The Washington times., 1913-11-29

as she lay upon tAe COT uy
the window. 1T is the eve
of the Witchs dance. and | am afraid
fer you to be alone i'm the woods."
So Reba took up the basket OF eggs
and butter. put >on her cloak, kissed her
mother and hurried away to sell the
things to shopkeeper in the village.
She was very anxious TO get some
money, for her mother had beer i'll cor
weeks. and there was-hardly enough to
eat in the house to last till morning.
Since her father had died and her moth
CT become an invalid, the girl found II
very hard to support the home, but she
Old her best. and every Saturday would
sell in the town her little store Of
goods.
Reba was very successful. and soon
! sold her things for a good price and set
out toward her home. .As The way lay
through the woods she walked quickly,
for the sun was beginning 10 droop to-
ward the west. Then wIghin3 to make
good time. she began to run. Hardly
had she gone few yards when she
tripped and fell, and as she rose 10 her
feet she heard mockiIE laugh sound
in, as If from some one running down
a dark by-way. She found her purse
all the money she had in. the world
had dropped when she had fallen and
tLat somc one had grabbed il up ami
son must be the one whom she heard
laugh so without thinking she set out
at full speed in pursuit.
Every now and then she could sec a
Garl form fitting through the trees
b, fore her, passing lightly over the
! ground Al last the figure reached the
ba nix of "A broad stream and passed
over d log which rested ON the bank.
! Rebd in her haste followed and was
! soon on a queer isInd covered with
| high cliffs from which grew all kinds
| of thcTn bushes. she saw the figure
which she had followed. climb up a
! ladder formed of strong vines, and,
| glasping the round, Rebd went up
! after the thief. but when she got. 10
J the top she was very mucn frightened.
! For before her she saw a circle under
meath cluster, OF willow tTees, and in
! the center bIazed 4 big fire. over the
! fire hung a huge kettle, from which
! floated UD fumes OF horrible smelling
| broth. and around the fire danced IL
women with tangled hair falling about
! theii hollow. yellow faces. As they
, da need their rags would flap in The
! breeZes and they would loss their
skinny arms up 10 the evening moon
! which hung low over the trees.
! Reoa shiverrd with fear. She re-
| allied that Inc one who Stole her
! purse was "A witch. and tina; there be-
| fore her was the dance Of the witches.
! Sh" knew il .hey saw her they might
| dc something very terrible so she hid
| under a bush, crawling into The Shad-
! ow from which she could see plainly.
! Presently they began to sing a weird
| song who-e words We're these:
| Witches are We from over the world.
Here on the breath of the gale we are
hurled.
| We bring stolen treasure from all Of
| the earth.
| And we shout and we dance in our
wild Witches mrth.
J We buried IL safe in the old hollow tree.
| Where never a mortal Or fairy can see.
But IL any person should upset this
| rot.
Why never again could we come to this
| spot.
They took out of the tree a great
! chest " and when they opened Il Reba
| saw II WAS full of gold and flashing
gems. Then she buried it again in
| the hollow trunk Of the tree and piled
| dead leaves over the spot. After that
! they sat down on the side of the cir
clue just opposite the girl
| Reba knew that the treasure was all
| stolen and that her money had been
! hidedn in the chest, then she reme:n-
bercd what they had said in tho song