The daily Alaskan., 1905-08-08
BEWITCHED
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One bright summer morning mort than two hundred years ago, shir from England anchored on shore at a settlement in Massachusetts. To the people of the place the arrival oi any thing or any person was a sVbjcct oi excitement and they all went down to sec what the vessel brought them To their great joy besides stores there had come number gf people Co cast their fortunes with them. The watch. CTS on shore stood gaping under their broad brimmcd puritan hats while a ships boat unloaded the emlgrauts, among them a young girl who from the moment her foot touched the land made herself as much at home as fl she had been born there. She had not been landed five minutes before her shoes and stockings were od and she was wading In the shallows, splash. Ing the water, laughing and otherwise disportlng herself. The grim faces on the shore formed a singular contrast with the capcrlug maiden.
 Tell me" said Hczekiah Stonehedgc to the captain of the ship, who is that madcap wno is diSgracing herself by showing her bare ankles to our young meny
 "She calls herself Abigail Rogers
 "To which of the families does she belongT
 "To none of them"
 God hclp usr' exclaimed Hczckiah 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 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, clapplne her hands in great glce. 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 ob- servers and when she had tired start ed landwari. But while she had been sporting the tide had risen, and after she had advanced tn 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 scowling faces. she at last flXed on Hugh Sal tonstall, stalwart young fellow, who had been looking on with the others The moment he 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 witch. Hezekiah StonehedGe took the captain of the ship Into his house and wrote down all the informa- ton he had to impart concerning Abi- gail Rogers. No one knew how she had got aboard hls vessel, for she had not appeared till the morning after the shin 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 Stonehedce considered an the proof needed.
 When the young man set the girl down on the sand every person wh' saw what they considered his enthral- meut 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 hurry. Young Hugh endcavored to make her aware of the terrible danger overhanging her. Why" he asked, did you put your self in such jeopardyT'
 .sThe good God made me happy she replied. and I must be happy
 ''How did you come to sail for these shoresT'
 ''My uncle sent me abroad in charge of a sailor, who hid me"
 "Why did he do thatT'
 "I don't know"
 Come with me to the house In which I live. There are women there, and I'll see if I 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 cabin. Hezeliah Stonehedge and oth- CTS stood afar watching him. On reach ing the cabin every woman but one fled. She, good motherly soul noth- ing affrighted as the others, took the girl to her heart and gave her refresh ment. Just before dark Hezekiah Stonehedge came, followed by two oth- CTS to assist him, to demand the body of the witch. Hugh Saltonstall met him at the door.
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