Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-09-13

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# The Witch Of 4
Ia 81
&44
H Cra&enstOne 4
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<$< BY ANITA CLAY MUNOZ. s.
1Ex thor of I'm eandT Truth"
<ST copuroht 1905. Anita Clay r1unoz ~ III III

horo of In Love Truth"

llOl W Ut llle SolSu
of the Red Heart found good proof Of
his perlidy, learning from the officer in
command that all the passes were
guarded and that l, with thee, was to
be arrested the next morning. By heav-
en-, Margaret, behind an iron grating l
could not save thee-could but lie there
like Il wild thing, Il Gagged lion, unable
to rescue thee from thy Cousins awful
intriguing. Sweet, for a time the blow
was so heavy that was near bereft of
my Senses"
He drew Il sharp breath.
"The situation that confronted me
was so desperate that fairly sickened.
Then gathered courage, knowing that
thou hadst 10 one but me. and resolved
to escape that night and take what was
our one chance, the path through the
forest to Sterndorf, where methought,
once there, with brides of land and gold
to hire fellows to ride back with me,
Kill the guards, storm this rotten prison
and rescue thee. For two days, desper-
ate, beside myself with desire to adj
vance, thinking always of thy suffer-
ing, l fevcrishly cut and pushed my
way through the dense and gloomy for
est fearful to lie down at night on ac-
count of the wild beasts that come
from their lairs ut nightfall and too
eager to get on to rest Damme, but
twas time to make the stoutest heart
grow faintr
ION the third morning when had
drained the last drop from my flask
and was in great distress that might
have lost my bearings, methought l
heard the sound of n human voice
shrieking in great agony. Drawing
my sword, ran in the direction of the
noise and came suddenly upon man
struggling for his life in the close en-
D.7lce of a mountain bear. So intent
was the animal upon its prey that it
did not notice my approach. With one
well aimed thrust ran it through the
heart, and the beast sank with a con-
yulsive motion to the ground.
1.-THE man, exhausted and bleeding
from many wounds, fell at its SIDE I'M
conscious Of his close proximity to his
dead foe and dead to everything about
him. Sweet, l stanched his wounds
and from brook near by brought cool
water and bathed his head, so that his
wandering wits returned. But the
man had received blow on the heart
and SO many broken bones that he
could not live. saw that he was
sinking rapidly, so, kneeling ut his side,
asked him his name, Offering to de-
liver any messages he might wish to
leave. To make long tale short, sweet
Margaret as we have not MUCH time
for tarrying, the PROSTATE man was
famous Puritan from parts distant
from here, by name Ezekial Mason,
and was Oh his way to Cragenstone to
sell his invention of u prison lock; also
to conduct the affairs Of thine eXecu-
ton. When he had told me that much
and given me the password he expired.
Hastily searching his clothing and q
packet he carried, found bread and
wine, which | ate and drank ravishing-
+ ly; also tie lock he wished to sell and
letters of Introduction to the elders
and councilmen from prominent men
of his belief. Margaret, the mans face
had not relaxed i'll death ere it had oc-
Cured to me to don his clothing, stain
my face and beard with the Juice of
leaves and berries, as EZekial Mason
was dark and swarthy, and return to
Cragenstone representing myself to he
this man. BY the Lord, twas .seri-
GUS undertaking, but with what sue
cess all was accomplished thou dost
know tonight
Gods mercy!' she exclaimed softly,
trembling i'll his embrace. "Thine adj
ventures were desperate and terrible,
but praise him that the man fell in thy
way, otherwise fear we had both
been LOST
Just then light sound as of foot
fall under the window was heard.
Both sprang apart, listening with pale
faces La FaDienne, looming his hat,
pulled up his coat collar, carefully
closed the door upon Margaret and,
going by the recumbent figure of Mat
thew Allen, walked out of doors and
gave careful, searching glance in all
directions, but all now was quiet. No
sounds reached his ears save the whin-
nying of an impatient horse not far
distant down the roadway So, after
convincing himself that no intruder
was about, he re-entered the prison,
going at once to Murgaret's cell.
''All is WELL" he FASTENED to assure
her. 1.-THE wind is rising, and the
sound no doubt was but the creaking
Of loose grating. Gads, the villagers
sleep soundly tonight that they may
get good rest for tomorrow's gala day.
But we do larry here too long. Here's
Il Puritan bonnct-'twill disguise thee,
Margarct-and throw this cloak over
thy shoulders. III passing through the
guard thou must droop thy head and
appear languishing, as thou art sup
posed to be a maid suddenly taken i'll
of the pest OF measles now prevalent
about here, whom we are anxious to
take to her home at Sterndorf. AS
friends of EZekial Mason he hath per-
mission to see thee and thy relatives
safely out of the village
Sir Godfrey laughed grimly.
by our lady, tits grewsome joke,
sweet, but thy face looks downcast.
Thou vert ever one to enjoy a spice
of danger. What gloom hangs over
thee?'
His glance expressed great tender
ness as he clumsily tied the gray bon
net strings.
Ills the awful fear of my cousin
that still lies heavy on my heart" she
replied, hurriedly fastening on her
shawl. "Mayhap he hath suspected
thee, Godfrey, and may entrap us yet"
Nay, love, put by such fearsome
| misgivings." La Fabienne laughed
lightly. "Parbleu, in all this village
no man rests so securely in the trusti-
ness of the new jailer, no man hath
such confidence in the stern Puritan,
| EZekial Mason, as thy kinsman Josiah.
So throw fear of him from thee, Mar
garet No man will modest u.s."
j Taking her hand, lie led her to
small door at the back of the prison
that was opened b. the slipping back