Middletown transcript., 1883-04-20

little lugger
1 had very Independent, irregula
kind Of life. My grandfather was Otter
away for days at time, and the ole
woman who looked after the house
grandmother was dead long since
would have had little time for securing
and cleaning if she had tried to look
after me. I got a little book-learning
from the old vicar, but it was not
enough to hurt me. No, my dears
knew no italian, no Latin, or algebra
but my eyes were none the less bright
my lungs none the less clear, my color
none the less blooming, that [ passed
most of my days in the bright sunshine
and free fresh air. Icould run a couple
of miles and jump gate; l could pull
an oar with the best, and could swim
like duck. was thoroughly at home
either on the water or in it. The sea
had no terrors or difficulties for me eX-
cept such as it was a pleasure to over
come. So at sixteen, am told, l was
a fresh-colored, free-imbed, brigbt-eyed
young maid, whose only trouble was
her long tresses of thick brown hair,
and who bothered her head very little
with the other sex.
Not but that l had my admirers.
But they were limited in quantity and
coarse in quality. 1 mean rough
manly enough, but lacking in that re-
fnement which young girl in any
rank Of life always longs for, and with
sometimes sad results. Anyhow, the
bold young fisherman who made sheep
ish overtures to my formidable self
excited nothing on my part but polite
amusement, and was quite whole. l
was very happy, had wonderful appe-
tite, and sound in wind and limb, and
perhaps, young people, you have to
thank the rough freedom of my early
life for the excellent constitutions which
you now enjoy.
On a certain day in September, when
I was nearly seventeen years of age,
my grandfather being absent on one of
his expeditions, and expected back at
night, [ set off for one of the long
rambles in the country which l was in
the habit of taking when he was away.
AS was not allowed to go off in this
fashion when grandfather was at home
I made big day of it, starting imme-
diately after breakfast, ftF4fd and, taking
some bread and meat with me for din
ner, rambled much further than 1 in
tended, lost my way more than once,
and the night was coming apace when
| returned. Tired and footsore, I was
taking short cut over the heathery
cliffs, where was only a narrow track
made by the sheep, when amidst my
dreamy anticipations of supper and bed
came the recollection of a little serge
bathing suit, which l had meant to
fetch in the morning in order to repair
it. The little cave where l kept it was
among the rocks of the Point, and
from where was, being already on the
side of the village, it was not
far distant. So 1 stepped out briskly
and soon came to the little gully or "a
vine in the rocks which led to my cave,
and up which, in the course of the
night, our smuggled treasures would be
conveyed. Carts used to
stand at the upper end of it to take
them away.
I slipped into my cave, felt for my
dress and found it, and too lazy just
then to face the ascent up the gully
again, stood gazing out to sea and Won
dering where my grandfather was at
that moment. Then I turned home
ward 1 had got about third of the
gully, which was very dark, when 1
heard strange sound. stopped to
listen. 1t was not the scream of a sea
bird, nor the moaning of the sea. 1t
came down the gully and drew nearer,
beat, beat, with little, very distinct
iingling sound. It was the tramp of
men and the clink of steel. Soldiers
had never seen any, but I guessed
what they were. In moment 1 had
cautiously up the rocks and
hidden behind a ledge. crouched per-
fectly still, with every sense on the
alert. Suddenly the measured tramp
ceased, and presently two men came
slowly down the gully talking in low
voices. They wore long cloaks, and
their weapons jingled as they walked.
They passed me, and stood at the lower
end of the gully. The air was still,
and | could hear every word they said
"This is the place, sir" said the big
ger and stouter of the two. The
goods are landed a little to the left here,
carried up the gully, and received at
the top by the carts. The carts stand
where we came down."
The other, who by the ease of his
bearing and the Difference of the big
man, took to be an officer, had paper
in his hand. He looked around him,
taking in the features of the
place.
"There won't be any carts tonight.
F." he said in pleasant voice.
= The people in the village know we
are here, and are sure to warn them.
I hope they won't manage to warn the
man we want. .
''Not they, SIR" answered the Ser
geant. "Not boat can leave the har-
bor without its being stopped by our
men and not man leave the village
and come in the direction of the Point
if you post the men as I venture to
suggest. " Here the conversation be-
came iDaudible for moment. GA
man at the top of the gully, sir, and
the others at intervals on the seaward
side of the village. You and I, sir, to