The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-07-05

do I believe there ever was time wher
men stood more in need of the counse
and comfort given in this book"-ohn
| Lees fingers seemed to caress the cover
| of the well-worn Bible on his knee
than at the present time. Every home i.
! threatened. No man or woman know:
| the moment they may be called upon te
! answer charges that the vilest would
| blush to meet. No house is secure. Nc
/ man or woman's life SO free from re.
| proach-
A loud knock on the door caused Ezra
Easily to bounce on his seat. He st 6
| terrified look at Ann Bigger; she, too
was in q tremor Janet Leo rose quietly
and opened the door. Samuel Hobbs
the Marshal of Salem, entered. john Lee
placed the Bible on the table at his elbow,
and rose.
you are somewhat late, if you are
come on business-but You are always
welcome. as you we'll know" said John
Lee.
The Marshal did not take the seat prof
fered him. On the contrary, he looked
like man i'll at ease. He moved his
hands uneasily, and stammered when he
spoke.
The business is none of my choosing.
never did more unwilling work-never
Since that is the case, the sooner the
business is dispatched the better.
Speak out freely. The way is open TO
YOU
My business concerns you nearly.
Say you so, Samuel?' John Lee
looked down and reflected. Does it con-
Germ any one beyond those You see here
No"
A silence fell upon tie little circle so
oppressive that Ezra Easily was sure the
Marshal could hear his heart throbbing.
At last John Lee, still standing with his
face to the Marshal of Salem. broke the
silence.
Since it concerns all here, what may
your errand be-"
The Marshal strove to clear his throat,
but could not on the instant. He looked
at Dorothea Lees face. She was re gard
ing him calmly; if there was more than
reasonable surprise or curiosity, her eyes
did not reveal it. Janet Lee contem-
plated her mother and father wi b an I'M
disturbed countenance. At last the Mar
shall cleared his throat, and with hat In
hand, in a voice that was far from clear,
said:
Il came as a friend, rather than in my
official capacity"
For which l thank YOU" John Lee an
swered. Then leaning nearer the Mar
shall, he added: Speak on. AS friend,
or Marshal of Salem, | am ready to lis
ten. What may thy errand be, Master
Hobbs?"
L came to warn you you are suspected
of harboring witches
Upon hearing this, Ann Bigger made
the sign of the Cross in the air upper
ceiyed by the Others Ezra Easty's knees
trembled, his teeth were inclined to
chatter but he braced himself firmly on
his seat, looking with shifting, fearful
chances at the Marshal, the picture of aD-
ject fear
Witches God save all here" ex-
claimed Dorothea Lee, standing upright
in her alarm. Janet Lee alone looked
calmly from her parents to the Marshal
John Lee made a movement as though he
would resent the charge, then reconsld-
cred, turned toward his wife, and, le-
alizing that the amazement in her coun-
tenance was reflected in his own. placed
a hand heavily upon the table beside him,
and sank into his seat overwhelmed, stu
pefied with amaZement and horror that
could find no utterance IN words.
The Marshal did not anticipate the eff
feet his words produced. He seemed,
now that he had accomplished his errand,
at loss what to say or do next. lie
looked from one to the other, advanced
slowly to the door, opened it noiselessly
turned, swept the circle with a compre-
hensive glance. then closing the door
after him as people do when entering and
leaving the presence of the dead, wake d
soberly away.