The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-08-19

/
no longer to deceive us by your lies.
Send forth Philip the Deformedr ~
At the words cf the judge, an official
bearing a white wand stepped into a side
room, and in a moment reappearetl with
a cripple hideously deformcd, whom the
populace recognized as the landlord of
the hostelry. When confronted with
the prisoner he glared at her with look
of demoniacal hatred.
"Know you this woman2" asked the
Judge.
CAV, to my cost" answered the Grip
pic. 'qt is through her incantatiorl that
] am the being | am. 1t was but yester-
day she came to my inn, attended by two
heathenish Ethiopians, whom [ have
heard palmers from the Holy Land say
are kept by the Panims-God's ban be
theirsl / no sooner beheld her than l
recognized her to be the sorceress who,
three years ago, brought on me the dis
ease by which l am crippled. l could
! tell her among thousand. The curse
of God light on her for child OF the
evil one," and the witness ground his
teeth together and glanced tiercely at the
prisoner. A low murmur of approval,
at first faint and whispered, but gradually
swelling into confused shout, rose on
the air as he ceased.
ale is n perjured wretch" exclaimed
the prisoner with energy, "whom my
servants detected in an attempt to rob
my poor effects; hence his malice and
this charge"
"Silence, woman" sternly interposed
the judge, "or else confess. Will you,
child of Belial, malign a Christian
man."
The testimony for the publican had
worked complete charge i'll the tluc
! tuating feelings of the mob toward the
prisoner and the words of the judge
were answered back by shout of ap.
proval. The prisoner was seen to turn
dcathly pale. She did not reply, how
ever, to the question, but shook her head
despondingly, as if conscious that all
hope was over.
'Lead her away" hoarsely growled
the mob, while the dense mass of people
swayed to and fro in the excitement, as
if they would have rushed on the de-
/ fenceless victim.
"Again ask thee, woman, wilt thou
confess"
She shook her head despondingly,
buried her face in her hands and mur-
INJURED something; perhaps it was a
PRAYER. The mob burst once more into
commotion.
"Whcrc are tho servants of this
woman7 let them be put on the rack, +"
said the Judge.
"Thcy have escaped" answered an
official.
vengeance for the sufferers by her
incantations! hoarsely growled a voice
from the mob.
The Judge no longer hesitated, but
yielding to the popular current as well
as mis- own prejudiccs, sentenced her to
be burned at high noon of that very day.
A wild shout of exultation rose from the
frenzed mob as the sentence was pro-
nounced, but over the din swelled the
fearful cry. "To the stake with her
away with the sorceress."
1t was few hours earlier in the same
day when a noble knight sat in hosiery
of the little seaport town of -. He
was of singularly imposing cast of coun-
tenance. His features were of the true
Norman outline, with lofty intellectual
brow, shaded by locks OF the richest
chestnut hue. His cheek was embrowned
by Syrian sun until it was of the dark
est olive color, but the clear white of his
forehead, which had been protected
from exposure by his helmet, betrayed
the original purity of his complexion.
His form was tall and commanding. He
sat apparently absorbed in thought, but
was aroused from his roverie by the en-
trance of retainer.
"Are the horses ready?"
eyes, my lord, " said the man.
awe will mount into the saddle at
once then; how far did they say it was
to Bourdonnis?"
"Six leagues"
} awe shall reach it before nightfall;
|, lead on"
The party which set forth from the inn
| was gallant siglt to behold. Knights,
squires, men at arms and other retainers
J sweled the escort of the young count to
the number of nearly four-score, while
the pcnnons waving in the air, and the
occasional sound of a trumpet gave a
liveliness to the escort which attracted
r the attention of the passers-by OF every
rank and sex, and drew many sigh OF
envy from them. But who might pre-.
tend to be the equal of the renowned
t Count Garonne, crusader of unfair
nished fame, q gallant still in the flower
| of his youth and the lord of half score
! of castles scattered over the wide do
! main of France.
Q At the head of the proud array rode
? the count himself. conversing gaily with
/ a knight at his side, whom he familiarly
l called cousin.
"Ay, by St. Dennis!" said the count,
1 she is divinity such as even our sunny
4 provence doth not afford Such eyes,
such hair, and then, by my faith, such a
1 voice! 1t panied my heart to part from
- my sweet Zilah-but she would have it
| so-and so she comes in company with
/ Father Ambrose and score of my best
knights. Her maidenly modesty die
/ tated this, and ! was forced to submit.