Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-10-20

I ion inteiitly to observe the ehecr or ner
words. Margaret drew sharp breath
of interest and sympathy.
"And what happened to the poor
creatureY' she asked. "Yas there no
one there to free her Of the evil that
possessed her"
Hetty shook her head quickly in the
negative.
NAY, Margaret, the whole village
was wild with fear, no one but the
leech being yenturesome enough to go
near her. The town council, having
great authority in these parts, met in
consultation, hastily brought the wom-
an to trial and sentenced her to be
burned at the stalker
Margaret shuddered and covered up
her eyes as If to shut out the sight.
"An was this cruel thing done? Burn
ed they the poor creature?" she cried
pityingly.
aye, Margaret" Hetty replied; "they
did so in the presence of crowd OF re-
joicing neighbors. And my mother said
'twere well done, otherwise the woman
would have spread constant disaster
all about her. Mayhap an her evil in
clination induced her," she continued
mysteriously in low voice. Sarah
Goodwin had changed human beings
into animals, called up the resting
spirits of the dead and put the curse of
her black magic on those who might
have innOcently approached her. But,
prithee, good Margaret, look not so
downcast at the outcome of my tale,
for witchcraft among our mountain
people hath ever been thought the
blacklist of crimes, no punishment or
torture heing considered too great to
suffer il. txpiation. 'Tis thing with
which we have no tolerance, cousin,
for of all evil happenings in the world,
of truth, it is the most vicious and
malignant"
Margaret shuddered and turned
away.
"Methinks thou cOuldst have chosen
q cheerful subject, Hetty, wherewith to
while away the hours Of a gloomy
morning" she said reproachfully.
Rising from the couch, she walked
to the window and, throwing open the
lattice, looked out of doors.
"Ah, happy dayw she exclaimed
Sunshine at last! See yOnder cloud,
cousin. Bright rays are breaking
through it. Old Giles was right this
morning when he said that the fierce
wind had shifted and now lay in the
western quarter, promising that we
would see the sun before night. Re-
joice with me, sweet Hetty."
For time in silence they watched
the beauty of the golden tinted clouds
breaking apart and drifting about un
der the blue sky; then Margaret, whose
face expressed great happiness and
who seemed unable to contain her high
spirits, said: art not aweary OF the
close, damp air of the house? Come,
let us walk Oh the old stone wall by
the pasture, for the ground is much too
water soaked, and witness for our
selves what havoc the storm hath
played"
Hastily procuring light cape, she
threw it over the muslin house dress
she wore, and, Hetty following, the
girls, refusing to listen to the protests
of Elsbeth, who met them on the stairs,
against going out of doors on such
morning, stepped out on to the ground,
picked their way daintily-with much
light laughter-over the wet paths,
climbed the wall and, holding hands,
ran gayly with the light heartedness OF
school children set free after long con-
finement along the top Of the broad
stone wall.
"P faith. it's worth q pound to get
out into the open and breathe fresh
air again. Margaret exclaimed, her
blue eyes sparkling and her cheeks
aglow.
The ribbon that bound her hair came
loose, and in very abandonment or
youth and health she threw it away,
freeing her heavy masses of hair to the
embraces of the wind, which caught it
up tenderly, allowing the sun to kiss
it with it's sparkling rays, gently toss
ed it about her head; then, as If catch
ing the gay mood Of its owner, 1t grew
lmore playful and roughly swept the
uesses before Margarets eyes, so that
size almost stumbled as she ran. A
lalye oak branch hung low over the
wal. With cry of pleasure Margaret
cauAht hold of it and, lifting her feet,
swung out into the air and back to the
walt again, laughing joyfully at her
achieMment as she ran on to the end
of theswall.
"MdsSaretw Hetty exclaimed, run
ming afer her cousin, rather GREATNESS
at the w,ole proceeding. What merry
spirit of,nischief doth possess thee"
take sly hand, sweet cousin, and
run somepf the Puritan stiffness out
of thee" Margaret replied with flush
ed face anu smiling lips. my blood is
coursing Il pugh my veins and my
heart beatssyayly today because the
roads are dting up that lead from
London to tks village. Look not so
bewildered, fyeet. Thou'lt know
| anon whv thvo.ousin welcomes wind