Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-03-15
CHAPTER VII.
IN THE M1NIsTER's STUDY.

Mr.. Granville's study was in corner
of the houso and looked out upon the
street. 1t was very cozy room, furnished
with o moderate library and writing desk
and snug fireplace, in which the various
k nds of wood snapped aud blazed IN
their season. IN arm chair made out OIL
twisted boughs of hickory stood by the
fir place. In this room the minister spent
most of his time, for the years had added
to his load until lie was glad to retire
from his family, and so loSe sight OF their
strange and painful condition. So, after
having finished his sermon 'or the CON-
ing Sunday and read for the hundredth
time his favorite volumes, he was wont
to move b s great arm chair from tho
table 10 the side of the fireplace, and.
leaninr back in its capacioui depths,
give himself mp to thought. Here. sur
rounded by the cheerfulneSs which every
work room gives, the minister could at
times for let his sad affection and grow,
for a few minutes comparatively happy
But generally in these half-hours IN the
dusk he sat brOoding over his tri IL and
disappointments and the calamity which
had fallen upon his family. The dim
suspic ons entertained ten years ago had
been increased and rendered more vivid
bv the perusal of such works as Cotton
Mather, and frequently after his sermons
we're fni he'd he indulgedin in loog sittines
by his fire pou ing over those stories OF
witches and witchcraft which so stirred
New England and spread fear over her at
the beginning of her life.
It was cool evening in early autumn
in fact, the anniversary of thu trial
n
Mr.. Granville did not remember 1t. The
trial itself. howe er, was very distinct in
his mind. as was every point in his emo
my's life. The man had spent long hours
meditating upon this one absorbing
theme. and recalling every event or word
in Max Hillary's life, until he had be-
come a monomaniac, and the thought ol
this rough wood-chopper WAS scarcely
ever absent from his mini. Every SCRAP
of intelligence concerning him had been
carefully preserve and studied, Every
word the man had over uttered in the
minister's hearing, or in. tho hearing OF
any who would communicate it to tie
minister. had been noted and dwe!t upon
| durino these after-sermon M dit itions.
He bad made study of the mans life,
and had even gone to the trouble or IN
curing into his antecedents mlnutelv'
But oil this was nothing compared with
the awful anxiety his disappearance gave
Long hours the minister sat In his study
speculating upon it. Sometimes he
paused at the end OF 8 paragraph IN his
sermon to gaze abstractedly out OF the
window and recall that last act In Marx
Hillary's life.
Then, again, this was fnvorite theme
sna nd 0ft a
tende them far into the night, until his
family, and indeed, all Sapnauck, wero
wrapt in sleep. SO the poor man YEARLY
| wore his life away.
On this particular evening be had beer
even more troubled by his gloomy
| thoughts. In his imagination he coulo
| feel an unseen presence in the very room
and in h heart hope died, as he said tc
| himself:
"Tbe man or his spirit is near
This feeling was so strong that be
arose ard did what at no time eIore mac
he courage to do, or which his sense OF
honor would allow He went to bis desl
and took out little rackage which hac
been intercepted on its way to Dorothfo
two wears before. This evening he tore
off the wrapper, and in his hand lay
piece Of birch bark, such as was o1teI
used by the Indians and by some set
Tiers for writing paper Upon this bit o.
birch was this sentences:
"Dorothea: Obey the one who keeps
YOU a. nd the one who watches over you
but whom you cannot see, will alwaj
provide for you. MI
obey the one who keeps you That
is damning," murmurad the minister,
and his lips turned pale. tits message
from the evil one, and have had it con
cealed in my desk. No wonder we nave
been afflicted. But, is it not necessary,
he continued after pause during whlcf
he was plunged in deep thought, Is Il
not necessary that l keep 1t Tor teS'i
mony?"
But while he was yet undecided wheth
er 10 cast the evil bark into the tre, O.
lay it away and brave the danger in th'
work of conyicting o witch, the case wal
settled by rap at the door, and, hastily
cpenin, it, he admitted the pl"nee
Squire.
aCome in, Squire, come in, the min
lister said; you have come just as
wanted YOU. 1 have for some month
] wished to spelk to you upon a subJec
| that is troubling me. Sit down, pra
yOu.