Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-09-27
THE MYSTERY OF FAMAGANSEr.
Correspondence of the Journal Of Commerce
EAsTHAMPTON, L. I - Sent 1853

liclous summer day. AS we crossed the plain
at Fort Pond we put up the largest flock of
plover that have ever seen, and got a shot
into them at q long distance, which added
six to the heap already covering the carriage
bottom. The noise of their flight was nj
thunder, soaring the cattle that grazed on the
plain.
The sun was setting as we passed Strstton s.
ana we hsstened on hoping to reach Napeague
before dark, but the gloom overlook us before
We passed 0sborn's, (the first house, and by
the time we reached the Mosquito Territory it
was profoundly dark and the sayages had IL
all their own way.
The next hour was fearful, but as we emerged
from its horrors on the heights near Amagan-
set, cool breeze revived US, and the first light
OF that village cheered US amazingly.
Do you know that there is a mystery of
Amsganset?" demanded Peter, who rode with
the driver and smoked furiously in silence all
across Napeague.
nc" exclaimed the party unanimously !;
"do your"
No" said Peter, and the smoke increased
about his cloudy head
What the deuce does Peter mean ?" sug-
gested the Squire in a low voice
mean this, that Jonathan Pierson told
me story once about some Long Island viii
IaSe, and when came through Amaganset the
I 9.ner day, L took 1t that must be the place
Ihe story hts there, anyhow"
Peter ~ 'H'"' 0n
Puf-puf-Pcter usually pulls hard at the
cigar before he begins, and we Judged correct
iy, that ne would yield to our entreaties. And
az length, little by little, with interruptions to
Iengnt MS cigar, we got the substance of it.
Along the road that leads to the beach from
tne Lonesome village Of - Peter called it
Amaganset, and so viii We, and no Amaganset
need trouble himself to say il didn't happen
therel lay fine farm, in old times, owned by
stephen Laton, we'll -to-do man, who lived in
mouse oy the roadside, with a wife and one
cnlld. All this happened a z eat while ago, SO
that the story is more easily to be credited
Ihe daughter, Bessie Laton, was a beautiful
enud, and grew up to be very beautiful wo
man. Contrary to the custom in those days.
she was sent away to be educated, and for three
years, from her fifteenth to her eighteenth year.
she was In New York, at the house of wealthy
uncle, who was to leave her all his property,
some day
he might have done more for her by looking
more closely after her life then, for Bessie was
no child even in her childish years, but always
had great freedom of will, a strong determine
uoni ana more than her share of self-reliance.
With all this she had an aboundipp pride.
which had always stamped her character and
no one who knew her way failed TO see that she
had ambition which would rest at nothing short
OF the highest position in woman 3 empire She
loved and was loved by all the village, but she
eA AAhOI VI uIedL0S ana hopes and
self promises, which her city life aflerward
helped to encourage
No one knew what she did in those three
years, except that her step grew stately. her
AR assumed the graces Of the accomplished
lady, and after all she came to her home, to
ner sea snore home, changed woman. The
gayety OF her whole character seemed to be
lost, and a sore and terrible secret evidently
preyed on her mind.
In this secret the whole village was inter-
ested, old wives wondered what allied the child,
and old men shook their heads and said this
was what comes OF ''eddcating children" And
AT last the secret was halt told, and Bessie's
name was the by-word of the town.
10 ner mother alone she said . am married
put cannot tell you any more until he comes
himself to take me-" The shame and apopy
In which her life now burned away NAV be
imaglne9 put cannot De told. A year passed
and be did not come. Alone in the cottage.
seldom venturing beyond its walls, she dwelt
In secret, growing every day more pale, yet
every day more beautiful. Four winters had
dashed their storms on the Atlantic coast, and
NTH was passing, and Bessie was dying as
she had prayed to die.
IL was wild December night, and there was
wreck on the coast, to which all the villagers
nad gone Inc guns had been heard booming
all the day previous, and they said she would
go ashore on the food tide, beyond the help of
man. y,
In the house of Stephen Laton the mother
and daughter were seated, as in many a win
ter night before, by the great fire that blazed
up tne enlmney, silent mostly, yet once in a
WnlIe lifting their eyes each TO the others
Soun'enance There was a strange and start
ing resemblance in the two women, though
one was old and haggard, and the other young
and beautiful. The likeness was doubtless in
the prevailing expression of woe that looked
out OF both their eyes, as they gszed silently
and steadfastly into the flashing FIRE and listened
TO the roaring tempest
Mother" said Bessie. springing to her feet
at length with cry Of anguish" Mother,
Patience, Bessie, my child, patience"
Patience, mother have been patient
four years. am patient-but would TO God
were lying out yender in the old graveyard,
with all the ok folk and young folk of all the
graves, instead OF being here to- night"'
che was magnificent as she stood there her
long white night-robe buttoned to her throat
ana moving to her feet, as she clasped her
nands ana looked up to heaven. Certainly
she was very beautiful, with the beauty of ap-
preaching death ~
The tramp of men disturbed tho scene, as
they brought in body from the wreck. Bessie
passed into an inner room, whittier in a mo-
ment her mother brought in her stout arms.
the form OF young, slender, fair-h haired girl'
whose face Of very delicate beauty was now
almost heavenly in what seemed at FIRST the
peace Of death
They laid her in Bessie's bed, and in an
hour by diligent care, had succeeded in re-
storing animation if not consciousness Once
she had murmured Philippe" and Bessie
sprang up. with fierce flush on her counte.
nance ut the sound, but sinking back with q
halt.supPressed moan, continued her exertions
In silence.
In the meantime, the bodies of several men
were brought into the old kitchen Among
tncin was one richly dressed and bearing
marks OF rank and wealth, for those were
days when travellers wore more of the insignia
OF position than now. lie was young and
strong, and il was manifest that he was NOT
dead; But strange stupor, whether of cold
OF 9tnerNise, nad taken possession Of him, and
he lay motOnless on the floor before the fire
until sharp cry from the inner room reached
his benumbed senses
The lady had at length opened her eyes. and
sense OF her position slowly dawned on her
Bessie understood and answered. sufbcad 20