Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-07-03
FALLEN AMONG THIEVES


haDitcd mansion in the market place then the most
part of the town. while Harriets father
and mother rented large broken-jown half.fur
nished house on the quay-side We were rich md
they were poor; but this had effect upon our in
tercourse, except that Harriet was oftener in our
house than in hers. Mrs. Delaney, a mere good
natured, bustiing maneuvring woman, did not at
tract me as my mother did her daughter For Won
must know that my dear mother was look ed upon in
those days as the Earthly Providence of Rathkels-
pie. AT all times, at all hours her house and heart
were open Every one who was in difficulty or dis
ress came to ask counsel assistance from her, and
indeed, her generosity almost blamabe Among
those persons who took undue advantage of it my
brother and were accustomed to class Mrs. Delan
cy; much however, as we were accustomed to that
lady ootrusiye ways, and constantly our house
door was open, 1t started very much one bois
ferrous spring evening, when, at eleven O'clock the
door bell rang loudly, and we heard Mrs Delancy's
voice asking for Mrs. Hamilton
She entered breathless from her struggle with the
equinoctlal gale which was even now driving the
hale furiously against the Window but it was not
MI my mother had forced her into the most comfort
able char near the fire. that she could the
repeated question of "Whst can have happened TO
bring you out on such night?"
"A wild night lndeed! she gasped "but could
not rest till had told dear Mrs. Hamilton oil about
it. There is nothing wrong, assure you-Harriet
Is quite well, Miss Mary. Nothing is wrong quite
the reverse. That is hope SO; but really am so
nervous when | think of it that scarcely know
what am saying or doing; and besides, / have
come with such strange petition to Miss Mary that
am quite ashamed. Harriet would never forgive
me if she knew; bat Miss Mary is SO fond of dear
Harry that thought might venture, &c. as soon
as got her sent off to bed, just said to Mr.. De-
lRncy. IN slip my cloak and hood, and Sec
what dear Mrs Hamilton thinks !; and he said, Best
wait till morning, Sally but l wouldn't; for
thought sufficient Tor the morning would be the la
Dor thereof especially if the Vixen sail by the eve
ming tide, us Captain Culver says she must"
THE Vixen Captain Culver What are you talk
ing OF Mrs. Delaney g.
And in the ladyis oyyD pood tiroa laarpt tbot
one of the sailors of the cutter Vixen Just
in port, after unsuccessful chase of smuggling
craft OFF the coast of Ireland, had brought up to Mr.
Deancv's house crumpled scrawl containing
strange intelligence. 1t to the purport that u
cousin of his, certain Lady Stewart who had mar
ried rich Irish landholder in of the north east
her castle by her and if not relieved with
i'll certain time the writer limited that she could not
answer for the consequences. Mr.. Delaney his wife
said, was greatly moved to find that his cousin-an
old experimentation for many years he had sup
posed to be SO Tapped in luxury as to havo forget
ten her less fortunate relations should be in such
perilous case "And so" she went on TO say, "noth
ing will satisfy him but that he must start at to
help his cousin Bess out of her scrape. And for
Harriet, she says she will go with him to which,
says Captain Culver, why not The Vixen, lie says
is bound for Stiangford Bay, will start tomorrow
night, and nothing, he declares, would please him
better thapto land us all safely at Caernnys, which
it seems is somewhere Whereabouts. Now, you know,
ma am, if could rescue the old lady, Harriet
nllSDl DeU0r OF II some day that gupp0S
ing that the wretches have not robbed her of her
money for of course she could do less than help
those who helped her us, for instance. So have
not set my face against the plan for though hate
the sea, and terrified out of my life the idea of
coming near those savage Irish. still, you know,
ma'om, as Captain Culver is bachelor, and all that
sort of thing not satisfied that could let Har-
rie go, unless l went as well. So l suppose must
not mind myself But, by.the-by, what in the world
shall do for decent cloak and gown for Ear-
rict -
The ob;ect of tho visit tbus capoa ont M Ios+ md
it was speedily attained. l sad hastily that, ON
that point, there could be no difficulty, Harriet
and l were much of size; and, hurrying cur
visitor away to my own room, forced on her ac-
ceptance all that 1 knew or guessed would render
my friends outfit compete.-Among other things
so given, there is reason why should specify a
neat little green mantle which had just purchased
Early next morning Harriet was with me- thank
ing and reproaching for all that had done,
yet tearfully confessing that had relieved her of
great trouble by enabling her to appear at Caerin
too often accused of being too proud in these
matters" she said land ] am humble now,
through pride because | should not like to have
it said thought that we went to Lady Stewards
help from mereenary motives. The blush upon her
check as she said this, showed that her mothers
speculations on this head had wounded her high
spirit to the quick
At nine o'clock in the evening, the moon near
" at full, we bidding farewell to our friends
by the quay side. My brother, laughngly. suggest
ed terrors to our Harriet who, fully expecting
mons. was not to be daunted. eff harm should
threaten u.s." she added with much feeling, 1--WE
shall have an able knight and many doughty squires
ready with aid. AS she spoke, the clear cold
moonlight fell upon her face, and it seemed to me
that she never looked more beautiful. Nor to me
alone. l suspect, did she seem beautiful for Cap
tain Culver had approached quietly, and there
was that in his look and voice. az he thanked her
for her good opinion of himself and his crew, which
set me specializing, all girls ofseverteen will do,
upon the future. Till that moment had beer anx-
ious about the success of this cruise in the Vixen
but / felt satisfied that Harriet was in good
hands and that if love was an efficient helper, she
was safe from harm.
William and l fingered on the quay long after
our friends left u.s. watching the clever little Vixen
rs she crossed the bar, between Inchcarne and the
coast and vanished in the darkness
Time passed on; and began to think it unusual
for the Vixen be long absent from Rathk cspe
but it was not till month had elapsed that any of
lis confessed ourselves to be really anxious about
friends. Then even my father seemed to think mat
tiers serious and even spoke either OF sending across
TO PortpRtrck to inquire W neither there were It'd
ngs of the cutter, of writing to some person in
authority to ascertain whether the Vixen had
ceived fresh orders
Before any fresh step was taken, oamo order
from the revenue station at Kilkrummoch, desiring
that certain number of carts should be in readi-
ut the quay-side of Rathkelspe, to remove
some heavy packages out of the Vixen cutter,
then hourly expected The revenue officer who
brought the order set the whole town in commotion
by strange rumors which he bro't with him. Xii
krummoch fishing boats, which had been blown by
the late storm across tho narrow channel between
Scotland and ireland, had been told at Donng-
hadee that the Vixen was storm stayed in Strang-
ford Tough, being unable to cross the bar during
the late southeast gale: but that she had made
some wonderful captures during her long cruise
Some whispered that not only had she taken the
smuggler of which she had been so long in chase,
but that she had also captured French privateer,
laden with Spanish gold; which together with
great number of prisoners of rank-nmong whom
were three ladies-she bringing in triumph to
Rathkel.pie; others denied the privateer; but said
that, in her chase Of the srnuggler she had come
upon haunt of buccaneers. commanded by fe-
male captain who had bravely defended their little
island. but had finally surrendered after both their
Amazon leader and brave Captain Culver had been
wounded. Il for their treas ures said the peo-
pie, that so many carts were wanted and that
il was TO carry the wounded lady captain to the
hospital that Mr.. M'Donald had been ordered to
bring down his sedan hair to the quay side.
Towards evening of the day after Captain Gull
ver's orders reached Rsthkelspie, a change in the
wind caused the knowing ones to prephesy the
prompt arrival of the cutter. The array of carts
drew up at tho quay-sidc, the sedan was set at
behind the lookout house the crowd, attract
ed by the strange reports that had been current
were gathered in messes on the pier; and the
glowing light of sunse: fell upon their eager and
expectant faces, the whole scene picturesque
enough, TO q most exciting one, soon as word
was given that the Vixen espisd rounding Inch
carns point.
The litfle shin swan, into IN. hsv sfe5slv M. a