The daily Alaskan., 1905-11-17
BEWITCEED
[Originul ]

[Originnll
 One bright summer morning more than two hundred years ago, a ship from England anchored off shore at a settlement In Massachusetts. To the people of the place the arrival of any, thing or any person was q subject Of excitement and they all went down to see what the vessel brought them. To their great joy besides stores there had come a number Sf people to cast their fortunes with them. The watch CTS on shore stood gaping under theIt broad brimmed puritan hats while a ships boat unloaded the emigrauts' among them a young girl who from the moment her foot touched the land made herself as much at home as 1T she had been born there. She had not been landed five minutes before her shoes and stockings were off and she was wadlng in the shadows, splash Ing the water, laughing and otherwise disporting herself. The grim faces on the shore formed singular contrast with the capering maiden.
 'Teu me-" said Hezekiah Stonehedge to the captain Of the ship, who is that madcap wno is disgrac!ng herself by showing her bare ankles to our young menf"
 "She calls herself Abigail Rogers
 "To which of the families does she belong2"
 'To none of them."
 "God help usw exclaimed Hezekiah stonehedge, throwing up his hands in pious horror.
 At that moment Abigail Rogers back was turned to the shore while she waded out toward a place where q small bit of sand rose above the sur face. As the water deepened she raised her skirts accordingly. Then 1t grew more shallow, and she stood on the little island, clapping her hands in great glee. She splashed her white feet in the water, hunted for shells Indeed found more to do In the nar- row compass than many would have found on all the coast. Though all eyes from the shore were fixed upon her, she paid no attention to her oO- 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 as if looking for help. Sweeping the line of sowing faces. she at last fixed on Hugh Sal tonstall, a stalwart young fellow, who had been looking on with tue others. The moment be received the maiden.s glance he strOde into the water and carried her In his arms to the shore.
 That was quite sufficient to stamp her as a witch. Hezekiah Stonchelge took the captain of the ship iuto his house and wrote down all the iuforma- ton he had to impart concerning A0i- gall 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 be 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 cnthral ment turned and went up toward the settlement, fleeing lest they should themselves come under the spell. Abi- gail wondered what had sent them away in such a hurry. Young Hugh endeavored to make her aware of the terrible danger overhGnging her. Why" he asked, did you put your self In such SeOpardy?"
 "The good God made me happy she replied, and I must be happy"
 How did you come to sail for these ihoresT
 My uncle sent me abroad in charge If a sailor, who hid me"
 "Why did he do that?'
 T don't know"
 Come with me to the house in which [ live. There are women there, and I'll see if l can persuade them to pro tcct 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 cabin. Hezeklah Stonehcjgc and Oth- CTS stood afar watching him. On reach. ing the cabin every woman but one fed. She, good mothcrly soul noth- Ing affrighted as the others, took the