The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-10-08

ceiyc in still more marked and otlen-
siNc manner the attentions of the hus-
bands. whom, she boosted. she had
taught they had hearts under their lin
sey-woolsey coats. Long walks and
rides through the woods, attended al-
ways by some one who had owned the
power of her beauty, set public opinion
wholly AT defiance, and the company at
her tireSide, evening after evening, was
well known To he not such as became a
wife and mother TO receive.
The winter months passed. and spring
came 10 set loose the streams, and fill
the woods with tender bloom and YER
dure. But the anger of the justly irri-
tated danes OF Easton had gathered
strength with time. Scarce one among
the most conspicuous of the neighbour
hood but had particular reason TO hate
their common enemy, for the alienated
affections and monopolized time of her
husband. 50 faithful TO his duties before
this fatal enchantmcnt. ftNtE
Complaints Were made by one to an
other. and strange stories told, which,
of course, lost nothing in their circula-
ton from mouth to mouth. What won
der was il that the mysterious influence
exercised by the strange woman should
be attributed 60 witchcraft ? What
wonder that she should be judged To
hold intercourse with evil spirits. and
10 receive from them the power 10y
which she subdued men 10 her sway?
Late in the afternoon of beautiful
day in the early part of June, two ma
irons of the village stationed themselves
near the wood by which stood the house
of Mrs. Winton Not far from this was
a small pond. where the boys amused
themselves by fishing, or bathcd during
I the heats of summer. The spot Occu-
pied by this little body Of water is now
the central portion Of the town. and
covered with neat buildings of brick and
stone.
The women had come forth to watch,
nor was their vigilance long unreward-
y ed. They saw Mrs. NintOn, accom-
panied by one Of her gallants. walking
I SLOWLY along the borders of the wood.
The sun had set and the gray shad-
ows Of twilight were creeping over the
\ landscape, Vet it was evidently not the
coquette's intention TO return home.
As 1t grew darker, she and her compan-
\ ion entered the wood. the fair trifler
taking his arm. Presently both disap-
peared.
"There he goes,M exclaimed one Of
I the women who watched, with fierce
anger in her looks-for il was her hus-
band she had seen. ''Iknew it | knew
he spent every evening with her.
'.Shall we follow them?' asked the
other
"No-no, let Us 90 home quickly"
was the answer.
Such scene as the night witnessed
was never before enacted in that quiet
village.
At late hour there was a meeting OF
many of the danes in the house Of one
of their number The curtains were
! closely drawn; the light was so dim
| that the faces of those who whispered
together could scarcely be discerned.
There was nothing fearful in the as
semblage, at such an unwonted time, Of
I those orderly housewives, so unaccus-
toned ever to leave their houses after
dusk. The circumstances of their meet.
ing alone betokened something uncom-
mon in agitation. Still more did the ST.
| lence, hushed and breathless at inter-
walls, the eager but suppressed whisper
ings. the rapid gestures, the general air
of determination mingled with caution.
1t struck midnight. The women
made signs one to another, and the
light was extinguished.
An hour or more afterwards, the
same band of women left the house. and
took their way in profound silence along
the road leading out Of the village. by
a roundabout cruise, skirting the small
body of water above mentioned, they
came TO the border of the woods. just
then the waning moon rose above the
forest tops, shedding a faint light over
hill and stream. Ii could then be seen
that the females wore kind Of mask Of
black stuff Their course was directed
towards the Englishwoman's house,
which they approached with stealthy
and noiseless steps.
A few moments of silence after they
had disappeared, and then wild shrek
was heard Other screams followed
fainter and fainter. like the voice Of one
in agony struggling to cry out, and
stifed by powerful hands. The women
rushed from the wood. dragging with
them their helpless victim, whom they
had gagged so that she could not even
supplicate their mercy.
Another cry was presently heard-the
wall of a terrified child The little boy,
aroused from sleep by the screams OF
his mother, ran towards her captors,
and throwing himself on his knees,
begged for her in piteous. accents and
with streaming tears.
"Take him awaylm cried several to-
gether.
One Of their number, snatching up
the child, ran Off with him at her ut