THE WITCH'S SPELL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 11, 12 July 1930, Page 20

THE WITCH'S SPELL

'..... •■•■':.;/ .■■ ': .;■•. pab YOU can't moan, that—oh, please, say you don't mean it!" cried Lena in fear. "I certainly do mean it," cried the witch, stroking her ugly /black cat fondly. "What shall we do? ; Father and mother will think wo are lost. Please let uti go home now,-" said Helen. The witch sceined. too occupied with her cat to answer Helen's plea for freedom. After a while sho took from a large pocket'in her black gown a bottle containing a clear liquid and,

th.. .'. ."";. ;■■■-;: •';■.:.; ■'■.•■;. .: ' tor journeying -miles along a dusty road on a hot summer's day. Par down the road Helen could see a horse galloping quickly towards her; nearer and nearer it came,, and Holen could see a man w.as holding another man on his horso. Evidently an accidoni had occurred aiid the injured man. was being taken to a doctor as quickly as possible. As the horseman drew up by the t^ee, he saw the streamlet., "Just what I wanted. I'll save this man now. Water is what ho needsand rest." ■

"What shall we do? ; Father and his horso. Evidently an accident had mother will think wo are lost. Please occurred aiid the injured man. was let uti go homo pV said Helen. being taken to a doctor as quickly as The witch seemed, too occupied with possible. As the horseman drew up her cat to answer Helen's plea for free- by the t^ee, he saw the streamlet., doni. After a while she took from a "Just what I wanted. I'll save this large pocket'in her black gown a man now. Water is what ho needs— bottle containing a clear liquid and, and rest." :. after gazing intently at it, murmuring He dismounted and laid the injured strange words, sho said, "Close your man in the shade, while he went to the eyes tight and keep still." stream and filled his soft felt hat with Both girls immediately oboyed this crystal-clear water. After a while the command and a feeling of peacefuWoss unconscious man opened his eyes and camo over them. When Lena awoke tried to sit up. . she found she was a tall spreading "Lie still, you are all right. Drink tree, clad with deep, blood-red leaves, this water and then have a sleep, find clusters of pale pink blossoms, 'do- commanded the horseman, and the licately perfumed. ■■<■ ■■■■■' other man oboyed. Next morning the "How beautiful 1 am, "thought patient was restored to normal health, Lena with pride. "People will see so the men departed. As they were me and my beauty-will be known leaving, the horseman .looked at the throughout the land." tree and said, "I thank God for that Helen awoke to find herself a state- tree and streamlet. ■It has saved ly oak growing beside the dusty road, one man'slifo and it will be of use which led from a- great city to a sea- to many more," and lie went his way. port. At the foot of the oak flowed Helen felt supremely happy, for was a sparkling streamlet, which would af- siie ndt-of some use? ford refreshment to weary travellers. ,rp Q conc i U( ] e (i.) Helen felt yery happy, for she knew ■,„.„„„;, how people would appreciate the ' . &umNi. .. shade of the spreading branches, af -1 CiVy. ■