The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-07-30

But she fooled me with unexpected
aside. she was SO very DID, Her gums
were toothless. and her forehead was
by your leave. good w0manln ] said
and turned to pass round. her.
lined and wrinkled. About her eyes,
which under hideous red lids still sfs2ne
with an evil CLEAN, a kind OF rejection
or a wicked past, a Thousand crows
feet had gathered. A few wisps Of gray
hair struggled from under the handker-
chief which covered her head. She was
h~umpbacked and stopped over a stick,
and whether she saw or not my move
ment Of repugnance. her voice was
harsh when she spoke.
Young gentleman" she croaked,
HIet me tell you fortune by the stars.
A fortune for a great. young gentIe-
mani" she continued, peering up into
my face and frustrating my attempts
to pass.
Here is a groat" / answered
peevishiy, and for the fortune ! win
hear It another day. So let us by"
But she would not. My companion,
seeing that the attention OF the room
was being draw to us, tried to pull
me by her. But ] could not use force,
and short OF force there was no REM
edy. The hostler indeed would have
interfered on our behalf and returned
TO bid her. with q civility he had not
bestowed On US, give us passage"
But she swiftly turned her eyes on
him In a sinister fashion. and he re-
treated with an a and q paling face.
while those nearest to uB--and half
a dozen had crowded round-drew
back and crossed themselves in haste
almost ludicrous.
~ aT at uaa ,yN..a (anA -
tleman," she persisted. with q hollow
cough. MY eyes are not 50 clear as
they were, or II is not your cloak
and your nap hat that would blind
me-"
Thinking It best 10 get rid Of her
even at a slight risk-and the chance
that among the travellers present there
would be one able to recognize me
was small indeed uncovered. She
shot a piercing glance at my face. and
looking down ON the door traced hur-
riedly a figure with her stick. She
studied the phantom lines a moment
and then looked up.
Listen" she said solemnly, and
waving her stick round me she quaver-
ed out in tones which filed me with q
strange tremor.
The man goes east, and the wind
blows west,
Wood to the head and steel to the
breaStg
The man goes west and the wind
The neck twice doomed the gallows
shall feasti'
FBewarei" she went on more loudly
and harshly. tapping with her stick
On the floor and shaking her paisied
head at me. Beware, unlucky shoot of
a crooked branchl Go no farther with
II. Go back. The sword may miss
~ ~ 10 NJ Fall "a Aw,k 49, a.
II Master BERTHE had not held my
arm tightly, ! should have recoiled,
as most OF those within hearing had
already done The tran illusions
to my past, which / had no difficulty
In detecting. and the witch's knowl-
edge Of h risks OF our present enter
prise were enough to startle and shake
the most constant mind, and in the
midst of enterprises secret and dam
gerous, few minds are so firm or so
reckless as TO disdain omens. That
she was one of those unhappy beings
who buy dark secrets at the expense
of other souls seemed certain, and
had I been alone I should have, / am
not ashamed to say II, given back.
But I was lucky in having for NV
companion a mi OF rare mind. and
besides OF SO single a religious belief
that at the end of his life ne always
refused to put faith in a thing of the
existence OF which / have no doubt
myself mean w~itchcraft.
He showed at this the cour-
age Of his opinions. Peace! Peacei
woman" he said compassionateiy. I'VE
shall live while God wills 1t and die
when he wills 1t, and neither live
longer nor die earlier; so let us by"
Would you perish she quavered.
AYE, IL so God wills7" he answered,
undaunted.
AT that she seemed to shake all
over and hobbled aside muttering:
"Then go onl Go on! God Wills It'll"
Master BERTHE gave me no time for
hesitation, but holding my arm urged
me on to where the hostier stood
waiting the event with a face OF much
d~iscomposure. He opened the door for
us, however, and led the a up a
narrow n not too clean staircase.
On the landing at the head OF this he
paused and raised his lantern so as to
cast h light on our faces. she has
overlooked me, the old witch" he said
viciously. Il wish I had never meddIed
in this business"
Man" Master Berthe replied stern
ly, d you fear that weak old wom-
am"
"No, but I fear her master" retorted
the hostler. "and that Is the devil"
Then / do not" Master BERTHE an
swered brayely. For my Master is as
good a match for him as / am. for
that old woman. When he wills N.
man, you will die, and not before
So pluck UP spirit"
tCortinued Next Week.)
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