Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-17

noon which was given to the othe
field toilers-she sat darning the ole
mans stockings. But tonight it seem
ed she would never complete the
work, for her fingers fell away from
1t and her eyes would close II
snatches Of sleep in spite Of her If
forts to keep awake that she nigh,
complete her task before the few pine
knots allotted for light were burnt
out. Just as she pricked her finger
for the twentieth time-for somehow
her eyes would not assist her hands
and the needle found its way where i,
should not have gone-Henda heard
a light step on the floor of the hut
where she worked. CHANGING hurried
ly around she beheld beautiful Wis
ion. There in the center of the floor
stood slender young woman, clad as
a peasant. Her face had the most
angelic expression Henda had ever
seen. Henda sat and stared at her
strange visitor. a smile lighting up
her own wan face.
Little girl, l have come to darn
those horrid cid stockings for you and
allow you to sleep and rest" said the
visitor.
" But-who are you?' asked Henda,
rising and going close to the lovely
young peasant woman And do my
master and mistress know you are
here?'
The young peasant woman shook
her head. mo your cruel master and
mistress do not know Of my exist
ence. In fact, they are too mean to
know of me. Only the good. the OPP
pressed, like yourself, my dear little
maid, ever get acquainted with me. l
always come secretly; | steal away
in the same manner. You must do Us
1 bid. and ask me no questions. All
in good time you shall know about
me. Come give me the stockings.
Ugh! A little securing sand and hot
water would not hurt these foot Gov
erings! Where is your cotton=and
needle?'
Henda obeyed her visitor and hand
ed her the darning cotton and needle
and asked never question. All she
said was: May l thank you, good
young lady, for having come to assist
me?"
Yes, I know you are grateful, my
dear little maid" replied the visitor.
And now lie down and sleep"
The next morning when Henda
awoke the dawn was just lighting up
her poor hut, and she quickly looked
towards the corner by the fireplace
to see If her visitor of the night was
still seated there. But the chair was
empty. and the stockiugs-both those
of the old man and old woman-were
hanging over the chair back, and the
needle and darning cotton were in the
basket on the floor.
Henda, feeling very much refresh.
ed after night Of unbroken rest, hur.
riedly dressed herself and carried the
stockings to her master and mistress.
The ugly old couple took them and ex-
amined them. AS the old man pulled
on one OF the stockings he cried out
with sudden pain in his ankle, declar.
ing he could not stand upon his foot
He then drew on the other stocking
and a like path in the other foot caus
ed him to double up in agony. ooh
the pain in both my feet and ankles
is terrible" he fairly howled, twist
ing about. his face drawn and white.
The old wife quickly drew on both
her stockings. wishing to go to hel
husbands aid, when she, too, was
seized with sudden pain in the ankles
and feet. "Ouch" she screamed
falling upon the floor in paroxysm
Ouch! l do believe that ugly little
beggar there has bewitched our stock
ings." she cried, pointing TOWARD
Henda
Yes, yes, that's just what she ha.
DONE" cried the old man, trying to ge
upon his feet, "I'll beat the very breatl
out of her miserable body, that's wha
I'll do" And he staggered towards ;
corner near his bed But before HI
reached it he fell sprawling on thu
floor.
"I'll fog her, I'll fog her. screechet
the old woman struggling to he
knees. Then bawling out to Henda
who stood in fright and amazement a
the effect the stockings had on the fee
of her wicked master and mistress, t.
come at once and remove the stock
ings from her feet. the old woman
continued to groan in agony. her wall
being accompanied by the old man
cries and contortions
Henda fastened to obey her mistress
| but the process seemed to intensity tn,
pain and the old woman cried out 70
her to stop But fetch that CAD to M
wench!" she howled in voice o
mingled rage and pain, "I'll beat tin
witchery out of you or I'll kill you
Come, fetch me that gad.'
Henda, trembling in every nerve O
her poor, frail body got the mug
stick from the corner and handed it t
the old woman But the moment Tn
latter touched the stick terrible pain
shot up her arm to the shoulder an
! twisted up her fingers. She let dro
the stick with another cry of rage an
pain. ooh, she bewitches everythin
she touches" she screamed.
The old man, struggling to a sittin
posture, found voice to say: Send 70
i, our shepherd. He's big and strong IN
shall fog this young witch for us. An
! he shall remove our stockings, too.
Whom shall we send for the sheI
herd?" asked the old woman, her fac
drawn and white. "If we send thi
wench. she'll bewitch him, too"
But at that instant the shepherd ~