Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-09

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punishment is melted out to such?"
Sheath, hanging or burning" the
other replied carelessly.
"Of surety the king will Interfere
La Fabienne's hand trembled as he
unbuclled his sword.
NAY" the officer cried hastily
"Thou'rt wrong there, friend! The king
bothers not his head with such small
kind as dwell hereabout. Why bis
majesty's as variable as woman, go.
Ing from one side to the other as often
as the wind changeth. Just now he's
all for the papists, an If there is a
thing he is more against than another
! 1t is witchcraft. IDS blood! At the last
burning at Sterndorf the woman's
brother appealed to him, and the king
sent word back that they could all
burn each other up an they SO willed
for aught he would interfere, and
'twould be good radiance when twas
over. He's changeable, but as rule
thou canst count on his not interfering
at witch burning
Gods pity" exclaimed La Fa-
bienne under his breath. Then he
continued hastily, seeing the man had
grown more communicative, 1.-THE
witch, methinks myself, 'twere we'll to
capture, but the Frenchman Of whom
thou spokest, what want they Of him %
ut seemeth he hath great influence
both at home and abroad" the captain
whispered, looking furtively at. the
closed door. "If they can hold him
safely in prison until the woman is
tried and executed they will let him
go, or mayhap prefer charges against
him and bring him to trial also"
He threw himself down YEARLY on
the pallet Of straw in the corner.
poor devil!" observed La Fabienne
lightly. But it's ever the way of
those that consort with evil. Marry.
The wretch is fairly caught in the
trap these God fearing Puritans have
set for him.
His companion grunted a sleepy re-
Spouse.
IF tits as thou hath stated, that all
the roads are stoutly defended but the
footpath through the mountain for
est"-La Fabienne eyed the man mar
rowly-"the witch's accomplice, hap
pen he got wind Of his intended arrest,
hath small hope Of escape"
The captain laughed a drunken laugh
of enjoyment; then, raising up in bed
on his elbow, he said:
"My lord, tits truth thou speakest.
The man is fairly caught. But If the
wretch had knowledge Of the hard
ships my men and have endured to-
day he would prefer the hanging that
the people have in store for him to
attempting escape through the forest
BY blood and nails, it was an awful
ordeal, an but for the fact that 1t was
as difficult to retrace our steps as to
proceed, my fellows would have re-
fused to advance. A curse on this
scraggy top notch Of nowhere!' he
cried. Tomorrow, our work done, we
march down yon mountain road to
London, or I'm but half man and
know not mine own will!'
AS his companion did not reply or
seem inclined to hold further converse
the captain stretched himself out on
the pallet at full length and, throwing
an arm up over his head, was soon
sleeping soundly.
La Fabienne waited, making sure
that the PROSTATE man was uncon-
scious Of all else but his dreams, then
threw himself hopelessly into a chair
and let the pent up feelings in his
heart break through the quiet mask
he had worn on his face, and an ex-
preston bafled and desperate took its
place, while under his breath he cursed
himself roundly for his stupid lack of
foresight and his contempt for Josiah
Taunston's plotting. Springing to his
feet, he paced lightly up and down the
room like one bereft. Once he paused
at the aperture and looked long in the
direction Of the Maryland farm, the
tops Of the tall trees in the forest being
oil that was visible, then strobe fierce
~ across the room again as if unable
to contain his emotions. Unlocking a
chest that stood in the corner, he re-
moved from it to his person a bag of
SoiSt anu u uIdCC VI plSlOlS, put Oh MS
hat and cape and noiselessly buckled
on his sword
If allowed her to attempt the for
est she would die" he said under his
breath, ''and if told her Of my inten-
ton she would not let me go alone.
oh, God, It's hardw He shook his
head hopelessly.
The candle, now burned down to the
edge Of the socket, threw weird, smoky
rays on La Fabienne's white face as
he seated himself, in great .perplexity
and sore distress, upon the wooden
bench
Margaret, oh, my love! God help
me! There is no other way" he said
after a few moments consideration,
and as his bent head fell forward on
his hands the candle near him splut-
tered and went out as If in very sum
patty for his sorrow and despair. Ris-
ing, he CROPPED his way to the door,
down the stairway and out Of the
house so silently that no one, not even
the inDkeaDar Sleaninp In his chair nv