth Dorothy decisively.
 The men said nothing. They were l slipping their ale in sullen silence, and | looking to Matthew for further express sions of wisdom.
 Those evil spirits have oft a filthy | cOuntenance," explained the shoemaker 1 sententiously and no doubt twas they | helped to convulse Mistress Hannah's | child. Some have four faces: one in the usual place. another at the back of the heads and one looking out on either side: others appear with a tall and lean body and below like a bull"
 Hast seen them, Matthew" came in l awed whispers from those around.
 Nay! God and the Holy Virgin for bid!" protested Matthew sternly. God 1 l of evil. I should lose my soul"
 There was a long, ominous silence, | broken only by quickly muttered invo- cations to the Saints and tour lady.
 The men looked furtively at one an other. The women clung together. not | daring to utter a sound Mistress Dor | othy. all the boldness gone out of her | little heart, was sobbing from sheer ! fright.
 "Friends." said Matthew at last. as if with sudden resolution, Eff that | woman be possessed of the devil what's to be done?"
 There was no reply. but obviously | they all understood one another, for each wore a shamefaced look all of | sudden, and dared not meet his neigh ] bor's eye. But the danger was great. | The devil in their midst would mean 1 some dire calamity. for sure; and it was the duty of every true hearted 1 countryman to protect his home and l family from such terrible disasters.
 Therefore when Matthew in his wis dom said: What's to be done?" the | men fully understood
 The women. too, knew what mischief was brewing: they drew closer to one another and shivered with cold beneath their kerchiefs, In spite of the warmth of this beautiful late summers after noon.
 
 treated Mistress Dorothy tearfully.
 She drew a small piece of blue cloth from the bosom of her dress: 1t was pinked and broidered and had the i'm age of the lilly Virgin painted on one side of 1t. Quickly she slipped it under her lovers jerkin.
 Take it." she whispered. "the scap- ulary of our Lady will protect thee"
 This momentous conclave was here interrupted by the approach of the small detachment of the town guard which had been sent hither to ensure order amongst the holiday makers.
 Matthew and his friends began os- tentatiously to talk of the weather and other such tri1ing matters, until after the guard had passed. then once more they put their heads together.
 But this time they bade the women go. What had to be disc ssed now was mems work and unfit for wenches' ears.
 CHAPTER ".
 Friends and Enemies,