Page:Salem - a tale of the seventeenth century (IA taleseventeenth00derbrich).pdf/192

 the Church of Christ, of which she had long been an honored member; her innocent life lied away by malicious tongues; she was imprisoned for months; she met a felon's death; and her poor remains are not even allowed to rest in hallowed ground. Oh, brother! forgive me if I speak too strongly, but my heart is full of bitterness; and how do I know if, before another week closes, I may not myself occupy the cell from which she has gone, and my little children be cast out to the mercy of the cold world, as so many other poor children have been?"

For a few moments Jonathan Corwin sat meditating in gloomy silence, his head resting on his hand, while Mrs. Browne wept silently. At last, raising his head, he asked in trembling tones:

"Hannah, do you blame me; do you hold me responsible for all this? if you do, you must look upon me as a murderer."

"No, Jonathan," answered his sister, laying her hand kindly upon his, "I do not mean to blame you; I know that your office has its painful duties; 1 do not believe you ever willfully wronged any one; but I do