Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-08-09

! The Witch Of ]
/ Cra9enstOne ]
By ANITA CLAY N1UNOZ. /
y bu Anita rIunoz " ~ " ~ ~ A." Z

By ANITA CLAY MUNoZ,
c,. ~, - -, Of In Love and Truth"
CHAPTER XVIII.

4
CHAPTER XVIII.
ANOTHER spell of scorching heat
~ swept over the mountain so
IA intense that men and women
could scarce exert themselves
to move, and found existence endurable
only in the shelter of their homes,
afraid to venture out In the scorching
rays Of the sun, and the sheep and cat
tie, stretched out on the ground under
the trees, lay, with closed eyes, pant
ing, not caring to eat. The people,
signing and praying for relief, told
each other significantly that such
searching air was curse put upon
them. But one night, whether it was
In answer to their prayers or.the curse
was lifted, the leaves began to rustic
on the trees, and suddenly breeze
sprang up from the northwest, bring
ing in its wake cool breath that
famed the awful heat away, and the
mountain folk awoke in the morning
refreshed and strengthened to set
about with energy to accomplish tasks
that had of necessity been neglected
during the excessive heat.
La Fabienne and Margaret Maryland,
having grown weary of the enforced
inactivity, rode away gayly from the
door shortly after the noon hour of that
first cool day, with CASTOR for guide,
to view some waterfalls in small
hamlet toward the west that the latter
had discovered in his wanderings and
which his master had expressed de-
sire to see. AS they found much of In
terest and beauty in the mountain
scenery to take their attention and &C.
cupy their time, the sun had set and
the approach Of twilight was at hand
when. they rode YEARLY up to the
house, demanding supper from the
pleased and expectant Elsbeth, who
was waiting at the door.
3. The loiterers usually standing about
the village hostelry, the Sign of the
Red Heart, taking advantage of the
absence Of La Fabienne, also his man
Castor, now talked together loudly
and with great earnestness of the lad
Christopher's tragic death; also other
evil happenings that had occurred in tie
village Of late. One or two men, more
excited than the rest, threw out their
arms wildly, with angry and vindictive
gesticulation, as they harangued the
others, and above their heads, as if
with desire to be heard, the time
worn, weather beaten old square Of
wood, with red heart painted upon it,
that from long years Of exposure to the
elements was now dull and faded
swung and creaked noisily on the iron
bar over the door of the tavern from
which it was suspended.
Josiah Taunston, riding toward
them, drew rein as lie reached the door
and called loudly for tankard of ale.
The idlers grouped about him eagerly.
Hast heard the news, master?"
asked one.
"What news?"
1.-THE latest report of the devils
handlwork in our affairs; that is ALL"
another man interposed hastily. "Of a
truth thou hast heard"
NAY, l ha' not" he answered sharp
ly. But after Adams gran'son's
wicked murder naught of bad tidings
could surprise me. What's amiss now?'
Several of the bystanders struggled
to get nearer the horse in Il position to
tell the story, but the first speaker, tall
er and quicker Of speech than the 9TH
ers, commenced the narrative.
"Thou hast heard, wi all of us, that
good Widow Dawson's babe, that for a
week past On account of the heat lay
i'll Of fever which the lcech said could
be easily cured, Of Il sudden took cit
last night an died. The poor dame is
PROSTATE and sweareth that black arts
were practiced OH her child, as just be-
fore it was resting quietly, wllen"-tha
mans voice fell into whisper--"sul
denly the mother was aroused By
weird noises an fearsome rappings on
the door. All Of Il tremble, she opened.
but no one was there. Then, with n
great noise, the lattice blew in, white
sheet was waved before her eyes,
smoke an the stencil Of sulphur burn
ing filled the room, an when all was
cleared away she found her innocent
babe in fit a-dying Oh the bed
AC A1SA AVAl OaShy paiS luCSu dllIl
awe stricken, looking ut each other
with open mouths. Taunston took the
tankard and quaffed off the ale, then
from his high place on his horse adj
dressed the crowd with great impress
siveness.
''The time hath come, good neigh
bors, when we must act" he declared.
ut is useless longer to deny that wick
ed happenings occur here daily; that
Satan, dissatisfied with the righteous
and pious conduct of this God fearing
community, hath entered into compact
with one who shall be nameless and
hath chosen to exercise his malevolent
influence through her agency. Enough
of evil hath been wrought already" he
cried fercely.
Old Adam, the goldsmith opening his
door at the sound Of the loud talking,
peered forth and when he saw Josiah
Taunston ran to the spot, pushed his
way through the crowd and, falling on
his knees beside the horse, threw his
apron over his face, crying out: "Oh,
Master Taunston; oh, good Josiah, give
me comfort In my hour Of trial or l
must go mad WI thinking on It'll My
grandson Christopher! The little lad
left me by my dying daughter Betsy,
struck to his death and his soul car.
ried away in peals of thunder by the
devil! Oh, lackaday! Woe is me! God
ha' mercy!"
The man continued to grovel on the
ground. rocking to and fro, moaning
forth his sorrow, and Josiah, pointing
his long finger at him, addressed the
now increasing assemblage.
Look We on this man." he cried,
''his heart bleeding and broken, the
mahstay of his old age cruelty taken
from him, and all because we have too
long dallied with the evil influences
that have Of late been SO strongly
brought to bear upon us. Look on this
man, l sag! Dost want the same to
happen to We all? Matthew Clines"--