The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-11-21

and eminently hsndsome, with a healthy
brown face, and the brightest, Vivacious
black eyes in the world. The young men
Of the village could speak Of nothing but
her beauty and the hours they should have
spent in catching fish, were wasted in devils
ing schemes to catch her. The ladies Of
the village were, however, absolutely scsn-1
dsliEed BY the utter indifference which she
manifested in regard to dress---and indeed
her garments generally looked as though
she jumped into them. She dispensed al,c-
ge,her with bat and bonnet, and wore in it,
place q silk hsndkerchiel, kpotted under her
chin, after the. fsshiop pfFthe French Mos
men. Still, even the Jealous village bellies
were obliged to own, that nothing could
have set off better the dark, bright style Of
her beauty than the rich, brilliant bues of
her hesd dress. s.
For time the villsgers held alOof from
ths newcomer; but finding their reserve was
met with careless indifference on her part,
they soon began to change their tactics. A
few of the village maids and matrons called
at Bleak Point Shsnty, and though shocked
beyond m,asure at the universal disorder
reigning without snd within. they left, on
the whole, rather fsvorubly impressed by its
mistress. There was wicked twinkle in
her bright, black eye, as she begged them to
excuse the state in which they found things,
on the plea that she wasn't use to house.
keeping. All their efforts to disccver her
name and business, proved. however, to be
vain, but from several accidental remarks
dropped by her, they concluded she was a
widow. As it was impossible for her to be
spoken Of without numo, they resolved to
give her one themsel elves-and admirihg her
black, bright eyes, and jety locks, they con
cluded TO give her that Of Black. Accord
ingly, the Eame by which the handsome
stranger was known in the village was "The
Widow Blsrk"-a name which, after q
laugh at first, she professed her willingness
to be known by. " ~ s....
Weeks passed away, and the Widow
Black remained the sole dweller on BIZ ak
Point. During this time she became the
reigning belle, and prime favorite Of the
good people Of M, in spite of the mys.
terry in which she was enveloped. She &C
cepted every invitation to parties and pic,
MICS, and quitting frolics, and "candy sprsss,"
always. without exception, in the tumbed
dress and everlasting Il K handkerchief -
Such songs as she could sing, in such voice,
such splendid dancer as she was, such ato
ries as she could tell. now keeping the audi
cnce convused with Iughter, and nov
bringing tears into eyes all unused TO the
melting mood. No party Of pleasure was
complete without the Widow Black no
wonder then, every unmarried m,n in the
village had his heart pierced by thc black
eyes Of the lively widow, and every woman
under forty was wild with Jealousy aid envy.
But the hsndsoms Widow moved on her
way, as il totally unconscious and irdifar.
pnt as 20 what people thought of her. 10
fact, different from ell other widows that
ever were heard Of she showed at all times
dscidcd re'erenee for the society OF yanng
ladies', and rather laughed at all the tender
deyotonR Of her rustic swoins.,s. r,..+...
One night old Miles JNdaon, being out
unusually late, casting his rets, was sur
priced TO see the same low, Black, suspicious
looking schooner that mad left among them
the Widow Black, enter the bay. Wonder
ing whether she bad come to carry off the
the widow again, he seersted himself to
watch her. Presently boat was lowered,
several bales were hoikted over the vessels
side, and the boat rowed to the land, and
disappeared in one of the numerous islets
surrounding Bleak Point. More and more
mystifed, the old, man determined to watch
their motions ; and three hours after he be-
held the boat return to the schooner which
instantly weighed anchor and made off, p
The same day old Miles Judson sat talk
ing to a stranger from st. John, who had
arrived that day. Seated within was the
handsome Widow Black, chatting away with
Miles daughter, Ruth, "Bluenose" mai
den, with as bright an eye as ever flashed
back sunlight.
"Have you heard unything lately about
that celebrated smuggler, Capt. R-r
sIidih man, mentioning the nane Of no
ted smuggler. Z ..s
"No, we hear nothing here" grumbled
old Miles, while Ruth looked up with sur
prise at the widows sudden start.
"Weil, people are talking Of nothing else
10 Eastport and st. John," said bis compan.
Ion, n,--.he's d regular daredevil, and cheats
the revenue SO boldly chat one cannot help
feeling sympathy for him. Some how the
ustom.house disco yered be was hovering
around Eastport, and a dozen or two revenue
cutters were sent out to watch him, but 10
the schooner run the gauntlet of them all
delivered her cargo somewhere, in spite o.
their teeth, and where, the beaks canno
discover. Il was a valuable one, too, she
was loaded with rum and sugar" :
The Widow Black had suddenly ceaset
her conversation, and sat listening with ,
look Of interest to this recital. Ashe ceas
Cd she Bit her lip, and stopped down to con
lceSl the smile that, in spite Of ell her efforts
lbroke over her countsnance. The metior
w.s observed By Miles ]; tie isincident Of III,