Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-03-22
DORO7HEA INGRAM.
A Story of Early Colo-
NAL Days.
BY CHARLES G. HAHN.
cuAp1rn vlu.-(ContinuedJ

=
rbesa meetings letween Dorot hea AMI
Achsah at length became so palntui 10
the latter that the minister exelted all MS
ROVER TO prey ent them. He allowed MS
daughter to 60 out with no ono but MIN
self and while taking their solitary
strolls he carefully tvo.ded those places
where they were likely 10 encounter
Dorothea. But there was ore place III
which he could not avoid the young
witch. for such she was now calico py
the settlement generally. In the nee ing
honse on Sunday and on lecture days the
whole population wers Obliged to gatner'
Hare for m hour or two on those days,
the two were obliged TO sit, and although
Il was Gods house, the minister was
never easy lest the devils power mlght
And soma weak place in his PRAYER and
break throu n, even in that sacred place
consequently he changed his own family
new to remote corner from Dr. Len,
nox's. where Dorothea sat, and contllveo
as much as possible to keep his daughter
from the sight OF the girl.
He had it il mind several times TO ior-
hid Dorothea from entering the meetlng-
house. but his deacons dissuaded MN.
Then. tco, the minister knew tnat tne
time to strike an oIen blow had not yeI
Dorothea lived, and to whom she had be
come as a daughter, stoutly denied all
destinations against her, and had pub
iicly stated that he would fight for her as
for his own flesh and blood
Dorothea's beauty,also had its lntuen "e
unon a great many of the congregation
nrincipally the young men of the settle
ment. As has been stated, she had grown
nm n comely girl. the equal to whom there
was not in Sagnauck, and, despite the
reputation given her by the minister, ana
the evidence before them with regard to
Acbsah Granville, Dorotheas sultors
were many.
Neither was there ever any Jealousy OF
her in the hearts of the other maldens OF
the village. for Dorothea possessed that
oneness and good -healtedness which sell
dom fails TO make friends. Then, too, hel
readiness to serve q neighbor, to water
nv the sick. to nurse fretful child, or dC
snv of the many cts which a good
heated woman can do if she will, made
her fayorite with her elders. True, they
half believed her false, bat they silenceC
themselves " tn the fact thst notnlnl
had really been proven against her, ant
That TO them she had always been Klnd
Some, no doubt, were influenced by IN
thought that, did she possess the powe
ascribed to her, it were better to IRE q
her we'll and secure her favor than to IN
cur her emnlty.
It was a troublesome young life; AM
had not Dorothea teen supported by Dr
Lennox and his wife, she, long oe1or
these five years had elapsed, no doub
would have commit some act or In
discretion. or allowed some outburst o
min
lister good cause for proceeding agalns
her as he had against her father. Bn
this worthy couple watched over ner q
thew would over their own child, an
many times succeeded in soothing he
feelings when severely tried, and In 10
ducing her to forgive and. II possloIe
forget, the wrongs done her. :,
In one instance the Doctors we'll
meaning plans came near Fastening o
the end against which he was guarding
Like all medical men of the colonies !
those days. he had been educated
England. and was consequently fairl
well acquainted with nervous disease
To him the girl Achsah's troub
seemed due entirely to physical cause
although he could not understand Ju
how it was brought about. He accort
inoly decided, one day, to bring the 81
into Dorothea's presence end test u
effect it would have upon her. dou5tir
not that her fear of him would hind
any deception. -,
3y little maneuvering he was able
length to secure the girls presence IN b
Office and then sent for Dorothe
Scarcely had she entered when Achst
began to show uumistakable signs
some outside influence being brought
bear upon her. Her face rapidly change
it's EXPRESSION, Ier arms dropped to b
sides, and her whole body became linn
For an instant the Doctors faith in b
adopted daughter was shaken, and
Glanced up quickly at her. To his no
Tor and the confirmation of his fears, 81
too was visibly affected. Her eyes we
steadily fixed on those of the girl shrin
inc back in the chair, and her face wo
iook which the Doctor had never se
there before. 1t was pale, and the m@u @
COS Of the face stood out in relief. Tn
She r,ma ned for several seconds, tn
GRADUALLY resumed her usu manner, a.
contemptuous smile rested upon b
lips. .ho,t - sraok
Dorothea when his attention was call
Icbsah. With a shulder she slipp
from the chair and liy upon the not