Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-07-20

Maryland he laughed loud, Scornful
laugh of derision-"will be taken at the
break o. day by the kings soldiers.
now ON their way from Sterndorf,
where they ha' been stationed O. late
awaiting orders, and brought to trial
for n WITCH
"Josiahl Brotherr Hetty gave out
one piercing scream. ''Thou'lt not
hang our Margaret?"
NAY, soothe thy fears, I'll not hang
her" he replied sneeringly, "but hap
pen the people, our good friends and
neighbors, who have had enough of
her damnable pranks, may decide to
burn her,
The blood left Hetty's heart. She
groped about her blindly, then, with
another wild shrek of horror, fell in a
heap on the floor. Angrily and with
rough jerks Josiah tried to lift her to
her feet; then, seeing that she was
really unconscious, he strobe to the
doorway, calling loudly:
"Ho, motheri''
She appeared at the window.
"Doth want me, Josiah?"
"Aye, come at once an bring wa
ter, for Hetty, weak, soft headed wench
that she is, hath fallen in a swoon.'
That night the full moon hung low
and yellow over the mountain and sent
its clear rays through the trees, whose
branches, rustling with the soft sum-
mer breeze, cast weird, quivering
shadows on the ground. Hardly rip
pie stirred on the brook, and but for
the occasional 'hoot of an owl or the
call Of the whippoorwill no sound dis
turbed the peaceful quiet Of the hour.
Margaret Mayland, standing before
her door. quite passed the beauty of
the evening by, so intent was she upon
looking down the roadway In the dl-
rection OF the village. With her light
hair conrbed high upon her head and
caught with jeweled ornament, that
flashed and sparkled under the moons
rays, and her dress of white gauze,
with fine threads of gold woven
through its dainty meshes, clinging to
her gracefully in soft folds, she re-
sembled some goddess or queen of the
night that the moonbeams had come
to worship After a time, her listening
ear catching no sounds of approach
ing footsteps, she drew a sharp breath
of impatience and, stepping down, pac-
ed restlessly back and forth before the
door.
Elsbeth appeared at the window to
draw in the lattice.
Hath on no wrap, bonny" she
asked solcltously. Thy frock Is thin,
and mothlnks there is much coolness In
the air tonight
With little shiver Margaret turned
and entered the house,
~ truth am eold," she said; but,
more than that, nervous and uncanny
feeling hath possession of me. Fetch
my cloak, Elsbeth," she added impa-
tiently as the older woman was about
to speak, "and waste not thy time in
venting foolish reasons why Godfrey
doth not come"
At that moment Sir Godfrey La Fa-
blenne, followed by his man CASTOR,
to whom he was giving some final In
structIons, came out Of the door OF the
Sign of the Red Heart, Wearing
doublet made OF purple velvet orna-
mented with heavy silver trimmings,
long silken hose OF lavender and on his
head velvet hat with an ostrich feath-
er sweeping over the brim, his gay ap-
pearance was In direct contrast to Ills
dull surroundings and the plain dress
Of tho onlooksrs. The usual number OF
ioiterers stood about the steps, and to
his brief salutatlon they returned sui
len looks and ominous scowls so sig
nificant that La Fahlenne's anger was
aroused.
'Diable"-he turned upon them furl-
ously laying his hand upon his sword
hilt, intense indignation on his face
"curs, whelps, that burst not speak, but
stand about silent. conveying threaten
ings In thy glances! / have tried to ig-
more We, but endurance now hath
ceased. If any man or ali of ye have
aught against me let him step forward
and accuse me, and"-drawing his
sword-'"that one will see that am not
loath to defend myself against his ac-
cusations"
The group of countrymen, alarmed
at his vehemence and evident determi-
nation, drew back from him hastily.
"Cowardsl IL there ls n man among
We, let him step out, and once for all
Wen put an end to this stabblng In the
dark, these innuendoes and inslnuations
In look and action. What, dastards"
as no one came forward. "None OF ye
trained TO fight in the openf Gods
death, but thou art valiant mothers
sonsl Where is thy brave leader, Mas
ter Taunstonp he scornfully cried.
"An he's anywhere about, ask him TO
step.out. I'd like to settle with him the
first OF all Not come yetf' he repeat
ed, turning TO the lnnIeeper, who stood
near and who had ventured to give the
information. "I truth, he hath not come,
nor will he until from his skulking
place In the forest he hath seen me,
the man he hath cause to fear, well out
OF his wayp'
Then he took off his glove and dashed
II on the ground before the men.
when thy lender-thy brave, upright
leader-doth arrive, give him that glove;
III him that Sir Godfrey La Fablenne
hlath him a woman striker and n cow
ard! And II after that" he continued,
with an angry laugh, "he careth not TO
fight. by heaven, when next we meet
he'll take well deserved horsewhip-
ping" Then he sheathed his sword
and, slowly followed by his servant,
strobe away In the direction Of the
Maryland farm.
A moment later Josiah Taunston,
white faced and looking as IL he had
heard the loud and angry words Just
uttered came around from the back OF
the inn. The men. cxcltedly pointing to
the glove, told him what had been said.
He listened quietly. with sneer on his
face. nor did he move 1t until one young
fellow, STOPPING 20 pick up the chal-
lenge, was suddenly sent sprawllng on
the ground by push from Josiah
Needless callantp' he exclaimed In
a low, terrible voice. "Wouldst thou
touch aught belonging 10 an accomplico
Of Il witchi Hath forgotten Chrlstopherf
john" calling TO the innkeeper, throw
a burning fagot on that devils instru-
ment that II may be consumed
"Wilt thou take the cavaliers words
and make no answer, manr whisper
cd neighbor. following Josiah into
the drinking room of the tavern.
why, ho said he'd horsewhip thee for