The Argosy — page 382: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

360 Watching on St. Mark's Eve. eae “He died that blessed year; the very day that folks was eating their Michaelmas gooses. A rapid dechine took him off.” “It's very strange,” said Hannah, musingly. ‘‘ People believe here that the shadows appear, and folks used to go watching, as it’s said. I don’t think many go now. Did the two young women die ?” ‘‘Not they. Becky's married, and got half-a-dozen children; and Mary Clarkson, she went off to America. Shouldn't you lke to watch P” ‘“Well, I should,” acknowledged Hannah; “I would, too, if I thought I should see anything. I’ve said more than once in my life that I should just hke to go out on St. Mark’s Eve, and see whether there is anything in it or not. My mother went, I know.” “If you'll go, I'll go.” Hannah made no answer to this at first. She sat looking at the fire with a cross face. It had always a cross look when she was deep mn thought. ‘The mistress would think me such a fool, Molly, if she came to know of it.” ‘‘If! How could she come to know of it? Next Monday will be the Easter holidays, and we mayn’t never have the opportunity again. I shouldn’t wonder but the lane's full o’ watchers. St. Mark's Eve don’t often come on a Easter Monday.” There's no time to go on with what they said. A good half-hour the two sat there, laying their plans : when once Hannah had decided to go in for the expedition, she made no more bones over it. The nursery windows faced the front, and when the carnage was heard driving mn, they both decamped downstairs—Hannah to the children, Molly to her kitchen. I found Tod, and told him the news: Hannah and Molly were going to watch in the churchyard for the shadows on St. Mark's Eve. | ‘‘We'll have some fun over this, Johnny,” said he, when he had done laughing. ‘‘ You and I will be on to them.” Monday came ; and, upon my word, it seemed as if things turned out on purpose. Mr. Todhetley went off to Worcester with Dwarf Giles, on some business connected with the Quarter Sessions, and was not ex- pected home until midnight, as he stayed to dine at Worcester. Mrs. Todhetley had one of her excruciating face-aches, and she went to bed when the children did—seven o’clock. Hannah had said in the morn- ing that she and Molly were going to spend an hour or two with Goody Picker after the children were in bed; upon which Mrs. Todhetley told her to get them to bed early. It was something rare for Hannah to take any holiday; she generally said she did not want it. Goody Picker’s husband used to be a gamekeeper—not ours. Since his death she lived how she could, on her vegetables, or by letting her odd room : Roger Monk had it now. Sometimes she had her grandchild with her; and the parents, well-to-do shop-keepers at Alcester, paid her well. COMIC OOOKS. EO mn _