The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-12-23
Esther Chil;ingworth's Ring.
hTALE OF SALEM WITCHCHAFT
rom the Ladies' Magazine.

rom lt Lhults hlhENlnc
Such q queer old ring picked it out OF
The old laCqucrcd cabinet, where Aunt Lucn-
da's odds and ends Of family rcliCs-memcn
10 morls, antique ,rinkcts and souvenirs Of
the past, her past, that seemed SO very, very
old; for she was my mothers aunt, not nine,
were slowed away in rows of tiny drawers,
packed In soft jewelers. cotton, and smelling
sweet ana strong Of Tonha beans. 1t was u
ring OF old yellow gold, curiously dressed
with the iaciulh cut crcsCchtwsc, and set in
tiny seed. pearls; aud the jewels and setting,
as IN many old rings, opened at the cOGXing
Of finger, and showed wee space for haIr,
whose: J asked Aunt Lucinda, but she was
hurryipg 10 shut up the cabinet and only
SAID:
"RemiuG me 10 tell you about it in the
morning, child" for it was late, and she want.
cd to send me of 10 bed.
Cant keep tins, just to wear while I'm
hege,-it's 50 prclty,-Gnd III take such good
care Of it, auulie:
"Ncll, put it on" said Aunt Lucinda; "and
then run away, for it's past II o'clock. To
think OF you Keeping me up talking until
this late hUurw
So went 10 bed, slipping The narrow banG
Of fretted, carven, crusted gold over my first
finger and watching the rich warm fake OF
light in the heart of the iacInth-likc drop
of clear honey.
slep. alone at Aunt Lucinda's, in Il queer
old room, with an open fireplace and brass
andIrons, and with great, high.posted bed,
dark with lowered chinlz curtains, and Il
high and almost inaccessible mountain of
feather, into which l.usually leaped with the
aid of chair, when had blown out the can
die. always went to sleep drowsily spccI-
laiing upon the ancestral parsonage who had
-eposed in this old ark of a bed, under that
ancient red silk quilt and wondering If any
Of their forgotten dreams lurked round those
lowered curtains, 20 creep into my brain
when sleep sets ITS gates alar. | did not
dream, that night, at any rate; am sure oi
il, for | had not slept 10 minutes by the ola
alabas,er clock on the mantle piece. when
was awakened by the presence of a hand.
II was not Aunt Lucindas hand; even In
sleep knew the difference of the touch They
were young fingers that slid coldly over mine
SOFT, round tips, that left damp chill upon
my flesh where the crept along As my
senses awokc gradually, felt these fingers
working at the rings on my left hand, and
felt cold breath on my forehead, like a little
puff or night air. tired to strike away the
hand, bug it fastened clingingly ON mine, and
moaning voice said, pasSiOnately, and vel
piteously, like . hurt child:
"Let nc have i,-let me have it'h
"Who are you. Where arc you: WhaI l;
it:" pasped, struggling 10 sill upright in The
deep trough of the ieathcrbed. Aunt In
cinda."
The dark, sim folds of the curtains wavor
and moved. the streak of light between ia II
widened and then they pushed quite apart
Then l saw the moon shining on the ilouT
and the fire dying on the hearth between Ia
brass and irons, and figure standing by IN
bed,-s'andlng right in the arch made by tn
parted curtains.
II was 4 woman, and / saw her just a
plainly as ! see at this moment the word
written By the pen in my hand. could tel
YOU every item of the dress she wore. even &
the edglng Of lace on the tight sleeves tina
reached her elbows, and the little blue dam
ask figure on her gray gown. Her face wa
very pale and quiet, and there was no ligh
in her eyes; they were heavy and dark, an'