The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-08-17
JANET LEE
In the Shadow of the
GaU0WS.
BY DAVID LOWRY.
CHAPTER X,XIII.
GILES ELLIS TRIUMPH.

The pulse of New England quickened
as the waves of superstition rolled over
the land. Men and women hitherto .e-
Bpected by their fellows were thrown into
prison upon preteIts 80 trivial that the
generation accustomed to the railway,
telegraph, and telephone cannot compre-
bend, much less realize, the extent Of the
craze that sent thousands to untlmely
graves in Europe, and overpowered rea-
son, humanity and justice in New Eng
land.
Envy and hate, malice and revenge
ruled the hour. Neighbors at variance,
instead Of resorting to the courts, de-
nounced each other as witches. The
prisons we're crowded with men, women,
and children.
At time when the strongest men
yielded to despair, pleading guilty to
charges coined by the malevolent. cow
ering before the ignorant and headstrong,
Janet Lee displayed q degree of fortitude
and resolution that won for her the ad-
miration Of all who knew her, and the re-
spect of the more INTELLIGENT was out
spoken ss her case was discussed. She
was as cheerful in Ipswich Jail as when
she was at home, seemingly.
DO not give up hope, mother. 1t is
AOl llhC tAO pCopIC Va OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES W
hang women and childreo. I have more
faith in our friends in Salem than to
think they will let them hang two women
on such slender evidence.
If We had but told the truth at first,
Dorothea answered. Or if Martin Lee
knew now"
Hush, mother. Would you bring him
to certain death?" Dorothea clasped ner
hands conyulsiyely.
20, my sweet! my sweet! When look
at you. and think you are doomed to die
like Mary Bradbury and Martha Carrier,
nv heart is like to burst. If they would
take and spare you would be content.
And yet you are stout of heart. Oh, why
should one so brave be lost to the world?"
"And why should not be brave? Am
I not John Lees daughter?"
Alas! John 1t is not what Re was.
His spirit is broken.
Il am much mistaken If my father does
not show the people Of Salem ere long
ahe stuff the Lees are made OF.
Footsteps approached the door as she
spoke, and the jailer admitted John Lee,
who clasped wife and daughter in his
arms. As he held them of, scanning
their features closely, he said bitterly:
so. This is Salem's return to the
wife and daughter of the man who served
her in her need. 1t were better my neigh
bors were crazed than cruel. but since
they are both" He paused, theI
added between his clenched teeth: ..
scorn them all"
There! Said not so, mother?' Janet
exclaimed. =.
I come to bid you keep up heart, said
John Lee. with decision. L ON con.
vinced we are victims of base plot, and
be sure / shall not rest until the truth bt
made pain. You have seen me over
whelmsd-'twss the suddenress of tht
charges. know your truth. I am my.
self-twere ase indeed did l not rouse
mvsel:, and 'twould be baser did I per
init tie magistrates to rest until they
too. are convinced It's consplracy-l'
will al be made clear to them ere long.
have had ear, not of one, but OF two OF
them. Think not have been idle these
five days-since last sawyou here. nave
done much. 'Tis little sleep has crosse!
nv eyelids-but now, I think I lave we'll
earned rest. as YOU shall soon see. may
not say more now. The magistrates are
even in Ipswich now. They will soon be
here, for / took an oath yesterday wouic
not sleep till had made an end OF this
mater. But there are rnauv things TO DO
and much do not understand. Ieli me
truly. what means the story Ezra told OF
Willis Hillt"
THAT shall be explained in good time,
father" said Janet, quickly; have no
coucern."