Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-09-06

ly as he found she had carried off in
her apron the silver teapot and
spoons, and every portable article of
value. Another night elapsed, an
other morning came; but no wife.
In word, she was never heard of
more.
What was her real fate, nobody
knows, in consequence of so many
pretending to know. 1t is one of
those facts which have become con-
founded by variety of historians.
Some asserted that she had lost her
way among tangled mazes of the
swamp, and sank into some pit or
slough others, more uncharitable,
hinted that she had eloped with the
household booty, and made off to
some other Province while others
surmised that the tempter had de-
coyed her into dismal quagmire, on
the top of which her hat was found
lying. In confirmation of this, it
was said great black man, with an
axe on his shoulder, was seen late
that evening coming out of the
swamp, carrying a bundle tied in a
check apron, with an air of surly tri-
umph.
The most current and probable
story. however, observes that Tom
Walker grew so anxious about the
fate of his wife and Ills property that
he set out at length to seek them
both at the Indian fort. During a
long summers afternoon he searched
about the place, but no wife was to be
seen. He called her name repeatedly,
but she was nowhere to be heard.
The bittern alone responded to his
voice, as it flew screaming by; or the
bullfrog croaked dolefully from a
neighboring pool.
At length, it is said, just in the
brown hour of twilight, when
the owls began to hoot, and
the bats to fit about, his
attention was attracted by the clamol
of carrion crows lowering about a
cypress tree He looked up, and be-
held bundle tied in check apron,
and hanging in the branches of the
tree, with great vulture perched
hard by, so that he recognized his
wife's apron, and supposed it to con.
tain the household valuables.
''Let US get hold of the property" p"
SAID he, consolingly to himself, ''and
we will endeavor to do without the
woman"
AS he scrambled up the tree, the
vulture spread its wide wings, anc
sailed off screaming into the deep
shadows of the forest. Tom seized
the check apron, but, woful sight :
found nothing but heart and liver
tied up in it !!
Such. according to this most au-
thentic old story, was all that was to
be found of Toms wife. She had
probably attempted to deal with the
| black man as she had been accustom.
ed to deal with her husband; but
though female scold is generally
considered a match for the devil, yet
in this instance she appears to have
had the worst of it. She must have
died game, however; for it is said
Tom noticed many prints of cloven
feet deeply stamped about the tree,
and found handfuls of hair, that look
ed as if they had been plucked from
the coarse black shock of the wood
man. Tom knew his wife's powers
by experience. He shrugged his
shoulders, as he looked at the signs
of fierce clappercIawing. "Egad,
said he to himself, ''Old Scratch
must have had tough time of it -
Tom consoled himself for the loss
of his property, with the loss of his
wife, for he was a man of fortitude.
He even felt something like gratitude
toward the black woodman, whom he
considered had done him kindness.
He sought therefore to cultivate a
further acquaintance with him, but
for some time without success the
old black legs played shy, for what
ever people may think, he is not tc
be had for calling he knows how to
play his cards when pretty sure OF
his game.
At length, it is said,. when delay
had whetted Toms eagerness to the
quick, and prepared him to agree te
anything rather than not gain the
promised treasure, he met the black
man one evening in his usual wood
mans dress, with his axe on his
shoulder ,sauntering along the swamp
and humming tune.
By degrees, however, Tom brought
him to business aud they began te
haggle about the terms on which the
former was to have the pirates treas,
ure. There was one condition which
need not be mentioned, being gener
ally understood in all cases where
the devil grants favors but there
were others about which, though ol
not less Importance, he was infexi
bly obstinate. He insisted that the
money found through this means
should be used in his service. HI
proposed, therefore, that Tom should
employ it in the black traffic; that is
to say, that he should fit out slave
ship. This, however, Tom resolute-
ly refused; he was bad enough In
| oil ooncniapoa h1f tho 6ayil him oil