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

! All eyes aUerc turned tO1cdrd the entrance
ed in loose knot, and she walked witt
dropping head, her pale face wearing
an expression of suffering and hopeless:
misery.
They advanced slowly the jailer find
ing difficulty in making a way for then
through the crowded aisle, until they
came to an open space before the cOun
Gil, where Matthew, seating Margaret
on Il wooden stool placed there for the
purpose, left her. SO intense was the
stiffness in the room that the noise of
the falling OF pin could have been
heard as tie assemblage gazed at the
prisoner brought face to face with her
judges and accuSers and who now sat
alone apart, her hands clasped togeth-
er in her lap, her proud head bent and
her blue eyes dull and heavy, their
glance not lifted from the floor
The chief councillor sat on a bench
surrounded by the council, and back of
them, seated on wooden stools, were
the witnesses and accusers. Josiah
Taunston, summoned to serve in both
capacities, sat with his mother in a
place of prominence and received a
large share Of comment and curious at
tention. Seated just before him in the
council was one of the visiting judges
from Sterndorf, who, after surveying
Margaret's youth and beauty with as
constituent, turned TO Josiah, saying
softly:
"By my faith, good sir the maid is
possessed of wOndrous beauty and
looks not like one that had sold her
soul to the DEVIL"
JoSiah's grim face darkened.
Hist, man. Look not her way, an
put thy thoughts on holy things. To
appear winSOme is of her evil art; it's
one of the first tricks she doth use to
put folk under her spell. IT'S well
were here to warn thee friend"
The man turned about with fright
4ned expression and, fixing his glance
on the audience, kept it there.
Soon the chief councillor, in large
curled wig and loose gown Of black,
rose to his feet.
Margaret Maryland, rise"
The prisoner, without lifting her
eyes, Obeyed his command.
Margaret Mayland," he continued,
speaking with stern distinctness, Sin
the name Of the king, thou hath been
taken into custody and now brought to
trial ON the following charges: Con-
nivance with Satan in rebellion against
God, possessing a malevolent influence
over human beings and supernatural
powers to injure them, to read their
thoughts, to faScinate and harm by
Ook, to control the elements and in
,ther ways most wicked to practice
he awful crimes Of magic, black art
md witchcraft Thine accusers state"
lie continued, that already thou hast
much suffering to thy neigh
,ors in this village. Woman, hath
ught to say in thy defense|
For the first time Margaret lifted
er eyes. Good sir of the charges
hou dost name 1 am not guilty" she
answered gently.
Hast thou secured any one to ar
ue in thy defense, to plead for thee"
e demanded.
NAY, sir"
Her head fell forward, and she |
lasped her hands together tightly.
IL have no friends hereabout,
ave one old woman, who can do
aught but cry for me-"
Thou mayst be seated
A murmur Of deep interest ran
trough the assemblage as the old
said: "Councilmen, we will
roceed with the trial. Let the first
fitness be called"
He resumed his seat with solemn
ignity, while the court crier, bris-
ing with Importance, rose at once,
alling dramatically, Josiah Taun-
.on to the witness bench"