The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-26

propped UP by pillows was weird
wttch-lilse old woman. black-eyed lik
her son and granddaughter. but 81
w!thered and gnarled OF face that eli
appeared to be carved out of WOO,
rather than made OF flesh and blood.
Thus brought for the first time fac
to face with the visitors. the old wo
man stared at them steadily without
word, before answering her grand
4 daughters questions MS to what sh
| wanted
/ Mr.. Recs, with his back to he
| corner. touched his head significantly
odd, sir--very old whispered he
she hasn't left her bed for nigh OF
ten years, poor. soul! But she's curious
she likes to see the folks that come
and many's the old tale she could to-!
she was young, when this place was Z
deal wilder than what 1t is now: ant
her heads full OF old legends besides
that would make you laugh. that the,
would!
Both young men began to feel rathe,
interested in this family from the
brisk. civil head of 1t, to the rustic
coquette and the witch-like old wo-
man. And when Sir Richard suggested
a ramble In the neighborhood and a re.
turn to the house to tea, his cousin
| made but small demur.
Would you like me to take you to
see the fairies hollow. gentlemen. and
the wishing stone. and the place where
they dug up the giants bones?" asked
the lively Ellen, as they prepared to
start
Sir Richard caught at the suggestion.
And they passed the afternoon very
pleasantly in visiting these different
spots among the hills with their merry
Gtr Richards rallvinE
with a saucy brightness which sensibly
increased the pleasure Of the eXpedl-
ton.
Before they got back, however, heavy
clouds had begun to gather over the
mountains, and faint flashes OF light
ming and rumblings Of distant thunder
to warn them of a threatening storm.
AS Ellen ran on towards the cot
tage to prepare the tea, Sir Rlcharu
threw out, somewhat shyly. the sug-
gestion that they should pass the night
at the homely little inn.
you can see," he added quickly. as
his cousin shook his head, that Mrs.
Evans's warnings were merely trace
jealousy. The place is just as clean as
the Castle Arms. and I'm quite ready 10
risk any discomforts. aren't you?'
There must be something wrong
somewhere" said Candover, cor they
wouldn't have got the name they un.
doubtedly have got, now, would they?'
ooh, rubbish! The girls made ere-
mics, daresay. by her saucy eyes and
her sharp tongue. I'm dying to hear
some Of the old woman's legends. and
If you choose to go on, you can go
alone. stay here the night"
So his cousin gave In, without. In
deed, very much reluctance. for he was
interested also in the mountain fam
lily, of which they had by this time
seen the fourth and last member, in
the shape Of brawny, red-headel
youth of some nineteen years of age,
who worked in a patch OF ground
little way down the hill.
The cousins were somewhat discon-
certed to find that the bed room at thclr
disposal was small room at the top
of a staircase, which was little more
than a step-ladder, and that the two
bed rooms used by the family lay be-
yond. and were only accessible through
the guests apartment.
However, there was"a lock to the
door. on that side and a key. And
though the door which led to the stair
case had neither lock nor key, they felt
that this did not so much matter. They
could. at any rate, secure themselves
against an intrusion by any member
of the family.
The cousins had decided to ask old
Mrs. Rees to tell them some tales out