Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-05-19


the white roses she had chosen for the
jar knew the choice was hers
served 10 emphasize the deep red Of
its exquisite glaze.
Il am among the unelect." remark
ed Mrs. Farnsworta. when l am
told that such things are beautiful |
am Immediately convinced. say
they are beautiful. and that is
enough"
That has always been enough for
me-" ! replied. Ne uncle used to
try 10 interest me. but he gave IL up
when be found that my pagan soul.
was aroused by nothing but pottery
idols. am a heathenw
Il am gratified that you make the
admission SO frankly" said Mrs. Farms
worth. Il have always been a great
admirer OF the heather. But. you know.
Mr.. Singleton. Alice and | never can
agree as TO Just what a heather is.
All our squabbles have been about
that. am disposed TO include all
who believe I'm fairies good. or bad.
and persons who honestly believe In
signs. omens. and lucky stones aud
all who have the receipt of fern-seed
and walk invisible-there's Shakes
peare for that"
soberly. that l have always believed
In witches; and II keep on believ-
ing I shall see one some day. We
shall find anything in this world that
we believe In hard enough"
She was talking very gravely. as
though witches were the commonest
topic OF conversation. but finding my
eyes turned upon her in frank wonder.
she laughed at my amazement.
LET us be honest with you. Mr..
Singleton" Mrs. Farnsworth explained.
"and tell you that we are just testing
you. II may be a breach of hospital
ity. aud you are but a stranger. buU
we are curious TO know whether you
are OF that small company of the
favored Of heaven who can play az
being foolish without becoming idiotic.
Alice - sometimes very near idiocy.
You admit that. Affect"
Il not only admit II. but l might
even boast OF IT," my aunt replied.
At the mention Of witches had
caught Antoine crossing himself as he
turned 10 the sideboard. confess
that | myself had been startled by tha
drift OF the talk. Mrs. Farnsworth
and my aunt treated each other as
though they were contemporaries. and
II was Alice and Constance between
them. As the talk ran exhaustively
through the lore of witches and COB
llns he'd hoped that one or the other
would drop some clue as 10 the previ'
Gus history Of my amazing aunt u
was as Diain as day that she ard
Mrs. Farnsworth INDUCED in whlms
for the Joy OF IL. and her zest In the
discussion OF wstches. carried on while
Antoine served the table. lips tightly
compressed. and with an exuggeration
~ his stately tread, was the more
startling from the fact that my aunt's
companion was woman OF years,
handsome woman with a hlgh-bred air
who did not look at all like person
who would discuss witches as though
they had been made the topic of the
day by the afternoon newspapers.
And when the shape Of a witch's chin
became the immediate point of dis
cusslon I knew IL was in AntOine's
mind that such conversation was I'M
becoming. an offensc TO the memcry OF
Raymond Bashford. Mrs. Farms
worth's brown eyes sparkled, and the
color deepened in my aunts cheeks as
we discOursed upon witches and the
chlns thereof / had a friend in col
lege who used To indulge in the same
sort of piflling. but that my uncle's
widow and her elderly companion
should delight In such absurdities be-
wlldered me. had been addressing
my aunt as Mrs. Bashford-it
seemed ridiculous TO call her Aunt
Alice-and In the heat Of our argu-
ment as 10 whether witches are neces-
sarily naughty and malign beings I
had lust uttered the Mrs" when she
bent toward me and said gravely and
with no hint Of archness: Cant we
make Il Alice and Bob? think that
would be n lot friendlier."
| experienced a curious flutter Of
the heart the first time l tried II. bnt
after that IL came very easily. She
was simply the jOlliest. prettiest girl
that had ever crossed my horizon. and
to be talking to her across the table
gave me thrills compared with which
sliding out of clouds In an airplane IL
only a rocking-chair pastime for old
men.
We had coffee on the veranda (Allcs
thought IL would be nicer there), and
as Antoine gave me my cup he edged
close TO my chair to whisper:
THAT party. sir. " he should
come"
TELL the troops not 10 attack any
visitors" ! said. loud enough for the
others 10 hear. mir. Terrence will be
here shortly, and II would be annoy
Ing 20 have him ushered in on shut
So