Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-01-05

: SMepf III through ne WiuuoN W TIE
/ breeze. Hetty shuddered and, edsns
nearer to Simon, laid her small hand on
his.
Forgive me. No longer shut thy
kind heart against me, Simon. be my
friend again. TITS all | ask"
He threw up his head with sharp,
indrawn breath.
"Hetty, thou must speak out what
tbou dost meanw he cried. '"There can
be but one thing between us, and mat
is-love. Before God, l will be thy
friend. but | must be thy husband al
So"
A glow of color mantled her face and
throat.
IF thou would deem me worthy,
she fatered, with dropping head, IAN
were one-half good enough, would
ask thee to O'erloOk the past, to FOR
give me, Simon, an to take me for
thy true and faithful wife. l would
promise to love thee dearly"
With a glad cry he stopped and gath
cred her into his erms.
mo more such words, Hetty. l ha'
listened long enough! Not worthy OF
me- a rough, Woodworking farmer-the
maid ha' ever held so high above all
other women"
He pressed her fOndly to his strongly
beating heart, saying tenderly, moved !
In his great joy to ali unusual express
sion of sentiment, "Ah, Hetty, bright
sunbeam of my life, that went away
so cOldly, praise God thou hast con
back, bringing warmth to cheer the sad
heart Of lonely man and light to set
a glow of joy about his quiet home"
CHAPTER XIV.
YIN a remote part Of Cragenstone,
far from the center Of the village, |
built on a narrow defile that led |
from the main roadway and al
most hidden by wild growth Of bushes
and high trees, stood the prison where
Margaret Maryland was confined.
1t was primitive affair built rough
ly Of logs, the interior comprising
row Of dark cells, long narrow pas
sageway and room for the keeper;
also a large assembly hall where the
village tribunal or council held its ses-
siOns. Here it was that they heard
disputants, punished offenders and
otherwise sat in judgment. So quiet
were the inhabitants Of this obscure
mountain village, so regular in their
manner Of living, peaceable and law
abiding, that the Jail for lack of serv
ing any use Of great Importance had
long since fallen into state of neg
lect. The heavy wooden shutters hung
loosely on broken hinges; the aper-
lures that emitted air and light into
the building were covered with q rusty,
iron grating, and the plain, wooden
furniture was dilapidated to an ex-
degree. In fact, the only
part of the old prison that gave evil
dence of strength or resistance was the (
huge front door of rough oak beams ,
riveted together with iron bands that
reached from floor to roof.
Before this door on the afternoon
Of the day following Margaret's ar
rest the old jailer, Matthew Allen, r
sat ON three legged stool sleepily r
the suns gradual descent r
toward the horizon line. His good dog
slept quietly at his side, and inside the "
prison the silence was intense. v
Sounds Of horses hOOfs pounding the
'oadway fell on the dull ears Of the
ailer, who raised his head eXpectantly,
or watching alone before the jail in
IN isolated part Of the village was
existence even for pious
I'D man whose thoughts were wont to
)e nearer heaven than earth, and so
he hope of chance visitor with whom
o discuss the exciting events Of the !.
reviouS day caused an expression Of
unusual intentness to spread over Mat
hew's cOuntenance as he looked to-
yard the turn. Apparently the sight
f the old man was failing, for the l.
ider had appeared before his vision
nd approached quite few yards in
is direction before he recognized the
all, gray clad form of Josiah Taunston.
With noisy clatter the horse and rider
dvanced, the latter pulling rein in a stl
loud Of dust before the huge door Of al
le Jail. W
Il give thee good day, Matthew" he
lid. How doth fare thy prisoner, the
evils young accomplice? Is she still =
18th thee?" 4
yea, MASTER" the man responded
,riously. "She is here"
"Thy news is good" Josiah observed. IN
Iethought, perchance, to hear that she l.
Id disappeared. Gone up i the air on \
streak O. lightning or in cloud Of
noke, to join the revels of her evil
At this sally he laughed a loud laugh
cruel enjoyment. The jailer looked
,out him fearfully, calling under his q
cath for the intercession of the
ints. &
How doth thy prisoner conduct her ~
If, Matthew Allen? Taunston in IN
tired, with curious gloatlng. Doth she
We an curse tear down her hair an
II on that white llvered coxcOmb,
at quondam lover of hers, to come to
We her.?
My son, her behavior is unusual"
answered shaking his head from
lie to side in way that implied his q
ability to understand. 'The maid
th sit on the stool quietly, with head
wed an hands pressed together Ger y,
: heart, or else doth kneel on the floor a.
d rest her head on the side Of her
I'd pallet" IL
The jailer sighed. ~
'Twere sin, good sir, to feel
npathy for such?" he asked in a
milling voice, uncertainty. M
oslah, who had been leaning over to-