The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-20
rs rctor Rue hIs raal namnr,


might be Accordingly stepped into the
street. aud as the horse approached made
ieint OF stopping him. Tho man immediately
roined IN his horse. "Sir,r said /. may | be
So bold ms 70 inquire II you are not Mr.
lugg, FOR think have seen beforer
My name is Peter Rugs said be- 81 have
unfortunately lost my way, / am wet and
weary and will take It kindly of you 70 direct
mo 20 Boston"
strootY
"in Middle street"
when did YOU leave Boston,'
81 cannot tell precisely; it seems q consid.
cradle time
But how did You and your child become
sd Wc,i 10 has not rained here today
Al has just raiacd heavy shower up the
river But / shall not reach Boston tonight
u 'aIIy. Would sou advise me 90 take the
ola road or the turnpiker
Why, the old road is one hundred and
seventeen miles, and the turnpike is ninety
scyonn
How can you say sol YOU impose on me;
20 is wrong 60 trile with traveller: you
Know it is bul forty miles from Newburyport
60 Boston
"bot this is not Newburyport; this is Hart
ford"
"Do not deceive me. sir Is not this town
Nowhuryport, and the river that have been
following tho Merrmacn
"lhis IS Hartford, and tine river the Con.
nec,icut"
lie wrns his hands and looked incredu.
lous
"llavo the rivers too changed their courses
os the cities have changed pacesi But see
the clouds are gathering in the south and we
shall have rainy night"
had uow, as / thought, discovered a
clew to She history Of Peter Rugg
and I determined. the next time my bust
ness called me 10 Boston, to make a further
inquiry. soon after 1 was enabled % collect
tle following particulars from Mrs. Croft
auarod lady In Middle street, who has re
sided n Boston during the last twenty years
sao says.
Tho last summer, person, just at twilight,
stopped at the door OF the late Mrs Rugg.
Mrs Croft, ou coming 10 the door, perceived
stranger. with "a child by bis side in an old
weather beaten carriage, with a black horse
Tho stranger asked for Mrs. Rugg, and WIS
informed chat Mrs Rugg had died more than
tToufy years ogo.
THE stranger replied How can YOU de
.elyo noe 800. DO ask Mrs Rugg 20 stepto the
door
"slr, assure sou Mrs Ragg has not lived
here these nineteen years"
The stranger paused and looked up and
down the street. and said Though the paint
Jag is rather faded this look, Ike my house
eyes said the child, "that is the stone be-
d. Il
bread and milk
"bu said tle stranger 'it seems 20 be Oh
.no wrong side of tie street. Indeed, every
hing here seems 20 be misplaced The
streets are all changed. tue people arc all
changed tire town seems changed, and what
IS straDge-t of all, Catherine Rugg has de-
sorted beer Boa oald and child Pray con
.nuod the stranger. "has John Foy come
htno from seli lie went on a long voyage
Lois my kusmou IL / could see him be
could give me some account Of Mrs. Rugg"
"Sl said Mrs Croft, 81 never beard Of
John Foy. Where does he live"
"Just above here, in Orange Tree lane
"Iloro is n0 such place IA this neighbOr-
bool
"What do you tell mel Are the streets
gomez Orange Tree lane is at the head Of
Hanover street, near Pemberton's HIM.
"Ihers $40 such lane now"
"1iadam, YOU cannot be serious But you
doubtless know my brother William Rugg.
He lives IN Royal Exchange lane, near King
street.
81 know of no such lane; and ! am sure
there MOO such street rs King street in this
town"
"No such place as King street, Why,
woman yon mock me. You may as well tell
100 there is uo King George. However,
madam. See I ana wet and weary. / will 80
90 ualt's tavern, near the market"
(Which market, sirf We have several
markets
"Tnere is but one market, near the town
dock
ooh, the old market. but no such person
has kept there these twenty years"
Here thc stranger seemed disconnected, and
uttered to himself quite audlbly-" Strange
mistake; how much this looks like the town
of Boston, 10 certainly has great resem-
bauce to- it; bat perceive my mistake now.
Some OTHER 9irs Rugg, some other Middle
street.
"Ihen.r said ne, "csn you direct me to
BotmF
"Why, This is Boston, the city Of Boston.
"Cltr ot Boston. il may be; tut II is not
the Boston where live. recollect now, /
came over bridge instead Of a ferry. What
bridge that just came overf
"lt IS Charles river bridge.
81 perceive my mistake; there is a ferry
between Boston and Chariestown; there is no
bridge An. / perceive my mistake II
were iu Boston, iuy horse would carry me di-
rectr t1 ny own door. But my horse shows
tvhs imrateuce that he is in a strange
place Absurd, that / should have mistaken
tiisr Ir.e for the old town of BostOnl IL Is
much lncr city than the town Of foston. 1t
has been built long since Boston. fancy It
must ..e st distance from this city, as the
good woman seems ignorant Of it,
At fhass words his horse began To chaie
md .tr.e fhe pavement with hn fore iee1,
The stranger seemed "a little bowidered, and
said "uo home tonight" and, giving the
r..ns fo bis horse, pissed nap the street.
II was evident Chat the generation towhich
Peter Ru-c belonged bad passed away. This
was a|i the account OF Peter Rugg l could
obtain from Mrs Croft. bul She directed me
foam elderly man, Mr. James Felt, who lived
near her
"Iti. uue." said Nj Felt, "sundry stories
grew out OF Riggs affair, whether true or
false cannot tell. but stranger things have
happened in my day.
ISM said /, Peter Rugg is now living
have lately seen Peter Rugg and his child,
h0rs. and chair
-Whv. my friend, said james Felt, that
Peter Hu-g is now living man, viii not
DENY. but that you have seen Peter Rugs
and lis child is impossible, if you mean
small child. for Jenny Ragg, II living must
D.. 40 least-le. me see-Boston massacre,
l..O-Jennv Rugg was about 10 years old
Why, gu. jenny Rugg, If living, must be
more than 90 years Of age. That Peter Rugg
IS living Is highly probable, as he was only
ten years older than myself, and was only
s0 ias. March. and ] am as likely 10 live
twenty years longer as any man
Here ] perceived that Mr.. Felt was in his
dotasc and despaired Of gaining any reli-
able Intelligence from him.
took my leave and proceeded 70 my lodg-
ines