Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1905-12-08


absence of La Fabienne, also his man
CASTOR. now talked together LOUDLY
and with great earnestness OF tne TAU
Christopher's tragic death; also otner
evil happenings that had occurred In tne
village Of late One or two men, inoie
excited than the rest, threw out their
arms wildly, with angry and vindictive
60. ticulation, as they harangued tne
others and above their heads, as IL
with a desire to be heard, the tiihe
worn. weather beaten old square Oh
wood. with red heart painted upon IL,
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 toWaru
them. drew rein as he reached the door
and called loudly for tankard or aie'
The idlers grouped about him eagerly.
Hast heard the news, master"
asked one.
"What news"
1.-THE latest report Of the devifs
bandiwork in our affairs; that is all,
another man interposed hastily. "Of a
truth thou hast heard"
"Nay, ha' not" he answered sharp
". 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 position to
tell the story, but the first speaker, tall
er and quicker of speech than the oth-
ers. commenced the narrative.
Thou hast heard, wi all OF us, that
god Widow Dawsons babe, that for a
week past on account of the heat lay
i'll of a fever which the leech said could
be easily cured, of sudden took ut
last night an died. The poor dame Is
prostrate and sweareth that black arts
were practiced on her child, as just be-
fore it was resting quietly, when'-the
mans voice fell into Indispensable
denly the mother was aroused by
weird noises an fearsome rappings on
the door. All Of tremble, she opened
but no one was there. Then, with a
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 on the bed"
The men fell back, pale faced and
awe stricken, locking at each other
with open mouths Taunston took the
tankard and Quaffed off the ale, ther
from his high place on his horse ad
dressed the crowd with great impress
sivenesS.
1.-THE time hath come, good neigh
bors. when we must act" he declared
"It is useless longer to deny that wick
ed happenings occur here daily; tha
Satan. dissatisfied with the righteous
and pious conduct of this God fearing
community, hath entered into compac
with one who shall be nameless ane
hath chosen to exercise his malevOlen
influence through her agency. Enough
of evil hath been wrought already" III
cried fiercely.
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 OF
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
must 20 mad wi thinking on it! My
gran'son Christopher! The little lac
left me by my dying daughter Betsy
struck to his death and his soul car
ried away in peals Of thunder by th'
devil! Oh, lackaday! Woe is me! Coz
ha' mercy"
The man continued to grOvel on thu
ground, rocking to and fro, moaning
forth his sorrow, and Josiah, pointing
his long finger at him, addressed tn
now increasing assemblage.
Look We on this man." he cried
"his heart bleeding and broken, tn
mainstay Of his old age cruelty takel
from him, and all because we have to
long dallied with the evil influence
that have of late been so strongl
brought to bear upon us. Look on TIL
man, I say! Dost want the same t
happen to We all? Matthew Clines"-
he singled out one man with his finge
-show knowest thou that thy tur
NAV. not come next? Wilt wait, refu'
ing to believe until thou seest thy mai
Dorothy riding away in a cloud
smoke on witch's broomstickT
"Nay, nay" groaned the man sullel
ly.
81 call on We not to be deceived b
q fair face, rich dress and kind
manner Such deep arts are ever en-
ployed by our worst enemy, Satan, whe
he hath his blacklist crimes in medit'
ton. Thou knowest, men, to whom
make inference? IT'S the woman Ma
garet Maryland that I do publicly a
cusew
y He paused for a moment to emph'
size his words, then continued with
great seriousness, shaking his head
\ the manner Of one who had abandOne
all hope. with prayer and protests
4 tons my good mother and 1 have urge
\ this woman to change her ways, to d.
! stroy the evil cross that Is but vito
mark invented by the devil for his pu
Noses, one touch OF which will bring
|an to fell disaster. Men and brotl
{" he cfriied, '.she would not hear u
sS;d,v turned us from her doc
and then in her wickedness set :. o., o.
sheep a-dying; but being our u,s KIN ant
woman, we bore all patiently ana ana, sa .,
naught. Now, my Judgment tells Il q
that too much harm hath been done