Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-10-06

IL The Witch Of N
II CraGenst0ne 4
3W By ANITA CLAY MUNOZ, {%t
IN Author OFF In Love .
III Cepphohk Chu t1uz 4&l
Nv ANITA CLAY MUNOZ,
Author Of "In Love and Truth"

her early teachings are entireLy s"cp.
away will heed the advice OF her aunt
and listen to her cOunsels with re-
anont"
finger sternly.
"But think not 1t was with my con-
sent that Andrew Maryland sent Mar
garet away to his sister In Paris sne
said. there to remain until she was
twenty-one. tell thee, Josiah. that
Andrew wronged his only child. who
should have been raised there In yon'
der gray stone house, built by ner
grandfather, and allowed to grow 10
womanhood among her own kind and
In the God fearing ways Of her kins-
folk. Education, fors0oth! Can Hetty
not read and write and do her number
Ing skillfully? Prithee. It's enough
knowledge for a maid! As my good fa-
Their now dead, hath often said, FIJI
thy daughters heart with dread OF
sin, raise her In fear Of the wrath OF
the Lord, an thou hath done thy
duty"
Josiah acquiesced by an emphatic
movement of his head. Mother" he
said, recurring again to the subject OF
his cousin Margaret, II ha' been think
ing much on the coming home Of our
kinswoman. Often my mind hath
dwelt upon her youth and inexperience.
What knoweth she of the care OF
household and the management OF SO
many acres as are hers entirely now.
I-thou"-he hesitated--"we must keep
close to her, direct her endeavors, and
from the first"-he raised his voice,
speaking with harsh emphasis-"allow
no other influence to crowd In to push
ours out. On our counsel she must be
taught to rely, and she must ever find
us to be towers of strength upon which
she may lean with confidence"
'aThou hast spoken wisely, Josiah,
the dame replied. "If my memory
doth serve me well. Margaret was ever
an obedient child to her father, so wilt
come naturally. methinks, to place re-
lance on her kinsfolk. Hast thought.
Josiah" she continued, lowering her
voice almost to whisper and looking
toward the door, "that thy cousins
lands adjoin thine and what great ben
eft could be derived from being master
Of It allT'
Taunston rose and paced rapidly up
and down the dimly lighted kitchen.
Thought! OF course ha' thought!'
he exclaimed. "For two years / have
watched over everything on the May
land farm lands, from the littlest new
born lamb to the feetest horse, and
given orders as II I were the owner
there"
He drew a sharp breath.
"And now-God's PITY must give
place to chit of girl, who happen
will bring disorder where ha' had or
der and put wasteful French notions
above good Puritan thrift and care"
AS II the thought were intolerable to
him, he gave his shoulders despairing
shrug, strobe to the window and looked
out long and silently over the blacken-
ed landscape in the direction OF the
Maryland estate. His mother sat for a
time looking with sympathetic anxiety
at the tall, disconsolate figure OF her
son. 1t last she observed quietly: I'm
doing thy duty so well thou hast grown
to love those lands above all reasoning,
Josiah. Methinks by every right thou
shouldst be master there"
Mother" he came and stood before
her. with his hand appraised. In state
of unusual excitement. II dreamt last
night that the vessel on which Marga-
ret Maryland sailed from Paris was lost
with all on board, and my cousin, she
who stands between me and the estate,
for I am the next heir. as thou doth
know. was gone forever. 1t was a
dream, but for night oil was mine.
was In truth master there, and !
lived. l was rich In this worlds goods.
busy, important, prosperous"
His pale blue eyes glittered covetous-
" with the feeling that possessed him
as he brushed his hand over his hair.
"Ha, an were it 80 'twould be wellv'
Mistress Taunston cried sharply, PRO
yided, Of course, 1t were the good
! Lords WILL" she added piously. "But
there are other ways, my son. Hast
thou given consideration to the fact
that Margaret will need husband
now? An who more suitable than thou
JOsiahY'
He shufied nervously on his feet, un'
able to meet her glance.
"Dost think she would regard my
suit with favor?' he asked. Although
an upright an honorable man, ha
never thought / had much attractive
| ness for woman"
| His mother threw up her head with
i q quick motion. her glance containing
both pride and confidence.
AYE, that she Will, Josiah" she an
nounced emphatically. "Of a truth
thou'rt not oversoft with woman, but
''ou art so tall and doth walk about
With such an air an stride that.
| ween, scarce a maid thou did set thy
heart on could resist thee"
III it be that my cousin hath an eye
to her purse strings" he observed
thoughtfully, my frugal and thrifty
management Of her farm lands may
appeal to her,"
Those facts and others to thine al
vantage will be placed before our
kinswoman with proper judgment and
skill upon her arrival" his mother an
nounced. my son, thou dost know thai
tits thine own lookout to win thy Cous
In Margaret, for tits ever mans
place to do the counting, but that VII