Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-09

busy trying to save themselves and keep 9TH
ers out of the boat, and cursing and swearing
and hollering that there was no more room
that the boat would be swamped, and SO on.
The end was, that all who could crowd into
the boat did so. And me and the baby and a
poor sailor lad and the black cook were left be-
hind to perish.
but, marster, as it turned out, we as was
left to die, were the only ones saved. We
watched after that boat with longing eyes,
though we could only see it when the light
ming flashed. And every time we saw it, it
was farther Off At last, marster a flash of
lightning showed us the boat as far off as ever
we could see her, capsized and beaten hither
and thither by the wild waves-its crew had
persisted.
@Marster, as soon as the sea had swallowed
up that wicked captain and crew, the wind died
away, the waves fell, and the storm lulled-
just what it was sent to do and was satisfied.
| The wreck-where we poor forlorn ones stood
the wreck that had shivered and trembled
| with every wave that struck it-until we had
feared it would break up every minute, became
still and firm on its sandbar, as house on dry
land.
Daylight come at last. And little after
sunrise we saw sail bearing down upon us.
We could not signal the sail, but by the mercy
of providence she saw us and lay to, and sent
off boat and picked us up and took us on
board-me and the baby, and the cook and the
sailor LAD.
at was a foreign vessel, and we could not
understand word they said, nor they us. All
we could do was by signs But they were
very good to us, dried our clothes and gave us
breakfast, and made us lie down and rest. And
then put about and continued their course.
The sailor lad-Herbert Greyson-soon found
out and told me they were bound for New
York. And, in fact, marster, in about ten days
we made that port
"Well, marster, / amt gwine to bother you
with telling you of how / toiled and struggled
along in that great city-frst living out as a
servant and afterwards renting room and
taking in washing and ironing-aye! how
toiled and struggled-for-ten--lo
hoping for the time to come when l should be
able to return to this neighborhood, where
was known, and expose the evil deeds of them
Villains, and for this cause lived on toiling
and struggling, and laying up money penny
by penny.
"No one ever helped me but the lad Herbert
Greyson. Whenever he came from sea, he
sought me out and made little present to me
or Cap.
cap, marster, was Capitola, the child. The
reason gave her that name was because on
that ring had drawn from the masked moth
NNNAAN
tola.
"Well, marster the last time Herbert Grey
son came home, he gave me five dollars, and
that, with what had saved, was enough to
pay my passage to Norfolk.
81 left my little Cap in the care of the peo-
pie of the house-she was big enough to pay
for her keep in work-and took passage for
Norfolk When l got there fell ill, spent all
my money, and was at last taken to the poor
house. Six months passed away before was
discharged, and then six months more before
had earned and saved money enough to pay
my way on here.
81 reached here three days ago, and found
wheatfield growing where my cottage fire
used to burn, and all my old cronies dead, ex
cept old Hat, who has received and given me
shelter Sir, my story is done-make what
you can of it, )" said the invalid, sinking down
in her bed as if utterly exhausted.
Old Hurricane, whose countenance had ex-
pressed emotions as powerful as they were
various while listening to this tale, now arose,
stepped cautiously to the door, drew the bolt,
and coming back, bent his head and asked
"What more of the child %
"Cap, sir? l have not heard a word of Cap
since | left her to try and hunt out her friends
But any one interested in her might inquire
for her at Mrs. Simmons's, laundress, No. 8
Rag Alley"
"You say the names upon the ring were Eu-
gene-Capitola 90
eyes, sir, they were"
"Have you that ring about you?"
"No, master. 1 thought it was best, in case
of accident, TO leave it with the child"
"Have you told her any part of this strange
history 90 sJp'
"NO, master nor limited it; s9 fsar. occ55
young for such a confidence" tanne@
rifrl,f HaA.
about 9sr y #cS She could be denti-
eyes, master, a very strange one In the
middle of her left palm was the perfect image
of a crimson hand about half an inch in
length. There was also another. Herbert
Greyson, to please me, marked upon her fore
arm in India ink her name and birthday
'Capitola, Oct 31st, 1892"
Fright. Now tell me, my good soul, do
you know, from what you were enabled to OBJ
serve, what house that was where Capitola was
born 90
81 am on my oath. No, sir, do not know;
but"
"You suspect 2"
at was" said old Hurricane, STOPPING
and whispering name that was heard by no
one but the sick woman.
She nodded again, with look of intense
meaning.
"Does your old hostess, here, Hat, know or
suspect anything of this story % inquired Ma
jor Warfield.
"Not a word No soul but yourself has
heard it,
"That is right Still be discreet If you
would have the wicked punished and the in
nocent protected, be silent and wary. Have
no anxiety about the girl. What man can do
for her will be done, and quickly And now,
good creature, day is actually dawning. You
must seek repose. And must call the parson
IL and return home | will send Mrs. Condi-,
ment over with food, wine, medicine, clothing
and every comfort that your condition re-
quires,' said Old Hurricane, rising, and calling
in the clergyman, with whom he soon after
left the hut for home.
They reached Hurricane Hall in time for an
early breakfast, which the astonished house
keeper had prepared, and for which their
nights adventures had certainly given them
good appetite.
Major Warfield kept his word, as soon as
breakfast was over, he dispatched Mrs Condi-
ment with carriage filed with provisions for
the sick woman. But they were not needed.
In couple of hours the housekeeper returned
with the intelligence that the old nurse was
dead. The false strength OF mental exc1Je-
ment that had enabled her to tell SO long and
dreadful tale, had been the last faring UP of
the fame of life, that almost Immediately went
out.
u am not sorry, upon the whole, for now !
shall have the game in my own hands r NUT
tered Old Hurricane to himself-"Ah! Gabri-
ellie LIE Noir better you had cast yourself down
from the highest rock of this range and been
dashed to pieces below, than have thus fallen
into my power"
So far we have followed the lovely heroine
and her friends; but the foregoing is all that
we can publish in our columns. The remain
der of the narrative can only be found in the