ness, and a day is coming when such will not be permitted
to run at large. Beware! _beware!_ BEWARE!" and with the last command
amounting almost to a shriek, she turned about and ran away.

Long Charles Stevens stood gazing after the retreating woman. The gentle
breeze, stirring the leaves of the sweet-scented forest, bore pleasant
odors to them, the birds sang their sweet peaceful songs, while a
squirrel, with a nut in its paws, skipped nimbly over the leaves near
and, pausing, reared upon its hind legs and looked at them from its
bright little eyes, while the flowers nodded their gaudy little heads as
if to invite every one to be glad; but Charles and Cora saw not all
these beauties of nature. She stood leaning against the friendly trunk
of a giant oak, and turned her eyes on him with a look of helpless
appeal and agony. He was so dazed by the bold accusation, that he could
not 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 accused
people for witches. It is terrible," she added with a shudder. "In
England 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 met
her fate--cursing and reviling the hooting mob gathered about her,
whilst the angry flames, leaping upward, licked her face, caught her
locks, 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 more
enlightened and humane age. People are not burned to death now, as they
used to be. We are safe under the shelter of humane and wise laws."

Charles was mistaken. Human laws have never been perfect or just, and
mankind will never be safe while laws are interpreted by partial
magistrates. Laws are never perfect, for, were they, continual
amendments would be unnecessary.

On their way home, Charles and Cora were compelled to pass the Salem
church. As they did so, they met Mr. Parris face to face, as he was
coming out of the sanctuary whither he had gone to pray. He paused near
the door and, fixing his large gray eyes on the unfortunate maid, glare