Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-07-27
~Elsbeth. say that thou doth see INV

Il see thy cousin Josiah, an me-
thinks It's the old elder who is the
judge or superior In the council on
horseback advancing toward this
house." Elsbeth announced duly, "an'
a party of soldiery surrounded by a
throng of excited people do follow
them. They are turning in this gate
way, Margaret the woman fairly
shrieked as she turned and threw her
arms about her young mistress. "Hide,
sweet; mayhap it's thee they want.
Bolt the doors an bar the windows,
Refuse them admittancer'
Margarets face was white and star
tied
| "Elsbeth, calm thyself. Cease thy
maunderings," she answered sternly
Il hide. Margaret Maryland hide her
face as though she had done wrongl
Shame on thee, Elsbethl Rather bid
me throw open wide the door,"
Margaret sweet babe Margaret"
| the old woman cried, almost beside
herself with fear and apprehension,
then take off the cross thou wearest
that doth anger them"
At these words Margaret raised her
head haughtily and drew away from
the woman, but Elsbeth clung to her
wildly.
Remember that I have loved thee
so that thou hast ne'er missed thy
me so, sweet, many times when twas
thy mood to be tender Margaret, for
the care have given thee demand
return. Take of the cross that doth
anger themw
The noises outside came nearer,
growing louder. Margaret stopped and
kissed the sobbing woman on the fore
head.
And have I not loved thee, too, Els
beth?" she asked as she pushed her
gently from her.
Heavy tramping on the steps was
heard. then loud rapping on the door.
Margaret's eyes cleaned strangely.
go, Elsbeth, throw open wide the
door," she said IBID our visitors en-
ter"
Nay, nay. Margaret, 1 cannot gow
Elsbeth crouched down in the corner
ON chair, trembling as with fit Of
ague.
"Open, in the kings namew 1t was
a mans voice shouting. Then he knock
ed again louder, this time with his
sword hilt Scarce had he ceased
when the door was swung back on its
hinges, and a young woman, more
beautiful than he had ever seen before,
with long skirts of red cloth trailing
about her and the rose tinted rays of
the early morning sun falling on her
yellow hair and showing the dazzling
whiteness Of her skin, stood before
him on the threshold and gazed ct him,
then over his shoulder at the soldiers
and throng of curious, excited people
with quiet severity.
who knocks SO rudely at my door
and doth bid me open?" she said.
The captain of the guard, who had
his papers in his hand, looked about
him uncertainty; then a gleam Of ar
dent admiration came into his eyes,
and he advanced toward Margaret,
pulling his hat Off to the ground, with
profuse bows. The soldiers at atten-
ton awaited orders, and the crowd,
whose crying and hooting had sunk to
1 iON AAQh III VA . VI (dAAOdC 1AbCA~Ss 80
the startling sound of the officers loud
rapping Nell on their ears, now at the
sight of the mistress Of Maryland
farm began to gesticulate wildly,
pointing in her direction and calling
loudly: "'Tis she, the witchi The
devils beldame! Take her, good Off
Ger, an thou'lt be doing Gods work"
AS she saw the menacing actions
and heard the angry accusations OF the
crowd the pallor on Margarets face
deepened, and she trembled slightly
from shock and Surprise.
Then, collecting herself with q mighty
effort, she spoke again to the officer:
What duty brings thee to my door,
good captain?"
The captain, squaring his shoulders,
strutted before her conceitedly, then
said in pleasant tones, with an in
sinuat ting smile of admiration, 81 am
commanded, fair lady, by order OF the
king, to take into custody the person"
here he paused to look over the scroll
of parchment he held in his hand-"of
woman, one Margaret Maryland, ac-
cused Of the crime Of witchcraft."
At that moment old Elsbeth appeared
in the doorway behind Margaret, her
befrilled cap awry and her eyes red
with weeping. The captain, observing
her, made another low bow to Marga-
ret
with your permission I will enter
and take her now" he said. "Men, for
wardr
The soldiers, with swords clanking,
came up the steps. Margaret did not
move, for, having caught sight of her
cousin, Josiah Taunston, grim, exultant,
solemn, astride his high horse in the
middle of the gathering, she was gaz-
ing at him with an expression of re-
proachful sternness.
"Gracious mistress"-the captain laid
his hand upon her arm-'it will be nee
essary for me to take this woman. In
the kings name / ask thee to allow me
to enter"
She drew away from his touch with
quick gesture Of offended dignity.
"Why shouldst thou enter, man, when
she whom thou hast come to take
stands at thy side?" she said.
Thou, mistress!'
The captain fell back a step or two
in his surprise.
"'Tis no wonder that thou doth stare
at me incredulous, with open mouth"
she said bitterly. "Yea, / am Margaret
Maryland, and a woman most unjustly
accused
"Prithee, captain" cried Elder Will
Hams, the chief councillor, who had
been whispering aside with Taunston,
''do thy duty with more speed. Happen
thou stay longer thou'lt fall under the
spell of the woman, and, instead Of per-
forming the kings work, thou'lt be do |
ing pranks on the green! More haste, |
officer"
Thus sternly admonished, the captain
replaced his helmet and, motioning to |
his men to come closer, said: "Marga-
ret Maryland, in the kings name I do |
arrest tbee for the black crimes of |
witchcraft and connivance with the
devil. 1 am under orders to see thee
safely IA a cell in the town prison, there
to await trial for these charges, and 1t |
is my duty to command thee to come
with me now."
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Tro IN coNTrxuEpT