Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-11-27

disappeared ten years ago. he continued,
after his guest was seated In front OF the
blazing fireplace; -and You are also well
aware of the strange manner in which my
child has been afflicted.
Does she grow no better as she be-
comes older?"
: Not at all. In Lodily health she is
some stronger, but her attacks have
taken a more violent form. At one time
I might have considered her frail health
as the cause, but as she grows stronger
her whole soul shows itself to be IN an
abnormal condition. If 1 could have
doubted it at first, when she was III,
cannot now, when she is we'll. My poor
child, fear, is the victim of the Evil
One.
.aAnd who do you suspect"
His dauRhterl"
The pronoun may seem very indefinite,
but it was not to the Squire.
Just before you entered was reading
a aote which I want to show you. !
have kept my eye on this daughter, and
have discovered, among other things,
that she is in communication with some
one, we know not whom, unless it is as
suspect. This note, which I wish to
show Won, was intercepted. I have kept
it in my desk for some time, but tonight
opened it. See what a convicting docu-
ment it is, and the minister handed the
birch bark to the Squire. ObeyP It
it is written by one who has authority.
sObev the one who keeps YOU Who is
it that keeps her2 Evidently 1t refers to
the Evil One, 90 whom she belongs.
And the friend you know but cannot
see. Who would that be but the author
of all eVil2 will always provide for
you. Is not that full testimony to her
league with the devil? He whom she
cannot see will provide"
While the minister was making these
running comments the Squire read the
note through, holding it at arms length.
What shall you do with it?" he asked
when the minister had finished.
THAT is just what wished to consult
you about. Shall 1 preserve it as evil
dence against this-person, or shall
strongly tempted to do the latter, think
ing only of the safety of my family.
But perchance had better keep it, con-
cluded the minister, with n sigh
By no means, beg of you, my dear
sir" responded the Squire, earnestly.
He who holds the devils writing will
soon have the writer in his house. It is
by Gods grace that he has not come to
claim his own ere now"
But Just as the minister was about to
drop the piece of bark into the fire. the
study door opened, his eldest daughter
entered, and the minister, instead,
dropped it upon the table near him.
foot, and to the two men, whose magma
ton was excited with thoughts of witch
craft she appeared like q specter. And,
indeed, the appearance Of the girl at such
q moment and in such manner was
startling. She was now tall and slender,
and her height was greatly increased by
the long robe of white; her face was pale
and would have appeared deathlike had
it not been for the piercing black eyes,
which seemed to CLEAN with an unholy
light, as she stood in silence and gazed
into the fire. A log upon the hearth
broke in two and fell between the and
irons and blazed up afresh. AS the flames
sprang up and illuminated her face with
their rosy light, the Imagination OF the
Squire saw plainly the traces of some
strange power which was working upon
her, and he felt as if he were indeed in
the presence of an unfortunate one over
whom the evil one was lowering. He
shivered and involuntarily passed his
hand over his eyes.
NAchsah, what do you want?" asked the
minister anxiously.
I came in for that" said the girl,
pointing to the birch bark. The two men
looked at each other in silence Achsah
reached out her hand and took the note,
walked stiffiy across the room and laid it
upon the open desk by the window. This
done, she returned, sat down upon a
stool at her fathers feet and became alb
sorbed in watching the flames in the fire.
place as they leaped up from the burn
ing wood.
Horror-stricken, the minister and the
Squire sat in silence also, watching her.
Soon the door opened and Ashubah, the
younger child, came quietly in. and. with
out needing the group by the fire, walked
directly to the desk and took up the
birch bark, which she gazed at as if
charmed and unable to turn her eyes
away.
Achsah arose from her seat, went over
to her sister and without uttering word,
took the note from her and laid it back
upon the desk.
Ashubah made no protest but returned
with her sister and sat down on the op-
posite side of the fire.
Neither uttered a word or appeared con-
scious OF the Squire's presence. Both
seemed to be in a trance, so still were
they, and so supernatural was their still
ness for ones so young.
The Squire watched Achsah, who was
seated in the shadow of the fireplace near
him, the more closely. For about five
minutes, but which TO the excited man
seemed like an hour, she sat perfectly
mot; onless. Her first emotion was a
shudder, and then the Squire saw a look
of fear pass over her face and transform
her features. Her eyes turned to the
window. In looking around to follow
her gaze. he saw that her sister was af-
fected in the same way, and that the
minister was pale and trembling.
Our enemy is nearl" he gasped, as he
net the Squire's eye.
Looking then towards the window, to
see what had SO terrified the girls, he saw
a black fantastic face peering into the
room from the outer darkness. The light
from the fire fell upon the window and
made the sight most CHASTITY. Tt was a
large heal, surmounted with a fantastic
cap, from which the Squire could see two
small horns protruding. The face was
d TX, except in places where touches of
paint illuminated it, and wore a malig-
nant sheer as its sharp black eyes watch
ed the covering minister and his daugh-
tiers.
NJ a. 90 a. Aaaaaa aai.ai o.