Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-22
DAILY SHORT STORY
REWTTCHED.
~~@<~~~~~
lOriginall

One bright summer morning more
than two hundred years ago, ship
from England anchored of shore at a
settlement in Massachusetts. To the
people OF the place the arrival of any
thing or any person was a subject of
excitement and they all went down
10 see what the vessel brought them.
To their CREST joy besides stores there
had come n number OF people to east
their fortunes with them. The watch
ers on shOre stood gaping under their
broad brimIDed puritan hats while a
ships boat unIoaded the emigrants,
among them Il young girl, who from
the moment her foot touched the land
made herself aS much at home as il
she had been born there. She had not
been landed five minutes before her
shoes and stockings were of and she
was wading in the shadows. splash
ing the water laughing and otherwise
disporting herself The grim faces on
the shore formed singular contrast
with the caperiIg maiden.
Tell me-" said Hezekiah Stonehedge
to the captain ofithe ship. who is that
madcap VINO is disgracing herself by
showing her bare ankles to our young
men,
'She calls herself Abigail Rogers"
'"To which of the families does she
belong"
TO none Of them"
God help u.s. exclaimed Hezekiah
Stonehedge. throwing up hbs hands in
piOuS horror.
A. chat rnnnaut Ahl1ai II RnparS'
back was turned To the shore while
she waded out toward a place where
a small bit OF sand rose above the sur
face. As the water deepened she
raised her skirts accordingly. Then it
grew more shallow. and she stood on
the little island. clapping her hands in
great glee. She splashed her white
feet i'm the water, hunted for shells
indeed found more to do i'll the mar
row compass than mRRy would have
found on all the coast. Though all
ewes from the shore were fixed upon
her, she paid NO attention to her Oh
servers and when she had tired start
ed landward. But while she had been
sporting the tide had risen. and after
she had advanced till the water be
came so deep that she could raise her
skirts no further she stopped and cast
her eyes to the shore a3 il looking for
help. Sweeping the line of scOwllng
faces, she at last fixed on Hugh Sal
tonstall, a stalwart young fellow. who
had been looking on with the others.
The moment he received the maiden's
glance he strobe into the water and
carried her In his arms to the shore.
pbnf 10 CT
her as witch HezekIah Stonehedge
took tue captain of the ship into his
house and wrote down all the Informa-
ton he had TO impart concerning Abb
gail Rogers. No one knew how she
had got aboard his vessel. for she had
not appeared till the morning after the
ship had sailed She had bewitched
the sailors, who when she fixed her
eyes on them could not he made to
perform their duties properly. This
Stonehedge considered all the proof
needed.
When the young man set the girl
down on the sand every person who
saw what they considered his enthral
ment turned and went up toward the
settlement. fleeing lest they should
themselves come under the spell Abb
gail wondered what had sent them
away in such hurry. Young Hugh
endea vored to make her aware Of the
terrible danger overhanging her.
Why" he asked. did you put your
self In such jeopardy
The good God made me happy" she
replied. land ! must be happy"
How did you come to sail for these
shores?"
My uncle sent me abroad in charge
OF a sailor, who hid me"
'Why did he do that?"
Il don't know"
Come with me to the house In which
live. There are women there, and
I'll see II can persuade them to pro-
tect you"
The young man believed that before
the day was spent she would be Jailed
and as soon as tried burned at the
stake He walked beside her to a
ga bin Hezekiah Stonehedge and 9th
ers stood afar watching him. On reach
ing the cabin every woman but one
fed She. good motherly soul, moth
ing affrighted as the others. took the
girl TO her heart and gave her refresh
ment. Just before dark HeZekiah |
came followed by two 9th
ers to assist him. 10 demand the body |
of the witch Hugh Saltonstall met |
him at the door.
The witch is not here" said the |
Young man. AN hour ago we put her |
by the chimney TO rest. Suddenly there |
was gust Of wind. and she vanished. |
out of the cabin. / glanced at |
the sky. She was not there; but, look
ing below, ] saw her going down TO |
the water with sieve she had taken |
from the chimney piece. When she |
reached the verge she launched the /
sieve. got into IL and sailed away"
She has bewitched you" said Stone
hedge. not knowing whether the young /
man lied or told the truth. and he |
the place. He found nothing, /
for Abigail was hidden in the clock.
That night SaItonRtaIi took the girl