The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-17


ton of sour whey-and bread which Baby
had prepared for the evening meal of her
self and brother stood on the table, but
when the old sewing woman had come
into the room and taken her mistress
aside there was a marked change in the
manner of the mistress, who, to the
amazement of Triptolemus, became very
civil to Mordaunt and declared that the
smoked goose which she had been keeping
for Michaelmas should Immediately be
prepared for the guest. Trip, taking his
cue, now offered the lad some dry clothing
and they were becoming quite sociable
when another knock came at the door
and, against the protestations of Trip and
his sister, Mordaunt took down the bar,
threw it on the fire and let in peddler
one Bryce Snailsfoot, who went up and
down the islands selling not only what he
had bought but what he could gather
from wrecks, and who had been caught
like Mordaunt in the fierce storm. Scarce
ly had the peddler entered when old Tron-
da came rushing into the room crying
out: "Oh, mistress, the best in the house,
L lie pest III the 4OuSS. mere COlltS NOInd
of the Fitful Head, the most awesome
woman in all these isles. She comes!
She comes. Gods sake speak her fair and
eanny."
AS she spoke a woman tall enough al
most TO touch the top of the door with
her cap stepped into the room, signing
the cross as she entered and pronouncing
God and st. Ronald upon the open door
and their broad Madison and mine upon
close-handed churls." Poor Baby Yellow
ley was driven almost to distraction by
this new intrusion and declared that such
a country had never been seen, where one
could not sit quietly by his own fireside
without string of beggars and strollers
coming in at the door. Mordaunt tried tc
soothe Norma by saying: These are
strangers who know not your name OIL
qualities; they are unacquainted with the
ways Of this country, and so you must
excuse their want of hospitality" But
Norma treated the Yellowleys at first
with cold scorn, and then, ending with
Il say TO you beware. While Norma looks
forth at the measureess waters from
the crest of Fitful Head something is left
10 Thule that resembles power of de.
Tense. If the men have ceased to be
champions and to spread the banquet Of
the raven the women have not forgotten
the arts that lifted them OF yore into
queens and prophetesses.'
The woman who uttered this singular
rhapsody was as striking in her appear
ance as she was lofty in her pretensions
Her features were high and well formed
and would have been handsome but fol
the ravages of time and the effects OF
exposure to the severe weather of the
| country. Age had quenched somewhat
of the lustre of dark blue eye and
sprinkled snow on such parts of hei
threw off her rain-soaked cloak and ap.
peared in a short jacket of dark blue
velvet stamped with figures. The vest
| which corresponded to it was Of crimson
and embroidered with silver. Her girdlt
was plated with silver ornaments cut into
the form of the planetary signs and hel
blue apron. which was worn over a sacr
|
her hand she held long staff squared
on all sides and covered with runic char
acters, while at her waist was knife
which might pass for sacrifcial knit,
or a dagger. as the imagination of thu
observer chose
Far off, in stone dwelling on the sum
NIT of the stormy cape of Fitful Head
this strange creature had her dwelling
She was known to be a near relation o
Magnus Troll and there were dim legend
of some great trouble of her youthful
days which had driven her to her presen
mode of life. BY all in Zetland she wa
accounted prophecies, weird sister,
who could control the winds and tn
waves and whose benson or whose mali
son always had its effects. From one en-,
of the island to the other she roamed
generally in the most Indictment weather
and exhibited a strange and Immature
knowledge of the most secret things il
the lives of the simple Inhabitants.
At first Norma proposed to increase tn
fury of the elements until they brough
down the house about the ears of tn
churlish Yellowleys, and warned Nor
daunt, fonda and the peddler to flee iron
] beneath that roof But Mordaunt, eve
since he had nrst come 70 the island %