Evening journal., 1905-10-02
BEWITCHED
forixinall

6etucmeul IN maHSacnuheltS. 10 lDe
people of the place the arrival Of any
thing OF any person was a 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 OF people TO cast
their fortunes with them The watch
ers on shore stood gaping under their
broad brimmed puritan hats while a
ships boat unloaded the emigrants,
among them young girl who from
the moment her fc1t touched the land
made herself as much at home as II
she had been born there. She had not
been landed Eve minutes before her
shoes and stockings were on and she
was wading IN the shadows. splash
ing the water. laughing and Otherwise
disporting herself. The grim faces on
the shore formed a singular contrast
with the capering maiden.
'sTell me-" said Hezekiah Stonehedge
to the captain Of the ship, who is that
madcap VINO is disgracing herself by
showing her bare ankles to our young
menT
"She calls herself Abigail Rogers"
"To which OF the families does she
belongY'
''To none OF them"
"God help usr' 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
a small bit Of sand rose above the sur
face. As the water deepened she
raised her skirts accordingly Then II
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 mar
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 OBJ
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 80 deep that she could raise her
skirts no further she stopped and cast
her eyes to the shore as II looking for
help. Sweeping the line OF scowline
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 strode into the water and
carried her In bis arms to the shore.
That was quite sufficient to stamT
her as a witch. Hezekiah Stonehedg'
took the captain Of the ship into hii
house and wrote down all the informa
tion he had to impart concerning Abb
gail Rogers No one knew how shi
had got aboard his vessel. for she ha'
not appeared till the morning after tn
ship had sailed. She had bewitchel
the sailors, who when she fixed he
eyes on them could not be made {
perform their duties properly. Thi
+, Stonehedge considered all the proc
o. needed.
{ When the young man set the gl'
- down on the sand every person WI
k saw what they considered his enthra
: ment turned and went up toward th
: settlement, fleeing lest they shoul
themselves come under the spell. Alb
gail wondered what had sent ther
away in such a hurry. Young Hug
endeayored to make her aware OF th
terrible danger overhanging hel
why" he asked, "did you put youl
4 self IN such jeopardy
= '-Tta good God made me happy" sh
d replied, "and must be happy"
# How did you come to sail for thes
n shoresT
my uncle sent me abroad in charg
Of sailor, who hid me-"
"Why did he do thatT
Il don't know"
sCome with me to the house in whic
live. There are women there, an
III see if can persuade them to pr
~ tect you"
,s The young man believed that befol
the day was spent she would be jaiie
and as soon as tried burned at Il
stake. He walked beside her to
cabin. Hezexiah Stonehedge and OF
y ers stood afar watching him. On reac
a ing the cabin every woman but OF
,e fed. She, good motherly soul, not
a ing affrighted as the others, took Il
" girl to her heart and gave her refres
le ment. Just before dark Hezekii
e. Stonehedge came, followed by two OF
ers to assist him. to demand the boo
Is Of the witch. Hugh Saltonstall M
n, him at the door.
1t 1.-The witch is not here" said 4
In young man. "An hour ago we put b
p by the chimney to rest. Suddenly the
a. was gust Of wind, and she vanishe
Rushing out OF the cabin, glanced
the sky. She was not there; but, loo
ing below, / saw her going down
the water with a sieve she had TAX
from the chimney piece When s
a reached the verge she launched I
"a sieve, got into 1t and sailed away"
In '.She has bewitched you" said Stor
D. hedge. not knowing whether the you
man lied or told the truth, and
to searched the place. He found nothir
d. for Abigail was hidden in the clock.
ly That night Saltonstall took the 6
ae In his boat TO the ship and prevail
Us on the captain to take her back to Er
land. Her protector went with her a
M upon investigation uncovered a p
r. to get rid Of her that another mig
secure a fortune she had inherit'
f. Her uncle had bribed a sailor to ia
her aboard the ship, and after her
pit parture she had been personated
T.