Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-09-09
IN THE DAYS OF
WTCHCRAFT
How Anne Holliwell Was
Saved From the Stake.

W
an odd story. My grandfather gave
1t 10 my father. and my father gave
II to me.
Anne Holliwell when she was eight
cen years old was accused of witch
graft. Mark Spooner, a big. strong fell
low. wanted to marry her. but he was
q wicked one--they said he had secret
meetings with Satan at midnight In
the woodland Anne would have moth
Ing to do with him Moreover. she
loved Joel Hallitt. son OF Deacon Hal
litt, who went or with the Roger Will
iiams people. Joel was the reverse OF
Hpoouer, being a small. pale looking
young man. but with very htellec-
tuai countenance. He was not In ia
vor with the congregation. however,
because he openly denied the right OF
the church to burn out woman's
tongue with a redhot iron. Indeed. so
great was the indignation against his
heretical protest that Joel came near
paying the penalty OF his rashness
with his life.
Now. 1 am not going to vouch for
what I intend to tell you. I'll give It
as l got It from others and their In
| take different views concerning IT, I
shall have no objection.
Anne Hoiiiwell was accused. as
have said. OF witchcrafG My grand
father used to say that Mark Spooner
was at the bottom OF the accusation
with view to getting Anne into his
power. but this was not current at the
time. However this be. Anne was
tried and sentenced to be burned
| When the fagots were prepared and
Anne was being bound to the stake
tall man stepped out OF wood nearby
and advanced to the party. He wore a
purple doublet bordered with red, and
red hose, while on his head was a con-
zeal hat with single feather In It
There was something SO singular In his
appearance that the people turned
from Anne Holliweli.. the stake and the
fagots to look at him.
what do you with the wenchT' ask
ed the stranger.
"We're going to burn her. She's
witch"
"a witchY" The speaker threw back
his head and. displaying white, point
ed teeth. gave laugh. At first 1t was
simple ironical ha. hal Then It had
the ring OF trumpet in It. Then came
back an echo. though there was no en-
inence or cliff to send 1t.
.Who are your asked one of the
pillars OF the church who were con-
Quoting the execution. "You strange
ly resemble Mark Spooner. but you
are not Mark Spooner, for Mark Is but
twenty-five. while you-you may be
young or you may be old"
"No matter who 1 am. | have come
for the wench."
"Stand orr cried several OF the most
pious men present, who had no mind
that the Lords will should be inter-
fered with. but the stranger. drawing
his sword. stepped up to Anne Holli-
well and. cutting the cords. led her
away toward the wood. Some said
that sparks were seen to fiy from the
point OF the sword, some that his face
suddenly from being quite handsome
became so demoniacal that every man
gave way instinctively before him. AS
for Anne. from the first she shrank
away from him, but he took her by
the wrist. and. though he seemed to
make no exertion. he dragged her
away from the fagots. after which she
walked beside him passively. as
though under a spell. In this way he
took her to the edge of the wood.
where the two disappeared.
An hour later Anne HolliweH. ac-
companied by Joel Hallitt, came back
into the town. She was not further
molested by the people. 1t was not
generally known why, though the mas
ter of ceremonies who was to have
presided at her execution after long
interview with her gave out that she
could not have been witch because
the devp had tried to rescue her and
had failed. Ny grandfather claimed
to have got the story of what happen
cd after abe disappeared with the
stranger from one OF her children.
Joel Hallitt on the night before the
expected execution. instead OF giving
way to his grief. spent the hours on
bis knees praying that the people
, might be absolved from the supersti-
tons Of witchcraft and persecution.
When the hour OF the execution came
he was seized with an impulse to go
and save the girl Seeing a sword
standing In the corner whose hilt was
1 bhdpoU nk0 u CkO1bs uG bGlLc0 ~ anu
sailed forth. His course lay through
the wood, and after entering 1t he met
the stranger. leading-Anne. Approach
ing them, he asked whittier they were
going. Anne gave her lover an APP
!. pealing look. and the man glared at
him with such a demoniacai counte-
; nance that Joel instinctively held up
the sword In his hand between him.
self and the stranger. Whether 1t was
the cross on the hilt or an angelic ex-
preston that Anne afterward declared
appeared on Joel's countenance. the
stranger drew back and. crouching,
slowly shrunk away. Joel. now be-
lieving that power had been given him
D In answer to his prayer to save Anne.
, still holding up the sword. drove the
r stranger to the thickest part of the
wood. where he disappeared.
: My father always said that my
{ grandfather believed that Mark Spoon
{ err arranged with the devil to get
\ Anne Holliwell for him In return for
his own soul