Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-07-15
MARGARET CiTCHP0LE.

Margaret CatChpole was born IN the
wear ira. at a little cottage near
Nacton. suffolk. Her father Jonathan
Catchpole, was ploWman upon the
farm Of Mr. Denton. When a child,
Margaret vas fond Of riding upon the
cart.horscs, and INDUCED in feats of az
iIltg and strength which were rather
suitable ID i Young lad than girl. Tier
father and brother INDUCED her in
these freaks, and by the time she was ~
III II wears old she could ride on horse
back An weIl III any person, male or
female. III the neighhorhood. She was
of 4 kind and good disposition, and
much III her time was spent III attend
ing upon the sick bed of her sister Su-
san
lhc Catchpolc family was intimate
with the Gracknells, who kept small
chandcrly shop on Mr.. Dentos's farm.
ono evening tie Cracknell- gave little
entertainment and, Of course, the
Catchpoles were invited. At this time
Margaret was III, and, although by no
means pretty, size WAS well formed, had
letty hair. fine blue eyes, and a pale
Int interesting countenancc. Attnc
entertainment Margaret met a young
man named William Laud, and they
slt III danced together tire whole even
Ing. There was a species OF love at
first sight between them, and there
seemed certain fitness III their union
which did not escape the eyes OF their
parents
William and Margaret became rn2a-
ged a. each other; and il wls determ-
med that they should be married as
soon IN William could obtain steady
employment At length lie called To
inform lis hotrolhcd that he had re-
solved Ii lrcrpt the proposition 81 one
Captain Bargaod and engage Us Il sail
on for 4 year or two, the Captain offered
to receive him Oh one If his own trad-
Ing vessels. Margaret's sister did not
approve OF the resolution, she rcprUach-
~ William as being tor worldly mind
"a, to llippamtin His conversation, ana
concluded her solemn discourse hy de
rlafng that Margaret should never
tntrfy William I.aud
William took little notice of the
prophecy and rrmonstranee hut il
made i deep impression upon Mafga-
ri. William departed, and il few days
.nfteraard Susan was i corpse bit ere
the young woman breathcd her last she
implorcd her surviving sister 10 beware
II William Lalm
Months passed away and Margaret
had received no tidings Of William.
TIM day sailor presented himself ut
tie cottage ana inquired If Miss Mar
garet Catehpole dwclt there - The re
pIy wa ~ affirmative and the sailor
entered, bearing with him large packet
which he deposited upon the table,
saying, This il i present from William
Land u Miss Margaret Tie parcel
VAS opened il contained lace and rib
bons, silks and stmils gloves and scents;
tn, callre, sugar, snuff, and tobacco,
mecrchanm pipes with sllver-tlppcd
honll aud tubes, IN 4 word, enough 10
stock i small shop 4 sudden light
broke iii upon her mind, William l.aud
had become I smuggler.
Recovering ntr presence iii mind, She
desired one II her brothers To help her
tie III the parcel, and, when this was
dome, She sand II the sailor My good
Hi.tlt. NhHH lAN TIKI tl THIS lltitl AWAY
with you agaln Neither my father nor
myself will accept of IT, But tell Will
ham l.aud that i single ribbon. honestly
purchased would have pleased me
more than yaluahlcs ~ which lie can
not have honestly come The man,
however. refused 20 take the parcel
aNay Wlth him. ior, said lac, "Nil-
liam l.aud Is tile captain &c the vessel
g. which belong, and would not dare
tooilcnd linn III is MI powerful with
utr owner. Bargood, and would advise
yeu tothrow away this stupid squeam-
ishnrss Nothing could change Mar
g:lrd = intentions the sailorrefused 10
TAKE away the parcel, and departed in
IN i'll hnmur and when lie was gone
the C.ttchpolcs held ], consultation to
determine What they should do with
tlle eontrahrand articles
IN the midst III the debate. Mrs.
Gracknelleallcd. and was duly informed
al tie incident that had Just taken
place Wei said Mrs Cracknell,
times are very hard and the laws are
Very severe. AMI don't see any harm
III body getting little money ~ 4
slde.wmd now and then. GIVE me
these articles. lean dispose Of them in
4 quiet NAY, and Will take care of
ven. You may have groceries and
other tlilngS III INV house without pay
nent tor SIX months IL come
Margaret remained silent her Seru-
pies only required removal Of the
goods from the cottage, and old Catch
pole snapped II Mrs. Cracknell's offer.
Tie bargain Wis struck, and i'll the
evening Crackncll called and fetched
away the things Rut Margaret remem-
hercd thn words If her deceased sister.
AMI she wcpt bitterly.
Regularly every month the same
sailor, who had visited the cottage rs
above described. called with presents
tar Margaret and tender messages from
William. and the contrahand articles
ail ia'lna their way to the Cracknell's
snip The brothers Of Margaret be
came completely demoralized by the
sonr,os n enjoyment opened 70 them
throu-h those means. the CracknellS
always supplied them with ready mon
eN. they grry idle and diSsipatcd, and
the once honest lahorers were now the
constant guests of the publican. At
length Charles tile cider brother, was
Invelgled INTO tic mesheS Of recruit
ING sergeant, ard embarked with I'm in
iantry regiment for The last Indies:
Robert, thc second brother. died Of dc
hrlum lenleuS in l79i. and James. the
younger brother. turned poachcr, and
w:ls shot III MI atlray with gamekeep-
err. Thus did the present of William
Iand deprive old Jonathan Catchpole
oi his three sons. and Margaret 81 her
three brothers.
The 1atchpoie family became the
oeJest 81 suspicion and dIstrust in the
nellghhorhocd. Strange stories were cir
culated relative 10 Narcarels connec-
ton with the smugglcrS. The conse.
quence Mas that old Jonathan was ecm-
PEELED 20 change his abode. and from a
regular workman lie became i jobhing
hhorer, obtaining employment when
and where he could.
Meantime the name of William Laud
grew tamouS-or rather infamous; and
the deeds which distinguished him in
his desperate avocaions, and in the
constant collision with which he and
the preventive officers found them
selves, became the theme of general
conversation. In one of these encoun-
tiers William Laud was fearfally wound
cd in the head, and was conveyed to
Captain Bargood's house. The same
sailor whom we have already seen Wis
iting the Catchpole's and whose name
was John Luh, now called upon Mar