The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-08-04

uCE ICait
"IIorrible. @. hGsband. can moth
ing be done to save the lost eosti?"
II have e8erted myself TO the
utniostj Rose, you might try. 1t is
possible she would listen to you.
dear"
The ordeal was q terrible Otto for
the young wife to pass through, but
she nerved herself Tor it. Yet she was
trembling from head to foot when she
entered the room OF the sick woman
and could not keep back her tears
when she saw how she ffsd. shfank to
a shadow. how like parchment her
skin, how her eyes burned with q wild
and unnatural fire and brightness.
The presence of Rose appeared to
throw Elizabeth Cunning into convul-
sions. She shrieked as in the most in
sense agony, and screamed SO load
that every one in the house thought
her dying and rushed to the room.
'"The witch! The witch! Rose SIM
onson has bewitched me. Look just
below her right shoulder. ] raw it
when / was helping TO dress her: saw
the devils mark! Take hex away
she is draining my heart dry"
Rose was taken away, had to be.
She had tainted; and merciful would
it have been had she not awakened
until in another world. - was in the
days of executions and drowriittg for
the crime charged against her; wheli
ignorance and malice were unscrupu.
Ious and friends were powerless to
save.
So was it in the case Of chs young
wife. Braveiy her husband and faith.
er fought for her; stoutly she asserted
her ignorance; her intense horror; her
faith in the justice of God. The lady
of the manor used her money freely
to accomplish her revenge; shrieked
that she was dying, all Of the White
Rose, and in the end conquered and
fairly laughed aloud when she heard
that her victim was lodged in prison
and would speedily be tried.
:'And sentenced and burned!"
Shrieked the wtetchel woman so JOY.
ously that the blood OF her attend.
ants ran cold, and they shrank from
her in dismay.
There was no one who suspected her
in the matter, but all who had heard
her make the accusation wondered
what she could mean "by the devils
mark" Soon it was whispered about
until every one heard it; even the old
gypsy crone, who, tortured by rheu-
matism. lay writhing and grooming in
her wretched cabin.
"The White Rose accused Of being q
witch7" she murmured from her tooth.
less gums. "Aye, know who did it. I"
and with eyes that flashed as vivid
as lightning Notwithstanding her al
most ninety years, eff l had the
strength to crawl to her bedside l
would make her own it was lie, even
il had to shake it from her lips as
she was breathing her last breath.
But-but shall never move again un.
til I am carried to my own grave and
then-mother OF mercy prevent it
nothing but poison will grow upon
my grave"
For hours she raved thus, even as
the wicked woman whose will she had
obeyed was doing. Meanwhile the
young wife was pinlng in prison, and
the officials planning how she should
be tried. and curiously wondering If
there was indeed the mark OF the evil
one upon her tair, white skin.
1t was easy to be decided. The ex.
posture of the beautiful shoulder was
all. Before the judges she was led,
the dress cut away and upon the spot
indicated there was discoloration-
birth mark as the physicians and her
mother declared; the stamp OF Satan,
as others were ready to swear.
Imagination runs riot at such times,
and the innocent blemish, without
particular form and of dull red col.
or, grew into q crimson serpent, with
flashing coils and eyes like fire. This,
the man who held the Office of witch
finder" stoutly averred. The people
believed him and loudly clamored for
the death OF the witch.
The lady of the manor house heard
and reioiced; heard that the nearly
broken hearted husband was stand.
ing in the darkness holding the hand
of his weeping wife las she passed it
through tho iron.grating). was kissing
it from time to time, bidding her keep
mistaken her trust in heaven and
frowned.
midnight and he there" she Kissed
furiously, fool that he is. He thinks
to get her free again, but tomorrow
she dies"
"And what if you should never see
the light OF another day." came to her
with startling distinctness.
"Who spoke" she demanded OF the
nurses.
All declared they had not, and
again the strange and rot to be &C
counted for voice broke upon the
stiffness with:
"This night thy soul will be required
OF thee"
Starting up in bed, CHASTITY from
fright and horror, Elizabeth Cunning
stared around. Then she fell back
upon the pillow, gasping.
my medicine, quick, or die"
"There is none. The last drop is
gone"
"None! Merciful father! The gypsy
woman? Where is she?"
dying, as we have heard, in her
hut"
dead or alive bring her here"
The frightened attendants turned to
obey, but were met upon the threshold
by the old crone.- Leaning upon her
crutches she entered, and without
ceremony asked:
"What would you with me?"
"More medicine-you know what
give it to me quickly" !.
GAS came through the graveyard
there was no stars shining, the moon
was hidden behind black cloud, the
wind was moaning. sobbing. shrieking
and two corpse lights were burning
where two graves will be dug on the
morrow"
"The medicine. Give it TO me"
"There is no more to be found"
was the calm reply. II sought it. but
lightning had blasted the gnarled oak
under which 1t grew and burned the
damp earth to ashes"
mo more! In the name OF heaven
what shall l dor"
"Diel Aye, there were two corpse
lights; one for you, Elizabeth Gum
ming; one for me; one for o murderess
and"
"Holdl Have mercyl A murder
ess? Oh, God. did not think of