Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-08-29
5Higrrllullraus.
KYD'S LAST VISIT.
h Tradition of Eastern New York
~ AMOS sIIURTLEFg.

II was n wild October night, ir tho
Gntumn of l699; the storm-clouds scud
ded across the sky. almost totally obscu.
ring the high, of the young moon, and
the wind swept in cddying gasts through
the forest gorgcs, and sobbcd mourn
fully around the old manor-housc of
Cocymnns, situated on the rocky shore of
the Hudson, some ten miles below AL
hany. All was hushcd in the mansion.
and the night darkness brooded heavily
over it. save when, from single win
dow, Il light CLEANED dazzlingly throw
ing broad, glittering belt along the
gravcllcd gardcn-w walk. In the room
whence shown this beacon light. sat 4
lady in the prime of life, magnifccntly
attired in the costume of that period
The room itself was elegantly furnish
cd, and the richly carved walnut and
danIask of finest texture bespoke the
wealth and taste Of the owner Upon
her lap lay an open volume bound in
vellum, and heavily adorned with silver,
the leaves of which she turned listlcssly,
and as she glanced into the surrounding
darkness shadow swept across her brow.
and she murmured to herself:
No, he will not come tonight; some
accident must have befallcn him. |
will'- but even as she spoke there came
the sound of hasty steps along the walk,
a man sprang lightly up the steps, and
the knocker was applied with vigorous
strokes to the oaken door; springing
from her seat she obeycd the summons,
removed the heavy bar, dew the bolt,
threw open the door, and admitted the
visitor. Her warm greeting was re-
sponded to with "a
Eyes, yes, Margery. all in good time;
but I've tired, tired you with waiting for
me, haven't l ? and without pausing for
a reply, he continued, az he laid his
sword and pistols on the table. Il would
have been in better season, but the hounds
were on my track, aud cared not to be
overhaulcd with my precious argo.'-I
The speaker and the lady he addressed
were singularly alike in form and fea-
ture. lie was clothed in a tunic of red
silk, with blue small clothes, and black
morocco boots, with broad, red fold of
the same material falling nearly to the
instep. His hair. that rivalled the ra-
ven's wing in blackness clustered in lux
uriant curls around his neck and shoul-
ders, and his face, bronzed by the sun
of southern clmes, asd enbellished by
beard and moustache, wore a reckless
expression, that was heightened by the
changing light in the dark cleaning
eye that had struck terror to many be-
holder. For this was none other than
the dreaded Rover, Robert Kyd; the
lady his sister, the Madame Coeymans.
AS he ceased speaking, he folded bis
arms acro1s his broad chest, and gazed
moodily into the fire.
As his sister watched him, her coun-
tenance expressed the greatest emotion,
and gong to him and laying her hand
upon his shoulder, she said, as her eyes
filled with tears:
Robert, could our mother have fore
seen the course her son would follow,
how think you she would have feltT
At the mention of his mother, tear
for a moment dimmed the dark eye of
the Rover; but dashing it aside as if
ashamed of the weakness displayed, he
saswed, with a slight laugh:
why, Margery. you believe the tale
that my calumniators have forged that
! am indeed pirate, the terror of the
seas; and vet there's mapy q ceropeted