Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-07-15
whatever il might be, would surely set al

Mathew not only ceased to persecute as,
but he ceased to desire the conversation
and company of my father. He came nc
more ever TO church, as il conscious Of hi:
wiekedness, and ashamed to face honest
people. He was rarely seen even in town,
and he left me quite alone; 30 that l began
tc think that Repentance had perhaps seizsd
upon his soul. Alas! Repentance knocks
in vain ct the heart of such as Mathew.
Though, however, we saw him not, ]
heard. through my faithful fuglemsn, Ger
tain intelligence about him. Thus, h
drank harder; he neglected his business
be quarreled daily with his sister, who re
preached him for his drunken ways, and
the neglect of his worldly affairs; also, che
continually urged him to recover the G20(
owed him, as she thought, by my father
She hungsred and thirsted after THU
money, which, it seemed, she did moi
know that her brother possessed. Why
had he concealed from her, she asked hin
with anger, that he had 30 much as G200
when he would not give her even money
to buy things wanted for the house? Lei
him get the money back. Was he mad Il
let interest and all 20? She let him hay,
no peace; she longed for our ruin rs well
Then she constantly threw in her brother
teeth the fact that if the boy was not dead
and should return, il, in fact, my story wa
true. be would find the books and accounts
ia such confusion IS might lead to theil
ruin. She wanted to know what truth
there was in the reports, once 81 industri
ously spread, about q second will. In fact
che led the wretchsd man a dogs life, hav
ing q tongue sharper than o sword anC
more dreadful than o fiery serpent. But
as concerning the things she said of Ralph
/ could have desired nothing better, be
cause it kept alive in Matthew's breast tbs
wholesome fear Of his cousins return. s;
long "a that lasted we were safe. W.
should have continued in safety, because
that fear did not die away, but rather In
creased day by day, save for the i~nstigation
as / cannot but believe, of the evil one
and the connection Of design even more
wicked than thst Of the mortgage. i sup.
pose the plot was conceived in the sprin.
or summer, but it was not until the lat
autumn that it was attempted. The way
of il was as follows Il do no harm, / trust
by speaking openly of q traffic which, n
everybody knows, is conducted almos
openly all over the northern counties o
England and the southern counties o
Scotlsnd).
/ have mentioned one Daniel, OF Dar
Gedge, always called the Strong Man, be
cause he was like Hercules, the fablet
Greek, for bodily!strength, who lodged will
Sailor Nan. He protested to make a living
out of his strong arms and legs. He wen
to fairs, and was seen on market days II
all the towns Of Northumberland, Durham
and Carlisle. performing great fests TO
wagers, or for money laid down. He wa
q man standing over six feet, with leg
and arms of surprising stoutness, a squsr'
red face and kindly eye. Despite hi
strength he was peaceful and the softes
hearted of mankind. Now, though he pre-
tended to live by the exhibition of hi
strength, which I believe was the reason
why the vicar called him Milo, itwas very
we'll known everywhere that he had anotheI
and o moro important source Of profit
This was in the running OF stuff" acros
the Border, q business which demands, a
everybody knows, much caution, will
knowledge Of the country and powers o
endurance. The ''stuff' consists generally
of brandy, lace, silk and Geneva. Salt il
also struggled acGoss, but q better profit ii
made out of the former articles, which ar
less in bulk and more easily concealed
There are many reasons why Warkwortl
should he q convenient spot for the illici
trade. First, it lies two miles up the river
and has many safe hiding places, so that
cargo once landed at the mouth of tn,
COquet may be safely and speedily carried
up the river and bestowed where it |
Judged safe; for all along the steep bank
there are spots clearly designed by Natur,
for the convenient storage OF valuable
packsgssss y&staasbjtQespeak 81 tRAathiss hangsi
Geneva and Hollands may be stored to sup
ply London for q year, there is the Hermit
aye, whose double chamber l have mysel
seen packed full of silk in bales waiting TO
an opportunity, while in the castle itssl
there are vaults, dungeons, passages ant
secret chambers, known only to the fugle
man. Here, little suspected by my Lore
of Northumberland, enough brandy nigh
be stored to supply the county (which is
thirsty one) for a dozen years. The Borde
is not, to be sure, 30 near ash is higher ~
the coast; but on the other hand, the look
out and watch kept by the gaugers canno
be by any means so vigilant and close a
where the county norrows to the north
while more than half the run takes piac
over the wild moors and painless slopes o
the Cheviots, q place in which the excis
people find il difficult indeed to discover o
to stop a run made by men who know tn
country. They have q service OF ponie
for the work, little, hardy, sure footet
creatures, who carry the ankers, kegs ant
bales slung across their backs, and a b
trusted to make the whole t~hirty-hve mile
from Warkworth to the Border in a singh
night, that is, in seven or eight hours, tn
drivers walking or riding beside them.
Most of the farmers aud craftsmen o
Warkworth take q share in the risks ant
profits, a or two of them-of whom
Mathew was one-often accompany ant
lead the expedition. Everybody know
beforehand when o run is arranged; man.
in the town know the very night when
will take place, the read chosen and tn
value of the stuff. There is 80 nue.
sympathy with this work, on both sides o
the Border, and so many partners In tn
venture, that information is never given t
the excise, and hiding places are foun'
everywhere, with the help and connivanc
of the NEST innocent looking plowbos ant
the most demure country lass.
Now one morning-it was In November
when the days have already become short
and the nights are long and dark, Dal
Gedge got mp from his sleeping bench
or cupboard in the wall, about 8 or littl
after. calling Justify for small beer, Q
which he drank q quart or 80 rs 8 stay .
his stomach before breakfast. Then b
dressed and came forth to the door with tn
mug in bis hand.
Sailor Nan was already seated on be
stone, pipe in mouth, and three corners
hat On her head. She had taken he
breakfast, and now sat, regardless OF Ii
raw, cold air-for all the winds that blo'
were the same to her-looking up an
down the street, in which nothing as ye
was moving, though the blacksmith's ar
prentice across the road had lit the fire
and the cheerful breath Of the below
made one feel warm.