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

The Witch Of !
Cra&enstOne |
Nv ANITA CLAY MUNOZ, I
Nv ANITA CLAY MUNOZ,
Author OF, in Love and Truth

changing is Ele only way to put an
end on it," cried old Adam teariu'iy'
wiping his eyes.
"Witchcraft is the very Dlackest
crime against God, the saints ana tne
people!' proclaimed Josiah Iaunstoh
dramatically. "Such wickedness can
not be choked out. Burning-Durnlng
Of the stake-is the punishment our
clergy and elders have ever meted out
&c Of sufficient suffering to expiate
this hideous crime"
Then, seeing his listeners were
reused to an unusual height or fury' he
cried in a louder voice: my men, to
the town house Call the council for
meeting. We must act ere our own
souls. caught in the talons of the dev-
IFS claws. are rendered incapable to In
woke Gods vengeance"
Turning his horses head, he led the
way, followed by an excited throng OF
angry men.
In the meantime Mistress Taunston,
whose reputation for piety and her
well known willingness to offer spirit
ual consolation to the afflicted brought
her to many bedsides OF both SICK ana
diving. had been at the cabin OF the
Widow Dawson, and as the sun was
slowly sinking down below the hill
tops she came through the forest on
her way home. Hearing the sounds OF
approachng footsteps, she raised her
head and saw approaching Margarets
woman Elsbeth, who when she had ad-
yanced few steps paused and, glanc-
ing about in all directions, called IN
sbrill tones the little dog Biddy, that
had evidently strayed away. II she
saw Margaret's aunt coming toward
her Elsbeth gave no sign of it. With
out ever having had an interchange or
hard words there was deep feeling OF
hatred lying in the hearts OF these two
women for each other, and, although on
occasions they had met with civil
| greetings, an underlying spirit OF en-
mity between them was apparent and
, had grown lately into such proportions
that at their last meeting the women
had passed without recognition.
So today, with her head held high and
a forbidding expression on her grim
countenance, Mistress Taunston ap-
preached. The path at that point was
rocky and narrow, so that in order to
proceed one Of them had to stand dan
gerously near the edge to let the other
pass. Elsbeth, walking slowly, cOntln'
ned to look as if she saw no person IN
her way and called the lost dogs name
with great show of anxiety. Bristllng
with defiance and wearing her most
scornful bearing, the Puritan woman
came on until, reaching Elsbeth, who
still refused to see her, she paused ana
drawing her scant skirt of gray home
spun very close about her, with an ap
pearance of making great effort moi
to let her clothing touch the others, en-
deavored to pass.
Turning suddenly, Elsbeth confronted
her so unexpectedly that the stern raced
dame lost her balance and would have
fallen had she not clutched the trunk OF
tree for support All the hatred IN
Elsbeth's heart for her companion
blazed forth in her eyes as she looked
at her.
"Fear not for thy clothing" she cried
! angrily, cor that contact with me shall
harm thee! Lud! Fen l were pitcf
an thou vert covered with me, II
would not show on thee, thou art Sc
black in wiles and wickedness."
Beware, woman, how thou talkest tt
thy betters! fairly shrieked the Othel
in outraged tones.
"Forsooth, III ha' my say, now have
thee cornered"-E lsbeth's black eyes
snapped dangerously-"an' for once
thou'lt hear the truth. Fool that thol
art to think our Margaret hath no pro
tectors!" she exclaimed derisively
''Dost think, dullard, that Sir Godfre!
La Fabienne suspects not thy sons
vile schemes to get his cousins estate
his deep laid plots to force her from
the village as polluted thing, so tina
he-her next of kin-may ride In ant
take possession"
otis falsew shrieked Mistress Taun
ston in wild anger. Make way
woman, or it will be worse for thee!
Elsbeth did not move.
"Methinks 'twere well to warn thee,
, she continued "else in thy greed ant
, ignorance thou'lt 60 too far. Sir Goo
frey La Fabienne is a nobleman o
: much wealth, hath influence at tn
l French and English courts, and wit
: both Puritans and papists his wishe
| have great weight"
{ s'Ha, is't so" The dame laughedscorr
fully. "Thy cavalier may have infuenc
: ut the English court in all else but maj
tiers pertaining to the black art an
? witchcraft. His majesty hath spoken
: and the fiat hath gone forth that a
: such shall be brought to trial and ext