Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1931-06-12

Lie pair Tetlreu III tne SuduOWS not
two fathoms from the edge of tie
glade. A little later the constable
sprang upon them, his lantern in Ills
hand. They arose, terror-stricken.
The officer seized the woman. He saw
the young man not too clearly in the
lantern light. The latter drew his
sword. The woman had the better
head. She cried out: Don't strike.
Run before he sees you"
There was no time for thinking. It
was moment when action yields to
impulse. The young man leaped away
and ran. He tore through the thicket
and was soon in the open. As he ran
dog pursued him, 1t was thought, for
dog was found lying dead from q
sword thrust.
The court convened at eight-thirty
next morning. The young woman.
Mabel Hartley, sometime the kitchen
maid of William and Robert, was
brought from the prison. The watch
man related the circumstances under
which she had been arrested. The
grave, stern-faced Dudley examined
the prisoner. Having heard the con-
stables account of her taking, sub
stantially as given above, he asked:
'Have you husband who is livingT
"Yes, sir"
at is the foul sin Of adultery. Do
you know that the punishment Is
death?
All eyes were on the unfortunate
woman, WHO was weeping. She gave
her head a pathetic, affirmative nod.
"As you value the mercy Of God and
this court, enjoin you to tell the
whole truth. With whom were you
when the constable discovered your"
She wiped her eyes, lifted her head
and in a trembling tone spoke a name
heard in every part of the courtroom:
"William Heydon."
Winthrop dropped the quill with
which he had been writing and sank
back in his chair. A pallor fell upon
his face almost as much in contrast
with his black robe as the ample
breadth of white linen in his collar.
Endicott and Dudley with wrinkled
brows turned to each other and whis-
pered. Winthrop broke the silence.
He asked the constable:
did you see the MANI"
"Yes, sir. He was William Heydon,
sir. 1 have seen him often. This is
the coat he wore. It was torn from
his back in the thicket. We found
it lynn among thorny briars. In one
o. the pockets is a letter to William
Heydon.'
as he under arrest?"
"No, sir. He threatened me with
his sword and took to his legs. He is
not to be found either at his home or
the plantation he is clearin'. Both he
and his friend made off for parts I'M
known whilst l was busy with the
prisoner"
Winthrop conferred a moment with
Endicott and Dudley. Then with sor-
row in his face he said in low tone:
IF William Heydon has not returned
by high noon you may proclaim the
hue and cry"
In due time the constables went
liIOuSH lnC iOMn WIFI IdlSCu SldilS
crying out: "William Heydon, wanted
for the foul sin of adultery, has fled
Let all who hear me assemble at the
courthouse for hue and cry"
There were many who enjoyed the
excitement of man chase. 1t was
one of the frightful customs Of
medieval men, giving free rein to prim-
tive passion, still used in England but
not before in the colony. The vulgar
crowd gave themselves to its plan
with the eager avidity of hounds in
the chase-and especially If a man Of
rank were the fugitive. In the rage
of it the captive was likely to lose his
life. Soon men and boys and fish
wives and dogs were in full cry, seek
ing William Heydon. The running,
shouting, screaming, barking and blow
ing of horns filed the pursuers with
excitement.
Many Joined them, streaming west
ward in the main path, spreading into
the bush on either side and beating
the thickets with clubs in hand. Some
had guns or pistols. They were more
like furies than like those who have
the brain and heart Of man in them.
The tumult awoke strange echoes in
the silent wilderness. 1t reached the
ears Of young Heydon who lay asleep
in messy glade mile or so west of
the path from which he had wan
dered in the darkness trying to walk
to his plantation. 1t panied the ears
of the Brades, Of Margaret Hooper,
Of John Cotton and of all the good
people of the parish. What striving
of thoughts, what beating Of hearts.
what shuddering of souls was under
all this hellish uproarl
ITO BE coNTINUED.l