Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1883-03-08

N'NhNA va WV 'AhNl vi III I've lt Stsl
had no terrors or difficulties for me,
except such as it was pleasure to
overcome. So at sixteen, | am told, |
was n fresh-colored, free-lmbed,
bright-eyed young maid, whose only
trouble was her long tresscs of thick
brown hair, and who bothered her head
very little with the other sex.
Not but that | had my admirers. But
they were limited in quantity and
coarse in quality. mean rough; man
ly enough, but lacking in that refine
mcnt which a young girl in any rank
of life always longs for, and with some
times sad results. Anyhow, the bold
young fishermen who made sheepish
ovcrtures to my formidable self excited
nothing on my part but polite amuse-
ment, and was quite heart-whole. |
was very happy, had wonderful ap-
petite, and sound in wind and limb;
and perhaps, young people, you have
to thank the rough freedom of my
early life for the excellent constitu-
tiOns which YOU now enjoy.
On q certain day in September, when
| was nearly seventeen years of age,
my grandfather being absent on one
of his expeditions, and expected back
at night, | set of for one of the long
ramb.es in the country which | was
in the habit of taking when he was
away. As was not allowed to 20 off
in this fashion when grandfather was
at home, | made big day of it, start
ing Immediately after breakfast, and
taking some bread and meat with
me for dinner. ] rambled much
farther than | intended, lost
my way more than once, and the
night was coming on apace when | re-
turned. Tired and foOtSore, | was
taking short cut over the heathcry
cliffs, where was only a narrow track
made by the sheep, when amidst my
dreamy anticipations OF supper and bed
came the recollection of Il little serge
bathing suit, which | mad meant to
fetch in the morning in order to repair
it. The little cave where kept it was
among the rocks of the point, and from
where | was, being already on the sea-
ward side of the village, it was not far
distant. So stepped out brisldy and
soon came to the little gully or rayinc
in the rocks which led to my cave, and
up which, in the course of the night,
our smugglcd treasures would be
stealthily conveyed. Carts used to
stand at the upper end of il to take
them away.
| 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
wondering where my grandfather was
at that moment. Then turned home
ward. | had got about u third of the
way up the gully, which was very dark,
when | heard u strange sound. | stop
ped to listen. 1t was not the scream
of sea bird nor the moaning of the
sea. 1t came down the gully and drew
nearer. 1t beat, beat, with n little,
very distinct, jingling sound. 1t was
the hamp of men and the cIink of
steel, Soldiers! had never seen any,
but | guessed what they were. In n
moment had scrambled cautiously up
the rocks and hidden behind ledge.
| crOuched perfectly still, with every
sense on the alert. Suddenly the meas
ured tramp ceased, and presently two
men came slowly down the gully talk
ing IN low voices. They wore long
cloaks, and their weapons jinglcd as
they walked. They passed me and
stood at the lower end of the gully.
The air was very still, and | could hear
every word they said.
"This is the place, SIR said the big
ger and stoutcr of the two. 1.-The
goods arc 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 4
paper in his hand. He looked around
him, evidently taking in the features OF
place.
"There won't be any carts tonight,
sergeant" he said in q pleasant voice
The people in the village know We
are here, and are sure to warn them
hope they won't manage to warn the
man we want"
"Not they, SIR answered the ser
geant confidently. "Not q boat ear
leave the harb0r without its being
stopped by our men; and not a mar
can leave the village ard come in the
direction of the point, if you post the
men as | venture to suggest" Here
the conversation became inaudible fol
a moment. "a man at the top of the
gully, sir, and the others at intervals
on the seaward side of the village
You and |, sir, to manage the sigma
down here, and then | step up to thu
man at the top of the gully, one call
in another, and we are all down her,
ready to receive them.
by all MEANS" said the officer
"and as you know the place and
don't, You had better post the men
BY the way" he added, scanning tn
paper in his hand and holding it clos
to his eyes, sat twelve-thirty, thin
it is, the signal. Youyunderstand that
don't youP"
The sergeant produced something
probably a lantern, from under hi
cloak. "Here is signal, sirP"
"Then we're right. Now post tn
men,"
The sergeant saluted and clanked VI
the gully; while the officer Wake,
slowly toward the water and stood a
the edge-some distance from me, fo
the tide was getting low-with hi
head bowed, and his hands claspin,
the paper behind his back-I venture,
to breathe freely again, and began t
review the situation. What did it al
mean? 1t meant that the authoritie
had got wind of my grandfathcr's do
ings, and had sent this detachment o
soldiers to take him in the act. 1t mus
be my grandfather, because ther,
was no one else in the villag
likely to be aimed at. And if the,
caught him, what thenP What wa
this form of words that kept ringing il
my ears over and over again? "Trans
portation for life!' What was thatP
was no uncommon punishment, l ha,
heard, for smuggler taken, as m
grandfather was likely to be, rcd
handed. FU n moment the hop
flashed into my head that he might no
come that night. But no! The win
was light, and not unfavorable; ther
was no suggestion of fortunate storm
in the sky, and knew that our friend
with the wagons had arranged to com