Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-01-12

occurrence between thee and the prS
oner first caused thee to think she was
In connivance with the devilf"
After hopping his brow with his
handkerchief and wetting his pale lips
with his tongue Josiah spoke:
Twas on Il day soon after Marga-
ret Mayland's return to her estate that
went one morning to fetch my sister,
who had been detained by the storm Il
few days ut the house. As approach
ed from the roadway mine aStonished
gaze fell upOn my sister, usually Il
maiden of great decorum, running like
a wild thing along the top Of the pas
turc wall, whilst the prisoner, with her
hair unbound an streaming l. the wind,
swung from tree to tree, laughing an
chatterng gleefully as 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 unbecoming
behavior.
II also took occasion, as | felt it my
duty, to rebuke her for wearing for
ornament Il papst cross that always,
no matter how frequent the changes in
her dress, hung about her neck on a
gold chain. ] urged upon her the fact
that such decoration was diStaStefui
to all 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, as | uttered the words, the chain
parted an fell to the floor, where, in
my righteous anger, | grasped it and
but for the woman's heartrending
shrieks an shril screams Of agony
that | confess disarmed me, | would
have thrown it into the fire"
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 I'M
willingness, an thereupOn. greatly dis
Outraged and disheartened in mine
endeavOrs to lead the woman into bet
ter ways, / left the house"
He paused q moment for greater eff
feet; then, throwing up his head sud
denly said, with slow emphasis, AT
noon, councimen, 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 or the animals were lying sick
Of an unknown disease
Doth make a charge, witness"
asked the attorney.
IL charge that the woman is ac-
curSt; that the cross she Weareth even
now so brazenly on her bosom is a
witch mark that containeth magic TO
wreak harm to living creatures" he |
answered harshy.
All glanccs were 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 Il nervous motion, adjusted the
plain starched ruff at his throat.
zone evening somewhat later i the
month at the time Of the setting Of the
sun I was walking through the forest
on my way to my home from the vii
lage when | encountered this woman
most boldly dressed in a gay colored
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 sudden methOught sparks Of
fire flashed from her eyes. The name
Of Godfrey came in 4 Shrill shrek
from her lips an, throwing her arms
about me in fury, she held me as in
a wise with the unnatural strength Of
ten men, For my very life l struggled
with her. strange noises sounding
about mine ears. confusing me; then
there was loud report as of burst
Of thunder, an was surrounded by a
cloud of smoke that cleared away to
show standing before me the form Of
the woman's accompice. Sir Godfrey
La Fabiennew
At the sound of that name the prison
ar's body swayed rs if with suffering, I
and she covered slightly, and from the
came cries, Kisses and
yroanS.
cat the instant he appeared before
nv vision" the witness continued in {
larsh, even tones, Il was felled to the {
ground by a fearful blow, an when / l
vas able to stagger to my feet both S
lad disappeared. So strange and weird !
vas the incident and so daZed my mind G
hat i truth would ha' thought it was t
Ill dream and 1 had been sleeping q
lad it not been for the strong stencil @
# sulphur an powder that lay heavy c
N the air, blood streaming from my c
lostrils and the number O birds dead 2
nd dying that were strewn all about
ne on the ground" t
At the close of this speech the pris- u
ner, amazement and grief depicted on t
er cOuntenance, raised her eyes to the f.
ace of her accuser with a glance that 4
obtained the deepest reproach and Il
be audience gave vent to its repressed t;
excitement by loud whispers and wild J.
u
Josiah Taunston," here interposed b
le young attorney, "hast thou other Il
violence against the prisoner" a
GAS thou can understand" the wit cl
ess replied, with a significant shrug II
his shoulders. 'after that expert "
nee gave both the. woman an her
ccOmplice good safe distance to play ia
heir havoc in. But can repeat much al