Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-12-15
.nortunltY lwlthont meaning oirense.

ana good humOr.
"And so well it suits thee, good fell
low. and becomes thy dashing STYLE"
he said, that methinks 'twere a pity
to deprive thee OF it. Thou may keep
1t and welcome"
Walking to the small window. he
threw open the lattice.
by the mass. but it's warm in here!
Such holes as they have cut out to let
the air in one can hardly get his hand
through
The soldier, who had accepted the
suit with many expressions Of pleasure
and gratitude, now approached La Fa-
bienne. but at that moment, house
maid entering with the ale, he turned
about suddenly, drew himself up to his
highest stature and strutted before her
conceitedly.
Smiling at his airs, his companion
took the tankard, babe the girl bring
up another, and, inviting his new &C
quaintance to drink with him, they sat
down on the bench together.
"Art fond of ladies, good sir?" the
captain inquired, with a roguish shake
of his blond head. II warrant that
wench was not i'll looking, barring the
wart on her chin
1t being his turn, he lifted the tank
ard and after taking long draft
held it on high. eXclaiming with dra-
matte emphasis. "Whate'er Of faults
III hnf oil avn a
fair lass can neer be counted amongst
them
The housemaid returning with the
second order, he waved his hand to-
ward la Fabienne with a graceful mo-
ton and, still holding the ale above his
head, cried gayly:
women, lovely women! Let us
drink to the ladies, Sir Roommate"
Sir Godfrey echoed his companions
boisterous laughter with an appear
ance of great enjoyment as the maid,
blushing and simpering, left the room.
Bv now the house below had fallen
into complete quietness, the only
sounds audible being the loud breath
ing of the soldiers, who lay about on
the straw asleep.
"Thy men rest heavily and breathe
as if greatly fatigued," La Fabienne
observed after further conversation of
a light nature regarding the captains
net theme-women. "Didst march far
today?'
"From Sterndorf," he answered, with
darkening face.
"Beshrew my heart! But this coun-
try must ha been intended for wild
beasts with claws instead Of human
beings with only hands and poniards.
Our orders came to march at once
across the footpath over the mountain,
and such crawling, climbing. tearing
and cutting our way none will ever
know"
"'Twas well when so weary that
thou found the Sign of the Red Heart
10 rest at ere thou pursued the rest OF
thy Journey" his companion observed
quietly.
The captain glanced up quickly
"Oh. we have reached our destina-
ton" he said. I'VE have business in
this village on the morrow
sI' faith, Il stranger just arrived, as
am, hath had little chance to hear OF
the happenings round about La Fa-
bienne observed carelessly but this
sober peopled village looketh not like
warning center. Here, good fellow,
finish thine ale," he cried as the Of
ficer. opening his mouth to speak, was
about to ask him question, $50 that L
can offer thee some red wine that
have in yonder flagOn OH the table. SO
thou'rt not on thy way to join COM
rades?
The captain finished his ale as di-
rected, and the empty pewter tankard
came down on the bench with ringing
sound
"My business in the village" he said,
I lowering his voice and looking toward
the door apprehensively, hath deal
Of secrecy about it, as my first ana
most important instructions were to
hold converse with no one but the MEM
bers of the council"
Sir Godfrey rose and, bringing the
lug of wine, commenced to ply the
man with liquor, laughing and testing
merrily as he did so.
At last the captain, who was very
weary from his long days march and
whose face was red from excess OF
drinking. cried that he had had enough
and must keep his senses, as he and
his men were under orders to rise at
laybreak.
"Uds daggersw he continued under
his breath, with drunken laugh. AN
the witch escapes any other way than
up i the air astride broomstick L lose
the kings favor"
. "Thy business here concerneth a
witch?" his companion questioned
carelessly.
The captain was hiccoughing slight
ly. and he reeled and almost fell as
he tugged at his boot.
"Beshew me, yes. Such devils work
and DEVILS luck as hath been mine
this day doth keep me cursing. Two
long weeks we have been buried IN
Sterndorf, an Just as we were eX-
pecting instructions to go back to
London we were ordered here to cap
ture some old beldam who hath been
doing serious FRANKS and stirring up
devils III the community"
"An old woman La Fabienne look
Al 1,n,. n m n
MANI
The captain fumbled among his pa
pers and, drawing forth a sheet OF
parchment, spelled out with dlfhcuitv
the nome-s'Narparet Maryland, accuS-