Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-02-12

"That must depend upon yourself
upon myself? Then tell me, quickly,
what would they have me do?"
Confess your sins-your crimes"
"What sinsP-what orimesp"
"Have you not dealt with evil beings,
invoked the spirits, and gained the assist
ance of those who are not Of this world9"
Anime made no reply.
Answer me. Do you not oonfessp'
81 do not confess to have done anything
wrong"
and others. What will avail your denial9
Are you aware of the punishment which
most surely awaits you il you do not con-
TESS and become member of our church,"
"Why am I to become a member of
your church, Do you then punish those
who refuse9"
"No; had you not ALREADY consented to
receive baptism, you would not have been
asked to become SO; but, having been
baptized, you must now become member
or be supposed to fall back into hercsy."
II knew not the nature of your baptism
at that time"
Granted; but you consented to it,
''Be it so. But pray, what may be the
punishment if refuse?''
"You will be burned alive at the stake;
nothing can save you. Hear me, Anime
Vanderleck when next summoned,
you must confess all; and asking pardon,
request to be received into the church;
then will you be saved, and you w.ill'.-
WHAT"
again be clasped in Philips arms"
MY Philip-my Philip!-you indeed
press me hard; but, father if I confess I
sm wrong when I feel am not
"Feel that you are not?''
Eyes. invoked my mothers assist
ance; she gave it me in a dream. Would
q mother have assisted her daughter If it
1t was not your mother, but q tend
who took the likeness"
1T was my mother Again YOU ask me
TO say that believe that which cannot. !"
THAT which you cannot! Anime YAM
derdecken, be not obstinate"
II am not obstinate, good father. Have
you not offered mo what is to me beyond
arms OF my husbands Can degra lie my
self to lie?-not for life, or liberty, or
even for my Philip"
Anime Vanderdecken, if you W ill con-
fess your crime before you are accused,
you Will have done much after your &C
cusation has been made, it will be of little
avail"
1t will not be done. either before or
after, father. What have done I have
done, but crime it Is not to mo and
mine; with you it moy be, but I ann not
Of yours
hecollect also that you peril your hus.
pand for having welded with sorcer ess.
Forget not; tomorrow I will see you
again"
My mind is troubled" replied Amino.
Leave me, father, it will be a kindness. ("
Father Matthias quilted the cell, pleased
with the last words of Anime. The idea
of her husbands danger seemed to have
startled her
Anime threw herself down on tho mat
tress IN the corner of the cell, and hid her
face.
Burned aliye" exclaimed she, after a
time, sitting up and passing her hands
over her forehead. "Burned alive! and
these are Christians. This, then, was the
cruel death foretold by that creature
eohriften-foretold-yes, and therefore
must bet is my destiny-I cannot save
myself II confess, then I confess that
Phllip Is welded to a sorceress, and he
WILL he punished too. No, neNer--never;
! can suffer; It's cruel-'tis horrible to
think of-but twill soon be over. God of
my fathers, give me strength against these
wicked men, and enable me to bear all for
my dear Philips sake.''
The next evening, Father Matthias again
made his appearance. He found Anime
calm and collected; she refused to listen
70 MS advice or follow his injpnctions.
his last observation, that cher husband
would be in peril if she was found guilty
OF sorcery" had steeled her heart, and she
mad determined that neither torture nor
the stake should make her confess the act.
Inc priest left the cell, sick at heart; he
now felt miserable at the idea of Anime
perlshlng by SO dreadful death; accused
nimselt OF Precipitation, and wished that
--SNoA oSch tiluli1e, whose con-
seahcy and courage, although in error, ex-
cited MS admiration and his pity. And
eheh ne thought of Philip, who had treat
ed MIN SO kindly-how C, ,uld he meet him?
And If he asked for his wife what answer
could no give9
another fortnight assed when Anime
was again summoned to the hall of judg.
ment, and again as ,ked If she confessed
her crimes. Upon Ter refusal, the accusa-
'iohs against her sere read. She was &C
cused by Father Matthias with practicing
ioroiooen arts, nd the dispositions of the
ooy Pedro and the other witnesses were
ie"u. IN MS zeal, Father Matthias also
e0t''co 1hat n had found her guilty of the
same pract' ecs at ferneuse; and, more
o'er' tiia1 IN the violent storm, when all
% perish, she had remained calm
anu .. couf aycous, and told the captain that
.ney w ,uld be saved, which could only
naVe seen known by an undue spirit OF
pseIJb Ecy givsn by evil spirits. Amins'l