Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-09-06
CHAPTER XIV.

on his forehead He attempted to rise.
but, feeling his legs unsteady under
him, resumed his seat; then, control
ling himself by strong effort, again
rose and walked with his accustomed
air of calm seriousness to the bench
set apart for the witnesses. The chief
addressed him solemnly:
Josiah Taunston, doth thou promise,
knowing that just and revengeful
God henreth all thou wilt say, to speak
truth?"
II do so solemnly promise"
Then young attorney, who had been
appointed by the council to question
witnesses, stepped forward, taking a
place just before Margaret, who if she
needed what was going on gave no
evidence of it, but sat motionless, with
lowered head and eyes downcast.
Josiah Taunston," he commenced
rapidly. addressing the witness, '.as
the accused hath secured no person to
defend her or to paricy questions with
witnesses it will be proper for thee to
give thy evidence directly and with as
much speed as possible. Witness, what
occurrence between thee and the pris-
oner first caused thee to think she was
in connivance with the devil?'
After hopping his brow with his
handkerchief and wetting his pale lips
with his tongue Josiah spoke:
"'Twas OH day soon after Marga-
ret Mayland's return to her estate that
l went one morning to fetch my sister,
who had been detained by the storm
few days at the house. AS approach
ed from the roadway mine astonished
gaze fell upon my sister, usually q
maiden of great decorum, running like
a wild thing along the top of the pas
ture wall, whilst the prisoner, with her
hair unbound an streaming l. the wind,
swung from tree to tree, laughing an
chattering glcefully rs one bewitched.
My sharp cry of rebuke brought them
to their senses, and, greatly abashed
and crestfallen, they advanced quietly
to meet me. Hoping for some good in.
fuence with my cousin, entered the
house and stopped a short time to re.
monstrate with her for her unbccoming
behavior
II also took occasion, as l felt 1t my
duty, to rebuke her for wearing for
ornament papist cross that always,
no matter how frequent the changes in
her dress, hung about her neck Oh Il
gold chain. / urged upon her the fact
that such decoration was distasteful
to oil good Puritans and warned her
that If she persisted in her headstrong
foolishness she would bring upon her
self much suspicion an distrust. Sud
denly, us uttered the words, the chain
parted an fell to the floor, where, In
my righteous anger, l grasped it and
but for the woman's heartrending
shrieks an shrill screams of agony
that confess disarmed me, would
have thrown it into the firer'
Here his narrative was interrupted
by loud murmurs Of approval from the
audience.
"For the nonce, under her spell, l
returned the emblem to her with un-
willingness, an thereupon, greatly dis
couraged and disheartened in mine
endeavors to lead the woman into bet
ter ways, left the house"
He paused moment for greater eff
feet; then, throwing up his head sud
denly, said, with slow emphasis, cat
noon, councilmen, with the same hand
that held that cross, being innocent of
harm and having no thought of evil,
fed my sheep, and before shutdown
many OF the animals We're lying sick
of an unknown diseased"
'.Doth make charge, witness?"
asked the attorney.
II charge that the woman is ac.
curst4 that the cross she weareth even
now SO braZenly on her bosom is Il
witch mark that containeth magic to
answered harshly.
All glances We're fixed on Margaret.
who neither moved nor spoke
Continue, witness, an thou hast
more to say" the chief councillor here
interposed.
Josiah again moistened his lips and.
with q nervous motion, adjusted the
plain starched ruff at his throat
zone evening somewhat later T. the
month at the time of the setting OF the
sun / was walking through the forest
on my way to my home from the vii
lage when l encountered this woman
most boldly dressed in a gay colorel
frock cut in an unseemly fashion to
expose her arms an neck, made thus,
! wOt, to lure men to their destruction
and, pausing before her, with only
thoughts for her good in my heart,
attempted to eXpostulate with her,
when Of a sudden methought sparks of
fire flashed from her eyes! The name
of Godfrey came in shrill Shrek
from her lips, an, throwing her arms
about me in a fury, she held me as in
wise with the unnatural strength OF
ten men. For my very life struggled
with her, strange noises sounding
about mine ears, confusing The; then
there was a loud report us of a burs!
cloud of smoke that cleared away tc
show standing before me the form OF
the woman's accomplice, Sir Godfrey
La Fabienne."
AT the sound of that name the prison
er's body swayed rs If with suffering
and she covered slightly, and from the
nssemblage came cries, Kisses ant
groans.
AT the instant he appeared before
my vision," the witness continued il
harsh, even tones, II was fellcd to the
ground by fearful blow, an when
was able to stagger to my feet botl
had disappeared. So strange and wciri
was the incident and SO daZed my mint
that T. truth would ha' thought 1t was
all dream and had been sleeping
had it not been for the strong stencil
of sulphur an powder that lay heavy
on the air, blood streaming from my
nostriis and the number O. birds tleat
and dying that We're strcwn all abou
me Oh the ground"
AT the close of this speech the pris
Oner, Arrangement and grief depicted OF
her countenance, raised her eyes to the
face of her accuser with glance that
contained the deepest reproach, and
the audience gave vent to its represseG