The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-07-31

But she foiled me With unexpected /,
nimbleness, and I could not push her ,
aside. she was so very old. Her gums
We're %toothless. and her forehead was
by your leave. good woman." l said
and turned to pass round her.
lined and wrinkled. About her eyes. !
which under hideous red lids still shone
with an evil CLEAN, a kind of reflection
of a wicked past. a thousand crows
feet had gathered. A few wtsps of gray |
hair struggled from unde the handker-
chief which covered her head. She was
humpbacked and stopped over a stick.
and whether she saw or not my move
ment of repugnance, her voice was
harsh when she poke.
Young gentleman" she croaked.
"let me tell your fortune by the stars.
A fortune for a groat. young gentle
mani" she continued. peering up into
my face and frustrating my attempts
to pass.
peevishly. and for the fortune l win
hear it another day. So let us by"
Blu she would not. My companion
seeing that the attention of the room
was being drawn to us, tried to pull
and Short of force there vas no rem
edy. The hostler indeed would have
interfered on our behalf and returned
to bid her, with a civility he had not
bestowed on US, give us passage"
But she swiftly turned her eyes on
him in a sinister fashion, n he re-
treated with an oath and a paling face.
while those nearest to us-and half
a dozen had crowded round-drew
back and crossed themselves in haste
almost ludicrous.
Lei me see your face, young gen.
tleman," she persisted. With a hollow
cough. MY eyes are not so clear as
they were, or it is not our cloak
and your flap hat that would blind
me-"
Thinking 1T best to 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 floor traced hur-
riedly a figure with her stick. She
studied the phantom ines q moment
and hen looked up.
Listen" she said solemnly. and
waving her stick round me she uuaver-
strange tremor.
The man goes east, and the wind
blows west,
Wood to the head and steel to ths
breast!
The man goes west, and the wind
oAoNS Sl'oS,
shall FEAST"
"Beware," she went on more loudly
and harshly, tapping with her stick
on the floor and shaking her palsied
head at me. Beware, unlucky shoot of
a crooked branch! Go no farther with
1t. Go back. The sword may miss
or may not fall, but the cor is sure"
If Master BERTHE had not held my
arm tightly, should have recoiled,
4 nc, var % l--- .4l.. =,
already done. The strange illusions
to my past, which l had no difficulty
In detecting, and the witch's knowl-
edge Of the risks of our present enter
prise were enough to startle and shake
the most constant mind, and in the
midst of enterprises secret and dan
gerous, few minds are so firm or SO
reckless as to disdain omens. Tha
she was one of those unhappy beings
who buy dark secrets at the expense
OF other souls seemed certain, and
had l been alone l should have, 1 am
not ashamed to say it, given back.
But I was lucky in having for my
compan1on a man Of rare mind, and
besides Of so single a religious belief
that at the end of his life he always
refused to put faith in Il thing of the
existence of which l have no doubt
myself mean ~witchcraft.
He showed at this moment the cour-
age of his opinions. Peace! Peace!
woman" he said compassionately. I'VE
shall live while God wills it and die
When he wills it, and neither live
longer nor die earlier; so let us by"
Would o perish" she ~quavered.
Aye. If SO God wills?" he answered..
undaunted.
At that she seemed to shake all
over and hobbled aside muttering:
Then go ont! Go on! God Wills It'll"
Master BERTHE gave me no time for
hesitation, but holding my arm urged
me on to where the hostler stood
waiting the event With q face of much
discomposure. He opened the door for
US, however. and led tho way UP a
narrow and not too clean staircase.
on the landing at the head Of this he
paused and raised his lantern SO as to
cast the light on our faces. "She has
overlooked me, the old WITCH" he said
viciously. II wish I had never meddled
In this business"
Man." Master BERTHE replied stern
ly. do you fear that weak old wom-
amp WV "oA'
mo, but I fear her master" retorted
the hostler, ID that is the devil"
h I do not" Master BERTHE an
swered bravely. For my Master is as
good a match for him as l am for
that old woman. When he Wills II.
man. you Will die, and not before,
SO pluck up spirit"
CONTINUED Next Week.1
60
Palabras C%arinosas.
Goodnight, I have to say goodnight
To such a host of peerless things!
Goodnight unto the slender hand
All queenly with its weight OF rings;
Goodnight to fond, uplifted eyes,