Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-01-19

iaueIy, ''rnaC never come-ou, woe Ir
me, that never Gomez
The host of the inn Of the Sign Of the
Red Heart at this time was the busiest
man in the village Men eager to dis
cuss the sensational and tragic events
filled his drinking rooms, and greater
number of idlers than usual lotered In
the hallway or hung about the door
step. Newcomers who had ridden far
to the trial and were resolved to re-
main over to witness the last agonies
of the condemned woman filled his
house to overlooking, some of them
paying four times the value in gold for
the privilege of sleeping on straw in
the barn, and strangers were coming
and going constantly.
One man, tall, with extremely dark,
swarthy skin, wearing broad tapping
hat of black felt, long cloak of rough
homespun that reached down to the
tops of his hObnailed shoes, with
high collar turned up about his bearded
IL
were stiff, leaning heavily on a short
cudgel, attracted unusual attention up
on his arrival by the bitter animOsity
he entertained toward the crime Of
witchcraft. For an hour after he ar
rived he sat slipping his ale, listening
to the conversation of those about him,
with low angry mutterings, holding his
head in strong approval and saying I'M
der his breath occasionally in gruff,
hOarse whispers: "Down with witches,
say |. Burn 'em! Burn 'em! They are
accurst of Godw
Later as the innkeeper was standing
at the doorway Of the barn giving loud
orders to the horse boys who were ar
ranging the straw beds for the night,
Josiah Taunston approached and, adj
dressing the man with the air of one
who had important information, said,
"Dost know, good host, whom thou
hath at thy board?"
MEAN thou the tall man with bent
head an lame leg? Who is he, master?'
the man asked curiously.
"'Tis a certain Ezelial Mason, who
hath come to us from loyal Puritans at
Honeyoke, ten miles below Sterndorf,
having the proper password and bear
ing letters of Introduction from them
to us. The man, it seemeth, hath in
vented a famous lock that none but he
can understand Once on door twill
battle all human skill to get the thing
asunder. He hath shown it to the
council, who did SO approve of it that
they did purchase it at once for our
Jail door, putting the newcomer in
charge of the Jail over Matthew Allen,
who for such events Of Importance as
are happening at present, prithee, is
too old"
AS the innkeeper's face expressed in
terest, Josiah continued with his mar
rative:
"The letters state that this EZekial
Mason is proficient in the art of build
ing scaffolds for hanging an hath skill
in planting stake and arranging dry
fagots around it to secure quick
burning. They also make mention Of
the fact that in the several executions
yonder below on the south side the
mountain, from whence he comes, all
were under his direction, and assert
that each affair was conducted with or
der an dispatch"
"By my faith, methOught the stran-
ger had menacing look an cruel, re-
lentless manner" answered the inn
keeper, with a shrug. "At the first
when he appeared, dust covered an
mud stained, the village lads lettering
i the hallway sprang away and ran out
Of doors in fear Of him. But happen
he'll serve the councilmen for their pur
poses right suitably" he added
Taunston strobe toward him angrily.
Call not this EZekial Mason cruel
man." he cried, cor fearsome one,
but rather with low voice an reverent
manner assert that he is holy man,
chosen by the Lord to do his work.
give thee good day, John"
Taunston walked off with rapid
strides, then halted abruptly.
"Thou hadst best come an settle his
reckoning for l am here to take this
good man to the prison."
The innkeeper laying down a large
bundle of straw that he held in his
arms, shouted an order to passing
horse boy, then hurriedly followed
TaunstOn into the house.