Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1912-11-07
THE WITCH OF
DAHLGREN
A Witch In Fancy. but Not
In Fact
By CLARISSA MACKIE


around the hot stove in the parlor OF
the little hotel at Dahlgren, Pa. Ben
ton, the cigar salesman, was contin-
uing a conversation that had begun at
the supper table a short while before.
Gentlemen" he said impressively,
81 know it sounds mighty tishy but l
actually did see what they call The
Witch Of Dahlgrenr"
"WhenY asked Cooper, the clothing
drummer.
ION my last trip to this forlorn
hole" was Benton's caustic reply.
"And that wasp
Last April It's short story. Want
to hear about it?"
Yes, go ahead" urged the third
member Of the group, Joel Clifford,
who represented great wholesale
grocery house He was tall, good
looking. quiet sort Of man, well liked
everywhere. There had been a trag-
edy in his life which many had guess.
ed at, but few knew the real facts In
the case.
Benton passed the cigars around and
lighted one for himself
Now, gentlemen" he began, please
understand that shall not feel in the
least offended If you do not believe
what | am about to tell you, but 1t
really happened to me in this town.
Last April | arrived here in the regu-
lar course of my travels and put up at
this same hotel. was the only guest
that night, and after supper | got to
talking with our host, whom you may
have sized up to be just what he is
a narrow minded country pumpkin"
You're right" agreed Cooper
promptly.
Joel Clifford smiled and shook his
head. Il can't express an opinion,
Benton, because l haven't seen the
chap. This is the first time I've Gov
cred this territory"
You haven't missed much in not
making his acquaintance. growled
Benton, continuing his narrative. AS
| said, ! fell into conversation with
Linden and asked him a question that
had been on the tip of my tongue for
several hours-in fact. ever since | had
heard a woman threatening her chill
dren with the wrath OF the old witch
on the crossroads. You certainly
haven't got a witch in this common
place town. l asked him jokingly.
For moment he was silent, and
then he stroked his long black beard
and muttered: We certainly have, Mr..
Benton, The crossroads is a good place
to keep away from
"'Why2 | demanded.
"'Because there is an old woman
there who can work a charm or cast
an evil spell over anybody Man, I
know itr And the old fellow got quite
excited.
You're joking, Bill Linden, l
laughed.
HE scowled like the villain that he
must be from his looks Mr.. Benton.
when l tell you that that woman has
ruined my life you'll understand that |
know what I'm talking about She
ought to have been hanged years ago
that's the way they did with the
witches in the olden days II I had
my way she'd hang high nowr And
he fell to muttering to himself and
cursing.
Guess I'll go and have look at
her, said half Jokingly,
You better not, was warned,
She keeps q gun and winged Mason
Smith when he got drunk one day and
attacked her house, Just opened her
window and took aim, and Mason
went around with his arm in a sling
for three months after that
is she an old womanG' asked
Must be- was the reply. Hair as
white as snow
Where did she come fromT in
quired
Nobody knows. Suddenly appear
cd in that little deserted house on the
crossroads about FIVE years ago. New
er comes out in daytime. but I've seen
her face at the window, and some say
AAAl 9AAt AAhN1 1T AAlk III NAA ~ oAAe' " AAA'A
horse don't know whether to be
lieve that or not
"'You might as well believe the
whole thing while you're about il, my
friend l grinned at him, and J i'm.
mediately went down to the crossroads
and took a stroll along the lonely way
that cut through dense woods, Why
they must be back Of this hotel"
Benton paused 10 relight his cigar
and to marvel FOR moment ON the
idea that had just taken possession Of
him Then he resumed About a mile
down the road ! ~ lonely little
house-more of a cabin than house
set back I'm the woods and overgrowr
to the very door with uuderbrush
Smoke curled from the chimney and
l was staring at the windows when al.
at once a face appeared at one OF them
] could not see whether she was young
or old. but the face was white as
sheet and on either side OF 1t hung
two heavy braids OF snow white hair
The great dark eyes We're turned 70
ward me and two arms we've lifted
either in supplication or malediction
For an instant | was rooted to the
spot, and then l rubbed my eyes IT.
wonderment for suddenly she jer6ed