age,
Wratschewo, in the Government of Novgorod. But the people of the
place having, from her early youth, made up their minds that she had
the "evil eye," nothing could eradicate that impression.

Being branded with this reputation, it naturally followed that powers
of divination and enchantment were attributed to her, including the
ability to afflict both men and animals with various plagues and
sicknesses.

In spite, however, of the supernatural skill with which she was
credited, she met with no suitor save a poor soldier. She accepted
him gladly, and going with him, shortly after her marriage, to St.
Petersburg, Wratschewo lost sight of her for some twelve years. She
was, however, by no means forgotten there, for when, after the death
of her husband, she again betook herself to the home of her
childhood, she found that her old reputation still clung to her. The
news of her return spread like wild-fire, and general disaster was
anticipated from her injurious spells. This, however, was, from
fear, talked of only behind her back, and dread of her at length
reached such a pitch that the villagers and their wives sent her
presents and assisted her in every way, hoping thereby to get into
her good graces, and so escape being practised upon by her infernal
arts. As she was now fifty years of age, somewhat weakly, and
therefore unable to earn a living, these attentions were by no means
unwelcome, and she therefore did nothing to disabuse her neighbours'
minds. Their superstition enabled her to live comfortably and
without care, and she knew very well that any assurances she might
give would not have produced the slightest effect.

A short time after her return to Wratschewo, several women fell ill.
This was, of course, laid at the door of Ignatjewa, particularly as
one of these women, the daughter of a peasant, had been attacked
immediately after being refused a slight favour by her. Whenever any
misfortune whatsoever happened in the village, all fingers pointed to
Ignatjewa as the source of it. At the beginning of the present year
a dismissed soldier, in the interest of the community, actually
instituted criminal proceedings against her before the local
urjadnik, the chief of the police of the district, the immediate
charge preferred being that she had bewitched his wife.