The Secret of the Storm Country

ker and M

ned to Ebenezer Waldstricker when they were alone after supper. "Ever since

t heart, I imagine," rem

d meet the right woman and marry her. He'd be so happy

yes dropped under the man's bright gaze. He

me, are you, dear?" he chided gently, a

!... I'm the happies

u so," replied Eb

fter a moment, "that Deforrest might come w

h pink finger of the small hand he held

him, Helen," said he. "I'm very

happier than to pra

as said. Then Waldstricker sp

girl will be of any assistance

e seemed very eager to get th

've been wondering if she's

ade a hasty

med. "She wouldn't deceive any one she loves fo

've quite set my heart on her helping me.

murmured Helen,

" Ebenezer continued. "He's been thr

plied. "Once in a while he comes here to see Deforrest or

I want. He and the Skinner girl ought

our sake, dear,"

t his watch and glan

said he. "I want to get home before da

?" whispered the girl, when they

se of you," replied Wal

are tonight, deare

when suddenly Helen stopped and sl

pot!" she exclaimed. "Let's step one side until she's pas

hrew up his he

of the hag," he

caught sight of the two approaching figures, she halted in the middle of the road until they were almost upon her. She stared at Walds

' layin' on yer heart, mister," she greeted h

's anger was rising by the minute. She was herself greatly moved by a kind of superstitious awe of the old woman'

ou do, Mo

rd her face and rais

inted her cane at the scowling, dark-faced man; and slowly bobbed her head back to Helen. "Yer life'll draw out long an' terrible, till ye'll wi

ce grew darker and darker. The frow

ispered. "Don't pay any att

d Waldstricker, om

her head until the wisps of gray

'n," she croaked. "Lady, he air wicked, awful wicked, an' nothin' but misery,

d a cry of dismay. She had never seen Ebenezer in one of his savage moods. Before she could draw him away, he had

screamed Hel

ayed forward on her cane. "Ye can lick me till I die, an' 'twon't change yer

t up again, but Helen

her any more. Please!... Go home,

ated frame. For a space of sixty seconds her watery, faded eyes stared int

do ye no good. Curls'll bring yer to yer knees, hair'll make yer heart bleed blood redder'n

oughly, to Helen. "If she torments

w but they caught the qu

do it, ye big coward! Before ye're done with lif

ckward to rub her shoulders. Then she twis

in' at yer feet." Still snarling in pain, she lifted one shaking arm and pointed a crooked forefinger at Waldstricker. "She won't always

?" Ebenezer said, w

She's not accountable for anything. Deforrest

bough savagely. "And your brother has power enough to remove

dn't do it," in

beg your pardon, dear. My only excuse is I dislike to see the laws of God broken in such an iniquitous way. Why, I felt

antly she dismissed the suggestion, condemning herself for paying any attention to the empty vaporings of the half-witted, childish, old woman. She was sorry for Moll, of course, and

ry disloyalty of her doubt,

of it again. It's over now a

y riding toward Ithaca, Mother Moll's hatefu