The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-18
sInALLA, TIE soRcEaESs.

lie tOpA OF MS velvet mantle ana cast IL over lle
scahtiiy lad shoulders OF the nower g,rl, unwing
INA Tue ruue eyes OF the mob shoId feast upon such
".ieaven bless you, dear Mortimer" said Laurctta,
as she claspe the mlnLle arc mi her. ''she wolId
nave Killed me II hii not exposed my neck AMI
ar MS. Shi said II would attract rade /"
Su no more Lauretta. iou can explain all when
we reach my mothers house." replied Mortimer, as
they moved away IN haste.
slDa la Won u have pursued had she dare l. nut the
menacins aspect and shouts Of the crowd varied
her tnal she nid best look TO her own safety.
sorcery was ex lenaly unpopular IN ,hal asc, am,
IN TACT, the late fratrlclda' KIM, lward ~, had
compissed the death OF his brother George, Duke Of
CiIrease, oy accusing him OF the crime Of sorcerv
sibLlla no yevel, though she proessel to forstcll
and pr ophecy, claimed tnat sac received hcr power
rom gooi spirits and that she dealt with nothing
evil nor hsd any formal accus ition ever been mrle
arainst her. Some secret friend OF powerful lnnu-
ence al court also protected her. and she could show
permit from no meaner hanl than that OF The King
CIV ny aibala Thornbuck the right to foretell and
still she was hated as well as feared by the people,
Hated because OF her furious temper and bitter
tongue joined TO the general b.lef tnat al sorceres
necessarily had dea ilys with evil sp rits In Divers
Shapes, ana soneyi mes with the father OF all ev
himself; feared because 1t was currently reported
that none VINO dared to Offend her had ever pros
offender.
anu many who had hitherto avoide her baciul gaze
now took courage from the number OF htr esilers
anu clanored for her punishment.
The enreaty Of Mortimer, "a he left the mower
BOO y, restrained the vioen ;e or the crowd but FOR
moment an Wien voice shouted, Let us cudsel
the witch ~ score OF 0 hers re peated the cry.
ssioalla percclviny her danger. looked ABOUT for
an open NJ 10 escape but saw that she was con-
pletely nemmei IN BY deep circle Of flashing eyes,
angry faces aud outstretched arms.
Though ali shouted ''Bcat her I" 'Cudgel her"
TEAR her u pecesp all waited for so ne on, to De-
gin the attack, for finding n ght impossible tbs de-
perate hlS had drawn great knife from under her
gown anu len,d her enemies
Come on, We rascally dogsl' she screamed as she
hourished tue gttsrln1 steel over mead. "WhO SAYS
.Beaj h.rT Here she is. Come on, my bold QUO isl
VINO wish's tie hrst tlste Of my knles IL won't
hurt-oh mol Don't be afraid, my children OF the
devil. It's point anu edses are poisoned, my dcars.
Just scratch on your hides and s all up vita you
You'll DIE before the days out. Tint IS al. Cone
on my Lads. Lay on, my boys. Tne old woman Is
not afraid. She won't hurt yOu-oh moi"
Thus sneering and Threatening the lierce sorceress
stood al lay, uclyilg and jeering by turns.
There was mucl shouting by those who composed
the outskirts and centre OF che CIRCLE around her;
but those In the front rank shrAna from the terrible
glare Of her lery eyes the glitter OF her poisoned
knife, ald the desperate III 20 and nate wucl dis
torted her hideous. scarlet visage, aud splu tered
nakes OF foam from her grinnins teeth and purple
lips.
Even the bur-faced countryman with the stout
oaken stf, recOi ed as she dar cd glance OF fury
W him. snrleklng as she shook her knife ~ him.
Come clodhopper, try your star against my
knife Chaw bacon, you are coward p
At this moment an incident occurred which added
to the growing terror of the supeistiIons mob
large owl suddenly nuttered down with heavy,
tapping wings from the tree near the booth and
peicne on the head Of che sJrcecess roiag his
great staring eyes about hun and swapping his horny
beak.
siDalla recognized the bird a. he nu.tered from
the ice, as one OF her uncouth pets which had es-
capped rom her booth that morniuy. The ugly bird
Dai recognized the voice OF h 8 N stress aud being
hungry amer his truancy, naturally sought the pres
ence oI one WAC supplied his vorLctls With dainty
l0oi.
The mob, however, imagined this mass OF
featnered ugness rs one or Tie servant demons OF
he sorceress coming to her aid, aud ie back hastily
o. she called out
.Are you there Philip Look at the rascals Philip
BE rea y to tear their eyes out my pet Inen scratch
the face Of that cioIh0pper," sbe ad lel pointing at
far. ner whose eyes were expanded with terror a5
he gael al the bird.
The owl, trained to understand and obey every
gesture VI MS MISTRESS swoopei al The fam ,r VITA
q hoarse cry, and gashed his cheek witn swift
clutch OF liis sharp and powerful claws.
The boor, who inIg,ned the devil was in the bird.
roare VITA pam and terror, and plunged heai.ong
INTO the crowd, yeliing NJ the top vi AIS VOICE.
save me. good people! Save me from the devil
ald al his angelsI"
A saia thing viii often strike mob with panic
ooor. every man. woman and Guild del Ia iausnapie
The owl nuttered heavily around his mistress az
DRAWN. magic circle Tor her protection, and then,
dazzled by me rays OF the GUN, again perchei him
sell upon her head, niboling her ear, his
tom when he desired food.
Tne moD, however, ganclng back over their shou-
ders, ilas,n That the owl was impartng diaboica
schemes TO the sorceresS for their PUNISH nent and
did not pause until NJ u considerable distances
There they halted TO take note OF the movements
OF the sorceress, who had made no attempt To pur-
sue them, a. they mad feared.
'Id give a ton OF hay" SAID the farmer with the
neck ~ t unee owl Is NV 1e ena IL "fs inc
.ihe nend is In the bird" replied tue bufr-faccd
countryman with the stan. when 1t darted AT you
dodge, made at 1t TO strike II down, AMI AZ a
LIVING man, my lad my cnd2ei cut through It with
Out turning q leatier.n
Lets pelt the witch, Robin; but wait-therc goes
q party oil the city gailan.s towards herr
''Ihey are servants OF nobesn said Robin, "and
he on tue horse must be cnieL but ttoisc, here
comes score Of riders riding IN at the horse gate Of
the green"
Ge countrymen moved aside To give way before
the advance Of a small cayalcale of v cal armed and
has been hand "a down to posterty-as Infamous.
lie was a man IN the prime or young manhood,
a al sinister face despite It's manly lau isomeness
appeared lar older Ihe craft aud cunning or one
cd III schemng ambition and mercless cruelty
already wrinkled TIE cheeks and furrowel the brow
OF tichard of gloucester then King Of England.
lie sat IN ms steel saddle erect aud stern, and Us
he entered the green his keen, wary glance swept
The form Of the sorceress was ut 'he moment n
conspicuous object, Tor she stood in the centre OF
great circle or people whose cdes and gestures
directed toward her.
''rnere IL the woman des.re 10 &C.," remarked
the King as ns eye fell upon the crimson gown o. tie
s0rceiess. "spur after. gentlemen
"Ihe King cred hundred voices, - tie people
recognized the monarch. way for The King ~
No cheers Of applause ever greeted the usurper
when he appeared in public. He was hated ald
feared by the people, anu woIaen turned pale and
snudderel when the savage murderer OF the Princes
While tue King and his parry advanced at D rapid
trot, their swords and spurs Jingling loudly noble
man mounted on powerful BLACK horse and at
tended by haf score o. 80 OF men at-arDs on foot,
Rad already reached the sorce.ess and renei MS
steel near her.
This n00leman was man wei advanced In years
yet vigorous and active though his lolg hair aud
beard were quite gray Like tao fng, ne was CLAD
in compete paaoply of steel. but wo hs helmet
with the visor up. His features were dark, cruel AID
cunnD IN their expression and hts voice cxcesd-
ingly stern ana harsh ~ he abruptly addressed the
sOrceress.
'Whst means this rabbe routs Hcyo any dared
TO show yOu usrespect, SiDala ThDrn0ucG2
"Ay, ms Lord, aud N they dared Won "a murder
me the cOwardiy knavcs. i5ut here comes the KING,
for whose sign manual these rlscals show no re-
spect Bu my Lord, have just been roDOed of the
glrl Iauretta.n
"RobDed What mean YOU shallas Have you
lost her' demanded tue noble hastily, while has
harsh voice showed much agitation.
true, Lord Roger. gallant, maryeilonsly like
him whO sleeps IN the ehest, but now slatched her
from me aud hurried away with her. would have
pursued, II but " do no more than learn where he
lives, but the WOODSTOCK his part aud were about TO
murder me.n
Before Lord Roger De Montford could reply tho
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