Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05
CHAPTER III.
Mischief Brewing.

Mischief Brewing.
At some little distance from the mys-
| FERROUS booth a trestle table mad peen
erected, at which some three or four
| wenches in hoped paniers and snort,
striped skirts were dispensing spiced ale
and sack to the thirsty village folk
Here it was that Mir-ab the witch and
her attendant wizard were most freely
discussed-with bated breath and with
furtive chances cast !hurriedly at the black
flag which was Just visible above the row
OF other booths and gayer attractions of
| the fair.
There was no doubt that as the even
| ing began to draw in. and the sun to
sink lower and lower in the west, the
| supe ~stitious terror, which had all along
set these worthy country yokels against
the awesome mysteries of the necroman-
GERS tent, had gradually eliminated into
an hysterical frenzy.
! At first sullen looks had been cast to-
ward that distant spot, whence the SOUND
| of Abra's perpetual, This way, noble
lords this way!" came every now ana
then as a weird and ghostly echo, but
now muttered curses and even a threat
ening gesture from time to time had
taken the place of angry silence.
AS the hard pates of these louis became
| heated with the foaming ale their tenn
pers began to rise, and the girls. win
| characteristic love of mischief and Cos
| sip. were ready enough to add fuel to the
smoldering flames.
There was also present in the minds
| of these wencheS an obvious feeling OF
| jealousy against this mysterious yelled
witch who had proved so attractive to the
| court gallants who visited the far.
Her supposed charms so carefully hid
den beneath thick draperies were reputed
! to be irresistible, and Mistress Dorothy
/ CHI -n6
! pretty faces unblushingly, were not suf-
| ficiently versed in Inountebanks' tricks to
realize that Mirrab's thick veil was with
! out doubt only means for arousing the
| faded curiosity Of idlers from the court
Be that as it may, it was an estab-
| lished fact that no one had seen the
soothsayer's face. and that Mistress Dor
othy, who was pouring out a huge tank
ard of sack TO. her own attendant swain
was exceedingly annoyed thereby.
| BAH" she said contemptuously, as
Abra and his, magic devices were being
discussed at the table, ''he is but lout:
tell thee. Matthew, that thou'rt fool
| to take count of him. But the woman"
she added under her breath, lis pos
sessed of the devil
| Matthew, the shoemaker, took the tank
ard which his sweetheart had filled for
| him, in both hands and took long
draught, before he made any reply. Then
| he wiped his mouth with the back of his
| hand. spat upon the ground, and looked
| significantly at the circle of friends who
| were gathered round him.
| last. with due solemnity, that I saw that
witch last night fly out from yonder tree
astride upon a giant bat"
"a bat?'
/ a holy shudder went round the entire
assembly. Pretty Mistress Susan crossed
| herself furtively, while Joan in her ter
| ror nearly dropped the handful of mugs
| which she was carrying.
Every one hung on the shoemaker's
| lips. !
| Short and somewhat tubby of body
Matthew had a round and chubby face.
with pale blue, bullying eyes and slightly
| elevated eyebrows which gave him the
appearance oe an overgrown baby. He
was for some reason, which has never
| TRANSFERRED to this day. reputed to have
wonderful wisdom. His items of news,
| CLEANED from a nephew who was scullion
| in the royal kitchen. were always re-
| ceived with boundless respect, while the
| connection itself gave him a certain So
cial superiority of which he was proudly
| conscious.
Like the true-born orato-, Matthew had
| paused a moment in order to allow 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
| toward the full moon, clad only"
A brusuue movement and a blush from
Mistress Dorothy he-e stopped the graph
ic flow of his eloquence.
"Er-hen-,'' he concluded more
tamely Il saw her quite plainly -,
More shame then on thee, master"
retorted Dorothy, whose wrath was far
| from subsidng, "for thus gazing on the
| devils work"
| But the matter had become of far too
great import to allow of feminine jeal-
ousias being taken into account.
And know" added an elderly matron
with quaking voice. that my sister Han
| nah's child caught sight of the witch out
! side her tent this morning and forth
with fell into commissions, the poor in
nocant lamb
"She hath the evil.eye, depend on It,"
quoth Dorothy decisively.
The men said nothing They were sip
ping their ale in sullen silence and look
ing for Matthew for further expressions
of wisdom.
Those evil spirits have oft a filthy
countenance," explained the shoemaker
helped to convulse Mistress Hannah's
child. Some have four faces; one in
the usual place. another at the back of
the head 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
awed whispers from those around.
May! God and the Holy Virgin Forbid"
protested Matthew fervently. "God forbid
that I should enter their abode of evil. I
should lose my SOUL
There was a long, ominous silence, bro
ken only by quickly muttered invocations
to the saints and to our Lady.
| The men looked furtively at one an
other. The women chung together not
daring to utter sound. Mistress Dorothy
all the holiness gone out of her little
heart was sobbing from sheer fright.
"Friends'' said Matthew at last. as IL
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
shamefaced look all of a sudden, and
dared not meet his neighbours eye. But
| the danger was great. The devil In their
midst would mean poisoned wells the
sweating sickness. some dire calamity,
| for sure; and it was the duty of every
| true hearted countryman to protect his
home and family from such terrible dis
| asters.
| Therefore, when Matthew in his wisdom
said: whats to be done?' the men fully
| understood.
! The women, too, knew what mischief
was brewing; they drew closer to one an
other and shivered with cold beneath their
kerchiefs in spite of the warmth of this
| .eautiful late summers afternoon.
Beware of her. Matthew, entreated
Mistress Dorothy tearfully.
| She drew a small piece of blue cloth
| from no .losorn n her dress II was pirL-