The Torch and Other Tales

. Charity Badge certainly did know a terrible lot more than every-day folk, which was natural in the daughter of a white witch; but she weren't no witch herself-neither blac

ell in, and then the hawks and owls took it over; but fifty years agone she flourished and did pretty well there, one way and another, though 'twas more by the people that visited h

be miracles by the Postbridge people, yet if you saw the workings of 'em from inside, you found that, after all, they was only built on common sense.

200] never had no childer, and never wanted none. In fact, she was pretty well alone in the world after her husba

ah White and Mary Tuckett and Pete

pit Hill, like a snail with a backache, and weren't in no case at all for merriment; yet the first thing she heard as she come in was laughter; and the first thing sh

a bit too fond of No. 1

rity, well known for the cleverest woman 'pon Dartymoor, won't tell me my fortune or

, and let your fortune take care of itself. It don't want a wise

ughing, and poor Mrs.

n. "But time enough for that. Can you list to me for an hour, Charity? I'm in cruel trouble, l

grumble at," answers the wise woman; and five minutes later she sat down a

ow, with my husband dead in his grave-and he died just six months after he'd paid his fiftieth year of rent, poor soul!-Peter Hacker have told me that the cottage ban't to be mine at all, and that 'tis all rubbish, and not a contract. I tell him that the ghost of my poor Thomas will turn his hair grey for such wickedness; but you know Peter

your keeping the ho

cooled her tearful ey

we've both lost a good partner; and so it falls out very suent and convenient like that we should wed. But now he hears tell as I ban't to hav

if you don't pay it; and secondly, he refuses to be bound by what his father promised your Thomas long years afore you married;

ne wasn't enough I've just heard of the death

ad all the girls by the ears in P

rom his undertaker. It happened in Ireland three weeks ago; and I've only heard tell to-day; and I thought if Mary Tuckett knowed, 'twould soon have turned her laughter into tears, for she was cruel fon

ough where women are concerned. There's no milk of human kindness in him, and he don't like me. He thinks-p

eve. It do make me bitter when I think upon it, for my poor Nathan's sake. She had sworn to marry my brother, remember, for Nathan told me so, and, no doubt, he count

ants sifting. Let's come to business, my dear, and stick to the point. You want your cottage

, rather, her late husband had for her. He was a lo

ive-pound note,"

Johnny French up to

t be very willing to have both together. Still, I'll meet you gladly if there's [203] anything you can do, a

s talk of him," said Mrs. Badge. "I'm awful sorry for you-'tis a

he conversation so sudden; but she felt pretty full of he

y to get round a female so well as you do the way to get round a corner. They worshipped him. Just a thought bowed in the legs along of living on hosses. A wonder on hossback, and very clever over any country. Great at steeple-chasing also, but too heavy for the flat-else he'd been a jockey and

nger; then Mrs. Badg

. Keep it close, and if you must tell about it, come up here and tell

tell Johnn

ngle soul. I've got a reason for what I say. A

n gate of Walna-in fact, 'twas the head of an old iron bedstead stu

second thoughts-for her good and not for mine-that I'll do what she want

g over a hedge and helping a young man to waste his time,

d fifteen minutes later Mary w