The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-11-03
ocontinued from Last weok.)
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garret and thought we might as well
enjoy them, and that Lang Yao jar
you see on the sldeboard oughtn't to
be hidden In the vault"
II am sure Uncle Bash would be
happy to know you care for these
things SO much" said. noting that
the white roses she had chosen for the
jar--I knew the choice was hers
served to emphasize the deep red Of
its exquisite glaze.
Il am among the unelect." remark
ed Mrs. Farnsworth. "When l am
told that such things are beautiful l |
am Immediately convinced. say
they are beautiful. and that is
enough"
"That has always been enough for
me-" replied, "My uncle used to
try to interest me, but he gave 1t up
when he found that my pagan soul
was aroused by nothing but pottery
idols. am a heathen!"
II am gratifled that you make the
admission so frankly" said Mrs. Farms
worth. II have always been great
admirer Of the heather. But, you know.
Mr. Singleton, Alice and l never can
agree as to just what heather Is.
All our squabbles have been about
that. am disposed to include all
who believe in fairies good. or bad,
and persons who honestly believe in
signs, omens. and lucky stones and
all who have the receipt Of fern-seed
and walk invisible-there's Shakes
peare for that"
II think" said Mrs. Bashford
soberly, that have always believed
in witches; and IL keep on believ-
ing / slall see one some day. We
shall fnd anything in this world that
we believe in hard enough"
She was talking very gravely, as
though witches were the cOmmOrest
topic Of conversation, but finding my
eyes turned upon her In frank wonder,
she laughed at my amazcment.
Let us be honest with you. Mr..
Singleton" Mrs. FarnswOrth explained,
''and tell you that we are just testing
YOU It may be breach Of hospital.
Ity, and you are but stranger. but
we are curious to know whether you
are of that small company OF the
favored Of heaven who can play al
heing foolish without becoming idiotic
Alice Is sometimes very near idiocy
You admit that, Alice"
"I not only admit It. but l nigh
even boast Of it," my aunt replied.
At the mention Of witches l hnr
caught Antoine crossing himself as h,
turned to the sidehoard. I confess
that r'.seif had been startled by thu
drift cf the talk. Mrs. Fnrnswortl
and my aunt treated each other a
though they were contemporaries, ant
It was Alice and Constance betweef
them AS the talk ran exhffuStivel!
through the lore OF witches and g0D
lins 7 had hoped that one or the o,he
would drop some clue as to the pfevi
Gus history Of my amazing aunt. l
was as plain as day that she an
Mrs FarnswOrth INDUCED In whim
for the JOY Of 1t, and her Zcst In IN
discussion Of witches. carried on Will
Antoine served the table, lips tight
compressed, and with an exaggeratC
OF his stately tread, was the MOI
startling from the fact that my aunt
companion was a woman Of years,
handsome woman with high-bred a
who did not look at all like n persC
who would discuss witches as thoul
they had been made the topic OF Il
day by the afternoon newspaper
And when the shape OF witch's ch
became the immediate point OF di
cusslon ] knew 1t was In Antoine
mind that such conversation was u
becoming, an offense to the memory
Raymond Bashford. Mrs. Farm
worth's brown eyes sparkled, and Il
color deepened in my aunts cheeks
we dscoursed upon witches and d
chlns thereof. had a friend In c.
lege who used to indulge In the sar
sort Of piffing, but that my uncle
widow and her elderly compani
should delight in such absurdlties
wildered me. / had been addressl
my aunt as Mrs. Bashford.-
seemed ridiculous to call her Au
Alice-and in the heat Of our arg
ment 90 to whether witches are nec
sarily naughty and ma,iga beings
had just uttered tho "MRs.p when 8
bent toward nae and aatd greyely q