The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-10-30
A SMUGGLER'S ROMANCE.
How He Risked HIS Life to Deliver a Par.

eel, and Thus Won a Beautiful Bride.
If You happen to be on Ninth street and
want a cigar says the New York Nail and
Express, stroll into that little shop that
opens wide upon the sidewalk, nearly op-
poste Cooper institute, and look up at
the crayon portrait of beautiful womau's
face. Most people suppose it is an ad-
veltisement tor some brand of cigarettes,
but it is not. Express involuntary ad-
miration; that will be natural and offer
to buy it. You can safely do this for the
gray haired gentleman behind the coun-
ter will courteously but firmly say you
nay, even while he produces a private
box, unstamped, but containing an arti-
Gle which you will smoke with delight.
Then, if you are good listener and ap-
pear socable, he will, or at least he did
the other evening, remark that every
mans life has its romance, and that he is
not as old as he looks. He looks at least
80 years, but his dark eyes are bright,
and his strong, shapely hands are white
and smooth as a boys.
Twenty years ago. just after the war;"
he said. putting thai uustamped cigar
box out of sight, 1.-The custom-house was
just getting down to work trying to
make up for years of demoraliz alton. The
popular idea in regard to smuggling was
more liberal than now, and the president
might have imported his brides trous-
seau and cargo of whiskey and cigars
for the white house without stirring up
the entire press of the country. l was
captain of the Carmen, three masted
schooner, trading between this port and
Havana. 1t was just such a cool August
night as this that the Carmen lay be-
Gained off Barnegat on her trip south.
We lay about a mile from the Jersey
coast. 1t was almost dark when l heard
a mans voice hail us. Suddenly row.
boat bumped our side, and hatless in
dividual scramb led aboard with wild
glare in his eyes and big diamond in
his shirt front. He unhitched the dia-
mond and handed it to me with the re-
mark: Will this pay for my passage to
| the port You are bound for?' the stone
was worth $1,000 If it was worth any
thing, and as the breeze was springing up
l called it bargain.
Il landed the fugitive in Havana, and
| lost sight of him for nearly Il year. One
| day, however, he came aboard the Car
men just as | was making ready for New
| York He introduced himself as Don
Escoaces. He said he was getting rich
as tobacco-growe ard felt that he
owed everything to me. | told him that
our accounts were squared, and asked
after the sweetheart he said he had left
behind him.
That was what he wished to see me
about. Would take parcel and de-
hctel? 1t contained present of great
value, and he begged that none but the
lady herself open it. The name Mrs.
| Agnes Anstruther was on the wrapper.
Having presented me with a richly carved
rosewood box containing fifty cigars at
least seven inches long aud of the choicest
leaf in the market, Mr.. Don Escoaces
left me with the mysterious package.
The trip north was stormy. Strangely
enough, | found myself lying off Barne-
gat in dead calm on the very anniver-
| e ~, al, NIT
whose message of love l had voluntarily
undertaken. | had been wondering all
during the voyage how | should contrive
to smuggle the package unopened through
the custom house. Doubtless it contained
Jewels and it was pride rather than a
spirit of daring that prompted me to take
a desperate chance.
Leaving the Carmen in command OF
the first mate, with orders not to avail,
my return, had the small boat lowered
and pulled ashore, determined to run the
blockade of the revenue patrol. l had the
package belted under my shirt. Nc
sooner had hauled up on the beach thar
l hailed by four uniform pickets scaled
the cliff and escaped pistol bullet by
accidentally stumbling headlong, Two
of the patrol gave chase aud the Other
two seized the boat and rowed for the
Carmen. | learned afterward that a
breeze sprang up just in time for her to
escape them. | ran as | never ran before
or since through the woods, along an oc
casional piece of road, lodging behino
fences and fording streams, and all the
while those two human hounds hallooeC
in my track, splitting lead after me anc
arousiug hundred farm dogs. Once il
the moonlight they succeeded in hitting
me. See that scar on my neck? But
eluded them before midnight and reached
Jersey City shortly after daybreak, to bt
arrested for an escaped burglar, for who's,
capture reward was offered
Il got out of that scrape by acknowl
edging that | was only a tramp who hat
got bullet-bitten in a henroost, and la,
in the hospital whole week. Ga being
released got new suit of clothes,
Turkish bath, and hattered myself OF
| Ia ,l ;pto