The Witch of Salem; or, Credulity Run Mad Read online

  CHAPTER IX.

  CHARLES AND CORA.

  We wandered to the pine forest, That skirts the ocean foam. The lightest wind was in its nest, The tempest in its home. The whispering waves were half asleep The clouds were gone to play, And on the bosom of the deep The smile of heaven lay. --Shelley.

  In a thousand artless ways, Cora, despite the strange mystery whichseemed to envelop her, won her way to the hearts of all who knew her.Goody Nurse, who was a frequent caller at the home of the widow Stevens,was loud in her praises of the maiden, who had budded into womanhood.Charles found her growing more shy, as she became more mature and morebeautiful; but as she grew more reserved, her power over him becamegreater, until, though unconscious of it, she had made him her slave.

  One day he met her in one of her short rambles about the wood near thehouse. Her eyes were on the ground, and her face was so sad that itseemed to touch his heart. He went toward her, and she started from herpainful reverie and looked as if she would fly.

  "Cora, it is I, are you afraid of me?" he asked.

  "No."

  Then he went to her side and asked:

  "Why are you so sad to-day?"

  "Do I seem sad?"

  "You look it."

  "It is because of the good pastor's hatred of me. You were not at Churchlast Lord's day?"

  "No; I was in Boston."

  "Hath not your mother told you of it?"

  "She told me nothing."

  Her sad eyes seemed to swim in tears, and Charles entreated her to tellhim what Mr. Parris had said of her. Without answering his question, sheasked:

  "What do you think of Goody Nurse and her sisters, Goody Cloyse andGoody Easty?"

  "They are very excellent women," Charles answered, "I would that we hadmore like them."

  "Is it wrong for a young maid such as I to keep their company?"

  "Assuredly not."

  Charles saw that Cora had something to tell, and he begged her to cometo a large moss-covered log, on which they seated themselves, and thenhe asked:

  "Cora, who said it was wrong?"

  "Mr. Parris."

  "When?"

  "On last Lord's day he did upbraid us as the emissaries of the Devil,and Goody Nurse avowed if the minister did not cease to upbraid her inchurch, she would absent herself."

  "That would be a violation of law. All are compelled to attend worshipon Lord's day."

  She was silent for several moments and then remarked:

  "Can a law compel one to go where she is maligned and all the calumnieshate can invent heaped upon her head?"

  "By the laws of the colony, all must attend church on Lord's day."

  The laws of the Puritans were exacting, and ministers of the characterof Mr. Parris took advantage of them.

  "It is sad," sighed Cora.

  "What did Mr. Parris say of you on last Lord's day, Cora?"

  "I cannot recall all that he said. Even his text I have forgotten, for,as he was announcing it, Abigail Williams was seized with a grievousfit, and did cry out that Goody Nurse was pinching her. When she becamequiet, and the pastor again announced his text, Abigail interrupted himwith: 'It is not a doctrinal text, and it is too long.' He said thatwhen the children of God went to worship, Satan came also. Then hedeclared that the Devil was in the church at that moment, and he lookedat Goody Nurse and me, who sat near each other in the church. 'Do any ofyou doubt that the imps of darkness are in your presence? Behold howthey associate the one with the other. Those who afflict and persecutethe children of the righteous, and the unholy offspring of a player!' Hegrew in a towering passion and cried out so against me, that all eyeswere turned upon me, and I bowed my head. No sooner had I done so, thanhe called on all to witness how Satan rebuked dared not show his face inthe house of God. If I but looked on him to deny his charges he calledit the brazen impudence of a child of darkness. All through his sermon,I sat listening to reproof for what I cannot help, or the frequentallusions to the familiar spirits of Goody Nurse."

  Tears quietly stole from the sad eyes and trickled down the cheeks ofthe maiden. He sought to console her and, to change her mind to a morecheerful subject, asked:

  "Where is your father?"

  "Alas, I know not, save that he has gone with his brother Harry Watersto Canada to procure furs."

  "Cora, what strange mystery surrounds your life?"

  "I know not."

  "Don't you remember aught of your mother?"

  "No; I never saw her. My earliest recollections are of the theatre,where a nurse cared for me in the greenroom, while my father performedon the stage."

  "Does he never talk of her?"

  "My mother?"

  "Yes."

  "He never mentions her name."

  "Have you never asked him about her?"

  "Yes."

  "What answer does he make?"

  "He says I may learn all in due time."

  To Charles Stevens, it was quite evident that Cora's father waspurposely putting off some important revelation. He gazed upon her fairyoung face and in it could see little or no resemblance to her father.Then a suspicion entered his mind, that she might not after all be thechild of George Waters. Though mysterious, Cora tried to concealnothing; her manner and conversation were frank and open.

  "Your father was captured at the battle of Sedgemore, was he not?"

  "Yes; he was impressed into the army of Monmouth. My father had nointerest in either army. What were their quarrels to him? Part of thetime he was in the Netherlands, and a part of the time in France,Scotland or Wales. I don't think at any time he knew much of England'strouble. We were roving all the time and thought little of politicalquestions. When he was arrested and forced into Monmouth's army, atBridgewater, he asked whose army it was."

  "And you followed him?"

  "I followed at a distance and from a lofty hill watched the long, hardstruggle. Oh, such a scene as it was! Ranks of cavalry and ranks ofinfantry dashing at each other. Through the great volumes of smoke anddust, I watched the regiment to which my father had been attached. I sawit in the thickest of the fight and, kneeling by a stone fence, prayedGod to spare him. God answered my prayer, for he was spared. When I sawMonmouth's army retreating and the ruthless butchers of the king inpursuit, I ran down the lane, weeping and wringing my hands, expectingto find his dead body. I was very young then; but the scene has beenindelibly stamped on my memory.

  "As I was running down the hill, I met him, so covered with dust andblackened with gunpowder, that at first I knew him not. He knew me, and,as I swooned at his feet, he carried me across a field to a road-sideinn, where I recovered, and we were about to resume our flight, when theking's soldiers surrounded the house. One of the officers cocked hispistol to shoot my father and would have done so, had I not clung to hisneck and presented my body as a shield between him and the trooper'sbullet.

  "'Spare him for the hangman,' suggested another.

  "He was spared, and at the trial it appeared that he held no commissionin the rebel's army, so he was condemned to ten years' penal servitudein the colonies, and was sent to Virginia, whither I went, also. Of ourescape, through the kindness and courage of your relative in Virginia,you already know."

  "Is your father going to take you away?"

  "Yes; he says that my persecution at Salem will cease as soon as he canprepare a home for me."

  "Where?"

  "In Maine."

  "Do you want to go away, Cora?"

  She was silent for a long while, in fact, so long was she silent that heasked the question again before she answered. Then, fixing herbeautiful eyes, with a startled expression, on him, she answered:

  "No, no! I would not go away, if I could remain in peace; but ourpersecutions seem endless. My father is a good man. Although he was aplayer, he was ever the kindest of fathers, and taught me only thepurest religious sentiments, yet Mr. Parris calls him the agent of thedevil."

  Charles
shudderingly responded:

  "Cora, I fear we are on the verge of a fearful upheaval of ignorance andsuperstition. Religion, our greatest blessing, perverted, will becomeour greatest curse. I cannot understand it, Cora; but we are on thebrink of some terrible volcano, which will destroy many, I fear."

  That Charles Stevens was no false prophet, subsequent history has fullyproven. Coming events seemed to cast their dark shadows before. In NewEngland, there had been a preparation for this stage in the temper withwhich the adventurers had arrived in the country, and the influenceswhich at once operated upon them. Their politics and religion weregloomy and severe. Those who were not soured with the world were sad,and, it should be remembered, they fully believed that Satan and hispowers were abroad and must be contended with daily and hourly and inevery transaction of life. There was little in their new home to cheerthem; for the gloomy and unexplored forests shrouded the entire landbeyond the barren seashore. Their special enemy, the Indian, always onthe alert in some mysterious glade to take advantage of them, was not,in their view, a simple savage. Their clergy, ignorant and fanatic asthey were zealous, assured them that the Indians were worshippers andagents of Satan; and it is difficult to estimate the effect of thisbelief on the minds and tempers of those who were thinking of theIndians at every turn of daily life. Indian hatred has ever been mingledwith ferocity and fanaticism quite inconsistent with mild precepts ofJesus Christ. This passion, kindled by the first demonstration ofhostility on the part of the Massachusetts red man, grew and spreadincessantly under the painful early experience of colonial life, and hasbeen only intensified by time. In turn, every man had to be scout by dayand night, in the swamp and in the forest, and every woman had to be onthe watch in her husband's absence to save her babes from murderers andkidnappers. Whatever else their desires might be, even to supply theircommonest needs, the citizens had first to station themselves withinhail of each other all day, and at night to drive in their cattle amongthe dwellings and keep watch by turns. Even on Sundays, patrols wereappointed to look to the public safety while the citizens were atchurch. Mothers carried their babes to the meeting-house in preferenceto remaining at home in the absence of husbands and neighbors. TheSabbath patrol was not only for the purpose of looking for Indians, butto mark the absentees from worship, note what they were doing, and giveinformation accordingly to the authorities. These patrols were chosenfrom the leading men of the community--the most active, vigilant andsensible--and one can easily perceive that much ill-will might haveaccumulated in the hearts of those whom they saw fit to report. Suchill-will had its day of triumph when the Salem tragedy reached itsclimax.

  Levity, mirth and joy were condemned by the Puritans, and nearly allamusements were discarded. The merry whistle of the lad was ungodly intheir eyes, and Charles Stevens had come in for his share of the reproofbecause God had given him a light heart. Life to them was sombre, and,usually, sombre lives lead to bloodshed, crime and fanaticism.

  Charles sought to instil some of his joy into the sad life of theunfortunate maid. To him the sun shone brightly, the flowers bloomedradiantly, and the birds sang sweetly for the pleasure of man. Life wasearnest, but not austere, and religion did not demand gloom.

  "Have no care for what Mr. Parris may say," he said. "His congregationis divided against him, and he cannot harm you."

  "Only a little longer, just a little longer, and I will be gone wherethey can torment me no more," answered Cora. "In the forests of Maine, Iwill be hidden from the eyes of my enemies and be alone with God."

  They rose and wandered down the path on either side of which the densestof thickets grew. Both were lost in thought. A shadow had come over theface of Charles Stevens the moment Cora spoke of going away. He hadnever admitted even to himself that he loved her; yet, ever since thatstormy night when he volunteered to brave the tempest and conducted herhome, he had been strangely impressed with Cora.

  The mystery of her early life was somewhat repugnant to one of hisplain, outspoken nature; yet, with all that, he was forcibly impressedby her sweet, pure and sad disposition.

  They were wandering pensively hand in hand toward his mother's home,when a voice called to them from across the brook. The sound of thevoice broke the spell, and, looking up, he saw Sarah Williams comingtoward them.

  "Hold, will you, Charles Stevens, until I speak to the one whoaccompanies you."

  The young widow was greatly excited, and her voice trembled withemotion.

  "Who is that woman?" asked Cora, trembling with agitation.

  "Sarah Williams."

  "I have seen her."

  "Where?"

  "At church. She was the one who upbraided Goody Nurse for being awitch."

  Cora was greatly agitated, as she saw Sarah Williams, with demoniacalfury, hastening toward her. Surely she would do her no injury, for Corawas not conscious of ever having given her offence.

  "Have no fears, Cora, she will not harm you. I trow it is somecommonplace matter of which she would speak."

  Thus assured, she had almost ceased to dread the approach of the woman,when Sarah Williams suddenly cried, in a voice trembling with fury:

  "Cora Waters, have you no sense of shame? Are you wholly given up to theevil one?"

  "What mean you?" Cora asked.

  "Why do you torment me?"

  "I do not, knowingly."

  "False tool of Satan! Did not your shape come at me last night?"

  "Assuredly not."

  "Oh woman, woman! why will you speak so falsely? I saw you."

  "When?"

  "Last night, as I lay in my bed, you came and choked me, because I wouldnot sign the little red book which you carried in your hand."

  Filled with wonder, Charles Stevens turned his eyes upon Cora, whoseface expressed blank amazement, and asked:

  "What does this mean?"

  "I take God to be my witness, that I know nothing of it, no more thanthe child unborn," she answered.

  "Woe is the evil one, who speaks falsely when accused!" cried theenraged Sarah Williams. Then she closed her fist and made an effort tostrike Cora, who, with a scream, shrunk from her.

  "Hold, Sarah Williams! Don't judge hastily, or you may judge wrongly."

  "Go to! hold your peace, Charles Stevens, for, verily, I know whereof Ispeak, when I charge that the shape of Cora Waters does grievouslytorment me."

  "Are you mad?"

  "No."

  "Then of what do you accuse her?"

  "She is a witch."

  At this awful accusation both Charles and Cora shrunk back in dismay,and for a moment neither could speak; but Sarah Williams was not silent.She continued upbraiding the unfortunate girl, heaping charge uponcharge on her innocent head, until Cora felt as if she needs must sinkbeneath the load.

  "You have bewitched my cows; my sheep and swine die mysteriously. Yourform is seen oft at night riding through the air. My poultry diestrangely and mysteriously, and my dog has fits. Even my poor cat hathfallen under the evil spell which you cast on all about me. Alas, CoraWaters, you are bold and bad. Charles Stevens, beware how you are seenabout her, lest the wrath that will fall upon her head involve you inruin."

  Cora Waters, leaning against a tree, covered her face with her hands andmurmured:

  "Oh, God! wilt thou save me from the wrath of these misguided people?"

  "See how she blasphemes! For a witch to call on the name of God isblasphemy of the very worst kind. Away, witch!" and Sarah stamped herfoot in violence upon the ground.

  "Stay, Cora!" Charles interposed, very calmly. Then he turned upon SarahWilliams, and added:

  "You accuse her falsely, Sarah. Beware how you charge her of what thelaw makes a crime, or you may have to answer in a court for slander."

  "Charles Stevens, beware how you defend the being at your side. She isan imp of darkness, and a day is coming when such will not be permittedto run at large. Beware! _beware!_ BEWARE!" and with the last commandamounting almost to a shriek, she turned about and ran away.
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br />   Long Charles Stevens stood gazing after the retreating woman. The gentlebreeze, stirring the leaves of the sweet-scented forest, bore pleasantodors to them, the birds sang their sweet peaceful songs, while asquirrel, with a nut in its paws, skipped nimbly over the leaves nearand, pausing, reared upon its hind legs and looked at them from itsbright little eyes, while the flowers nodded their gaudy little heads asif to invite every one to be glad; but Charles and Cora saw not allthese beauties of nature. She stood leaning against the friendly trunkof a giant oak, and turned her eyes on him with a look of helplessappeal and agony. He was so dazed by the bold accusation, that he couldnot speak for several seconds. She was first to regain her speech.

  "She, too, is my enemy."

  "Yes," he answered.

  "I have no friend----" she began.

  "Don't say that, Cora. While mother and I live, you have two friends,"he interrupted.

  "Yes--yes; I had not forgotten you; but you may be powerless to aid me.I learned that they were going to arrest and try some of the accusedpeople for witches. It is terrible," she added with a shudder. "InEngland they burn witches at the stake. My father saw one thus roasted.He said it did touch him with tenderness to see the gallant way she mether fate--cursing and reviling the hooting mob gathered about her,whilst the angry flames, leaping upward, licked her face, caught herlocks, crackling about her old gray head. I trow it was a sorry sight,and God be praised, I never saw such a one!"

  "You never will, Cora, for those days are passed. We live in a moreenlightened and humane age. People are not burned to death now, as theyused to be. We are safe under the shelter of humane and wise laws."

  Charles was mistaken. Human laws have never been perfect or just, andmankind will never be safe while laws are interpreted by partialmagistrates. Laws are never perfect, for, were they, continualamendments would be unnecessary.

  On their way home, Charles and Cora were compelled to pass the Salemchurch. As they did so, they met Mr. Parris face to face, as he wascoming out of the sanctuary whither he had gone to pray. He paused nearthe door and, fixing his large gray eyes on the unfortunate maid, glaredat her much as an angry lion might gaze on the object of its hatred;then he turned away on his heel with something about the children ofdarkness profaning the house of the Lord.

  Cora shuddered as long as he was in sight, and when he had disappeared,she said:

  "Surely, he is a bad man!"

  They resumed their walk to the house. Though neither spoke, they wentslowly, each buried in thought. The gentle zephyrs, the friskingsquirrels, the nodding flowers, the singing birds, were all unheeded bythem. When the home was reached, he found his mother standing in thedoor, her face almost deathly white.

  Though she said nothing, he knew she was greatly disturbed. Her wheelstood idle, the great heap of wool rolls lying unspun at the side of it.She smiled faintly and, as Cora passed into the little room set apartfor her, turned her eyes anxiously to her son.

  "Mother, has any one been here since we left?" he asked.

  "Yes."

  "Was it Mr. Parris?"

  "It was."

  "We saw him come out of the church as we passed."

  "He was here but a moment since."

  Then Charles felt that something had been said to his mother to occasionalarm, and he asked her what it was.

  "He advised me to warn you to flee from the wrath to come. He said youwould be involved in ruin ere you knew it, if you continued in yourpresent course."

  "What did he mean?"

  "He referred to her," and Mrs. Stevens significantly nodded toward theapartment in which Cora was. Charles had expected this answer. He wentslowly to the door and looked down the road to see if the pastor wasstill in sight; but he was not. Only the broad, well-beatenthoroughfare, with the great, old trees standing on either side, and theblue sea beyond the hill, with the village in the valley were visible.The youth's heart was full of bitterness, and the manner in which hismother's words were spoken was not calculated to allay the storm withinhis breast. Though her words did not say so, her manner indicated thatshe shared the opinions of Mr. Parris. Turning from the door, Charleswent toward her and said:

  "Mother, whatever he said of her is false. I know he hates Cora, that hewould make her one of the emissaries of Satan; but his charges arefalse. You know--you must know that she is a pure, good girl."

  "I do know it," she answered, her face still anxious and pale. "Theaccusation is false. I know it is false; yet he threatens."

  "Whom does he threaten?"

  "You."

  Charles laughed, as only a brave lad can laugh at danger. Why need hefear Mr. Parris? Charles was young and inexperienced. He knew not theage in which he lived, and little did he dream of the power which Mr.Parris, as pastor of the church, could wield over the public. The pulpitcontrolled judges and juries, law-makers and governors in that day, andwhen an evil-disposed person like Mr. Parris became pastor of acongregation, he could wield a terrible influence.

  "Mother, how can he injure me?" Charles asked.

  "In more ways than one."

  "What are they?"

  "I don't know, Charles; but I know--I feel that something terrible isabout to happen. Our people will suffer from Mr. Parris--especially allwho oppose his ministry."

  "I oppose his ministry, and I have no fear of him. All he can do is towound the feelings of that poor girl; but she will go away soon, beyondreach of his calumny."

  "Heaven grant she may, and right soon, too." As Charles was about toleave the house, his mother asked: "Have you heard that Adelpha Leislerfrom New York is coming?"

  "Adelpha Leisler! No----" He started, half in joy and half in regret.

  "She is. Surely, you have not forgotten her."

  "No, mother. I will never forget the pretty maid."

  "Who, you said in your boyhood, was one day to be your wife."

  "Truly, I did. I have heard that Adelpha hath kept the promise of earlychildhood to make a beautiful woman. When will she come?"

  "It is said she will be here before next Lord's Day."

  The expression of joy uttered in words, as well as the glow whichlighted up his countenance, was seen by the white-faced young woman inthe next apartment. Cora was not an intentional eavesdropper. Her doorhad been left accidentally ajar, and when she heard the name AdelphaLeisler spoken, she started to her feet, moved by a strange impulsequite inexplicable to her. She had never heard the name Adelpha Leislerbefore, and yet she intuitively felt that the name had some terriblebearing on her destiny. With loud beating heart, lips parted and herwhole being expressing pain, she crouched close to the door andlistened.