Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-01-04

and cries that had another name in |
them than Cod s and it was said that
stole out in the forest to meet my |
foul. master, and worthy Goodman
Giles had heard me call him to my |
side. as he strayed through the trees
near me. And a child whom l had
pushed from my way, as l walked
down Salem street, had fallen in, and
cried in it's strange fits, that Esther
Chillingworth tormented him and my
old fathers honor and his gray hairs
could not save me, nor my youth and
my poor, fading beauty. They dragged
me from his house and cast me into
Salem jail; they locked the heavy
door, and drew the creaking bolts fast,
and left me crouched under the grated
window to stare up, in my blind an
guish, at the glimpse of tender sky,
that had no pity for me,-none. God,
like Roger, had forsaken me.
s'Then came the crowded court
room, day after day the solemn un-
tlinching face of the gray, old judge
the hot, sitting air, and the sunshine
through the glaring row of windows,
and the jeering, cruel women and
merciless men the writhing children,
who, in their lying fits, played like
devils babies with my life, and flung
it away; the screams and curses lifted
up against me the slow, cold voices of
the wise old men who were giving me
to death for an old wife's tale and
then the dark walls of the jail--the
damp, the icy chill, the silence, and
the death-in-life. So, day after day, I
came and went. and asked no mercy at
their hands.
"There was one face in the crowd
that had a plying look for me, though
it was only a young ad's,-young Mar.
tin Browns, whom l had counted a
child only year ago, but who had
eyes at me. I saw the hot rage and
bitter tears on his face as he stood with
the crowd in the court room, and lis.
tened and could not speak to me !; and
one night--a wild, rainy night,--he
where was pressing against the graf.
ed bars, and whispered my name.
IS Esther! Esther do you hear
me : he said, softly. Esther, will you
answer me?
''And spoke, and the poor. lad pour
ed out passion of grief, and pity, and
anger, with the muttering of the wind
and rain.
''They say that there is no bopc,
Esther he sobbed up to me in the
dark. 'Oh, if could but save you--
you, so innocent! o God what can
do against all this cruel persecution
You are no witch, Esther You are
purer than any soul of them all, and
l must stand by so helpless and see
you die for their wicked sport -
Idle for you, if may, Esther +! he
cried, with boys own eagerness
And reached up and put my hand
through the window bars, out to meet
him.
"'Will you carry message for me
to one in Boston, Martin! have none
but You that may trust to bear it,and
my father knows not. Martin, viii
you find Roger Vane for me?'
81 listened and held my breath till he
answered. Then heard him say soft
ly:
"'I will, Esther
Garry this to him. said and
as l felt his warm young hand. WEI
with rain, touch mine, l slipped the
love-gift into his palm. Take it t.
Roger Vane, and tell him that Esther
Chillingworth lies in the Jail in Salem
village. charged with witchcraft, ant
that she sends him back his tOken,-
no more than that, Martin. Go, FOL
the pity of God Hurry, and take ne
rest till you find him, or it will be toe
late for me!'
, II felt the boys lips kiss my hand
and his young, clear voice came III
again, with a tremble in it:
AYE, Esther, that will. My faith
, er's mare Is In the stable, and, this
very hour, will start, and take nc
rest till l find Roger Vane, and put
t your ring in his hand, God helping me.
ssGod bless you, Martin - I whis
l pered to him, as he went and, having
blessed q human creature for the first
l time in this bitter year, it seemed as
, if peace stole into my heart, and ten
der tears into my eyes, and half the
: weight rolled away from my wretched
bosom is I knelt on the cold, bare
[ floor. counted two days by, and
: went fer the last time from the Jail tt
+ the crowded court room. On the day
: when looked for Martin back again
: they told me that ] was to die. And
t while the voices clamored all arouhd
} me for my innocent blood, and from
, beyond the windows the shrill erie:
!, fling in, cursed them as I stood there
all, gray old judges and young chill
dren,--and cast my murder upon thei1
, heads forevermOre. lay by the graf
l ed window all the rest cf the long
. slow afternoon, all through the ope1
twilight, and waited for Martin. Ny
, blood was hot with fever, and there
l was madness in my brain. I almos
5 believed, as crouched there, that al
these tales were true, and that devils
3 had crept into every pulse that beat il
l my hot head, and whispered in my ca
r as clenched my hands over it. A
| last l heard my name called, in voice
: that was human, and yet was kind, -:
Y pitiful voice sounding under my graf
l ing: Esther! Esther!' sprang III
and answered him: I prssstd m,
. face to the bars, and, in the CLOWN!
7 starlight, l saw him standing there
t Martin all alone. I could only speal
, his name, and all other sounds died il
. my dry, parched throat.
!, "'I have done yctf efrand, Esther.
"'fcu have seen--y0u have seer
3 Roger Vane!'
, "'I have seen him.
5 "'And the ring gasped out.
, 'sHe seemed to hang his head love-
) and lower, as if he feared TO meet In!
eyes,.
"'t put it into his hand, Esther, a
| you babe me-
: "'And he said--what did he say
| Arc you dumb, Martin Brown?' cried
stamping my foot wildly. why can
/ not you answer mef