The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-02-01

name m them than Gui's: aud ,t WAS
said that stole out in thc forrest tu meet
my foul master aud worthy Goodman
Giles had heard me cy,ll him "a my side,
rs he stryr,l through the trees near me-
And "a child whom had pushed trnm nay
WAY, as | Walhci down Salem street, had
fallen H. and cr,cd, iu i,a strange hts
that Esther thllhugWuyth tuuucutci
h,m, and my old nlhrI.a honor aud his
gmy hairs could not save me, nor my
Youth aud my paar, fading beauty, They
dragged mo iuom hls house and cast me
into Salem jail, they lockel the heavy
duor. aud drew the vryuAug bolts fast,
amt left ME cruuchcl under the grated
window - starr up. IN my blind anguish,
at thc glimpse ut tender SKY, that had uu
pity for me Aanc. God like Roger,
haa forgotten me.
Then came the crowded courtroom.
,hy after day. the solemn. uuhuchlug
ncc of thc guy old ludgy, the hot,
sthlug nlr. and the sunshine through the
gmrug rlw If windows. aud the jcrrug.
cruel women and mcrcllr,s men. the
writhng children. Who. lu their lying
fits. PLAYED like devils babies with my
life. and flung lt away; the screams and
curses liilvd up against me, the slow.
cold Voices ut tAr wise uld men Who were
giving NE e. death Tor an old wifc's tale:
and then the dark walls uf the jail-thc
damp, the icy chill, the silence, and the
death IN life s.. day after day. | came
and went. and asked uo mercy 80 their
hands
" There was one face u Jhe crowd
that had pityiug laok for me. though Il
Was only young lad's-yomg Martin
Browns. whom | had counted child
uuly "a year ago. but who had grown Of
late 10 look with a man ewes ut me /
saw the hot rage and bitter tears un has
face rs he stu-pi With tho crowd IA the
courtroum. and listened and could not
speak to me. and one mght-a Wild.
rainy nirht-hc stole under the window
ui the jail. where | Was pressing against
the grated bars, and whispered my
name.
Esther, Esther DO YOU hear me ?
he sand, softly, Esther viii You answer
meE
And spoke, and the Isoor lal pour
cd ont passion of grief. and pity, and
anger, with the mutteriug ui the wind
and rain.
''' They say there is no hope, Esther
hg subbed mp tu me IN the dark. Oh.
II / could but save you-yuu. So iuuu-
cent oh, God what c..u | DO against
all tins cruel persecution Nuu are no
witch, Esther You are purrr thau amy
soul II them all, and | must stand 10y eu
helpless an1 see Won die for their wicked
sport
Martin. / whispered L, him. cling.
ing 30 the bars. if you cannot save me,
VIII you ia ier my what vuU can =
So DE fur yuu. # I may. Esther. hc
cried, with q boys own yagrmess. And
| reached mp and put ms hand through
thc window bars. uut 81 NEE. him.
VII YOU carry message Tor me e.
one in Boston. Martin / have nome bat
yuu tha: may trust Z, bear 10. and inv
father knows not; Martin. viii Won find
Roger Naue for me =
Il listened aui held NV breath till
he answered. Then | heard h.m say,
softly.
'. viii. Esther.
"' Carry ta.- g. him. | said, aud as /
felt l's warm Young hand. wet with RAIN.
touch mine, | slipped the love gift into
his palm. IaAc Il u Roger N.lur, and
tell hlm that Esther CHlllmguarth lies
IN the JAM ia Salem vl,la-.. charged " tia
vItclerft AMI that she sends him back
his taktL-ln more than that. Martin.
Go, Tor the PITY ut G8, Hurry. and
take up rest tl'i yog ind h.u. cor 10 wlll
be- tHY l4tg-rEa late Tor Ie %
d" iclt the boys lips His, my hand.
aud ms Young. clear Voice cuuc up
again. with ;rrmhlc lu u:
"' Aye EsGIgr. tina: / viii Ny faith
cr's mare is in the stable. and, this very
hour, Ulll start. and take uu rest till /
find Roger Naac, and pat Your ring IN
his haui. q II helping me.
" God bless yau. Martin" / whispered
IN him. As he went, and. having blessed
"a human creature for tine first time IN this
bitter wear. il seemed a. If peace stole
into my heart. ami tender tears into my
cy7s, and LAT the weight rs.lrl away
from my wrrtchcl bosom n. | knelt uu
the cold, hare II pur counted tao dav-
10y, aud | went Tor the ln-t time from the
JAIL 10 the crowded courtroom On the
day when | looked for Mariiu,ha,k ara.u,
they told me that | was b. die. And.
wllll" the voices c.nWurcd all around me
for my Iunocent blood, and from beyond
the windows the shnll cries rung in, /
cursed them as | stood thcrc-all. gray
old judges and young childrcu-aud cast
my murder upon their heads fprcyrrmore.
/ lay hy the grated window all the rest
uf the long. slow afternoon, all through
the open twilight. and waited for Martin.
Ny blood was hot with fever. and there
was ma lucss in my brain. / almost be-
licycd, as | cruuchcd there, that all these
tales were true. aud that devils hal crcpt
into every pulse that beat in my hot
heal, and whispered in my ear IA !
clenched my hands over IT. At last |
heard my name called in a voice that was
human. and yet was kinl-a pitiful voice
sounding under my grating: Esther
Esther = sTrang up aud answered him.
! pressed my face to the bars. and in the
growing starlight, | saw him standing
therc-Martin all alone. / could only
speak his name. and all other sounds died
IN my dry, parched throat.
80 have done your errand. Esther.'
"' Iou have seen-you have seen
Roger Vane 2
60 have seen him.
80 And the ring? | gaspcd out.
He seemed % hang his heal lower
and lower, rs if he feared to meet my
eyes.
"'I put it into his hand, Esther, as
you hadc me.
"' And he sail-what did he say? Arc
you dumb, Martin Brown 2 / cried.
stamping my foot wildly. Why cannot
you answer me 2
"' Because - because ] shall break
your heart. the boy cried out, breaking
into tears. Esther, he will not come 10
is cruel and false, and deserves
not one sigh that you have spent for him.
He IL 20 be married tomorrow; he cannot
break away from his bride at Gov. Win
.hrop's grand house to keep n tryst at
Salem jail!'
That was all / heard. The place
whirlcl round and round with me, aud
.he roar Of great waters was in my ears
As | fell on the stone floor, sensclcss
while yet alive. Bat that was the bit
.erness Of death what cared for the
rest Tomorrow came, aud the April
glinted fair over the earth. and
'hone on the bride in the streets Of Bos-
.on town, aud on tho witch girl climbing
he cursed hill to die ! heard the
shouts and iecrs and hootings of the
-abble irving the tender spring mir. and
saw, as one in dream. the sea Of hate
'ul faces upturned 10 me, and the black
gall lows drawn against the sweet blue