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The Witch's Gate

M OTHER had distinctly told the children to leave the basket of eggs at the house with the white gate. "You can't mistake it," she had said, "you can sec it a mile away." Yet the children were puzzled, for the gate that should have been white was green; a shiny, bright green. Still it must be the gate, for there were the pines on either side just as Mother had described. Brother and sister were very young and they did not know this road at all. Neither did they know the family to whom they were to take the eggs. They put their basket down on the path and

looked uncertainly up and down. No ono was in sight. They moved a few yards further down the road and stopped again, looking all round them;, then they looked at each other. Half hidden by an overhanging shrub was another gate, not exactly white, , and yet not exactly any other colour either. It was old and stained and cracked. "Still it is a gate," said lluby. "And it might be white," agreed Billy. "There are plenty of trees round it. It must be the right place." The children walked forward and looked through the little gate. Inside was a tiny house, half hidden by trees. "It looks like a witch's cottage," said Billy, "I am not going in."

'By M, G. Dorehill ☆

"Don't be silly," said Ruby who was slightly older and wiser, and she lifted the latch. The gate creaked on hinges rusty with age. The children left it open behind them as they tip-toed down the path toward the little house. Great t;rees and bushy shrubs gave the place an air of gloom and mystery, but there were bright flower-beds round the cottage and the place was clean and tidy. "It is very quiet, isn't it " breathed Billy. "Perhaps she is asleep." "Who's asleep?" said Ruby. "The witch," whispered Billy. "It can't be a witch's house," argued Ruby. "Mummy said the people were called Brown and there were some chil-

dren as well as a lady." She knopked. It wis a timid knock for all the courage of her words.. A., little tap.-which faded into nothingness. _ i "Do it louder, said Billy. They can't hear that." t Rat-tap-tap! How the sound echoed round them, and the stillness which came after was very deep. "I don't think there is anyone here, whispered Jlubv, after a minute. "Let s leave the things on the step. They will probably be back in a few minutes." "Yes,' let's,") agreed Billy, eagerly. He was already anxious to be gone. lluby placed the basket bv the door where it could not be missed and hurried after her brother, .who was hal.fway up the path. The childrfen-closed the worn little gate behind them and started home. Tlien.'Billy stopped and turned to take last look back. '.Sud-

denly he clutched his sister wildly. "Look!" he gasped. Look, quick. Someone had come up the road from behind them and was opening the gate they had just left. It was an old, old woman tfith gnarled hands and wrinkled face. She was very bent and dressed in faded grey. "It's a witch! 1 told you so, whispered Billy, and turning, he started up the road again as fast as his short legs could carry him. ' "But she smiled! I saw her smile at us," cried Ruby, exultingly. Nevertheless. she ran too, as fast as she could, panting behind her brother. Their feet crunched over the stones. They did not look back again. Neither did they breathe a word of their adventure when they got home. Next day Mother said to them: "Whv didn't vou children tell me vou could not find'the house yesterday. The gate has been painted green. I met Mrs. Brown to-day and she told me so. She had not received the eggs. What did you do with them?" Ruby turned rather red. "We left them at a house with a little white gate. At least. I am sure it was meant to be white, but it was rather old and sort of faded. There were lots of trees and such a funny tiny, .house inside. But there was no one home." Then' Mother laughed. "Why, that must be old Miss Hubble's place. She lives all alone and is not very well off. Poor old dear! She must have been pleased to find those eggs on her doorstep. I expect she thought you were a couple of fairies." "And we thought all the time she was a witch,", cried Billy. "But remember,". said Ruby, "she did smile." I '

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19381001.2.170.44.12

Bibliographic details

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23157, 1 October 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

Word Count
775

The Witch's Gate New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23157, 1 October 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

The Witch's Gate New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23157, 1 October 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

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