San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-03-28

and If sho succeeded to keep all tho gain

o.
To herself.
Being OF tho same fearless temper rs
her husband, she sat or for tho old In
dian fort towards tho close OF O summers
day. She was many hours absent When
sho camo back she was reserved and sui
len In her replies. She spoke something
Of black man whom sho had met about
twilight, hewing ut the root OF a tall tree.
He was sulky, however, and would not
come TO terms; she was 10 60 again with
q propitiatory offering, but what 1t was
she forboro 10 say.
The next evening shc sat of again for
che swamp, with her apron heavily laden.
Tom waited and waited for her, but In
vain; midnight came, but she did not
make her appearance; morning, noon,
night returned, but still she did not
come. Tom now grew uneasy for her
safety, especially as he found she had
carried Off In her apron tho silver teapot
and spoons and every portable article OF
value Another night elapsed, another
morning came; but no wife. In a word.
she was never heard OF more.
What was her real fate nobody knows,
In consequence of 80 many pretend
ing to know. II Is ono of those facts
that have become confounded by
n variety of historians. Some asserted
that she lost her way among tho tangled
mazes of the swamp and sunk into some
pit or slough; others, more uncharitable,
limited that she had elopcd with the
household booty and made of to some
other province, while others asserted that
tho tempter had decoyed her into dis
NAL quagmire, on top Of which her hat
was found lying. In confirmation OF this
II was said great black man with an AK
on his shoulder was seen late that very
evening coming out of the swamp, car
rying q bundle tied In n check apron,
with an mir of sllrly triumph.
The most current and probable story,
however, observes that Tom Walker grow
so anxious about the fate of his wife and
his property that ho sat out mt length to
seek them both at the Indian fort. Dur
ing long summers afternoon no
searched about the gloomy place, but no
wife was to be seem He called her namero-
peatcdly but she was nowhere to be heard.
The bittern alone responded to his voice,
as he flew screaming by, or the bullfrog
croaked dolefully from neighboring
pool. At length, II Is said, just In tho
brown hour OF twilight, when tho owls
began to hoot and the butts to fit about,
his attention was attracted by the clamor
of carrion crows that were lowering
about cypress tree. lie looked and be.
held bundle tied in check apron and
hanging In the branches Of tree; with a
great vulture perched hard by, IA u
keeping watch upon 1t. He leaped with
10y, for he recognized his wife's apron,
and supposed 1t to contain tho household
valuables.
"Let us get hold of the property" said
he consolingly to himself, land we will
endeavor to do without the woman"
AS he scrambled up the tree the vul-
ture spread its wide wings and sailed of
screaming into the deep shadows Of the
forest. Tom seized tho check apron,
but, woful sightl found nothing but q
heart and liver tied up In it.
Such, according to the most authentic
old story, was all that was TO DO found
of Toms wife. She had probably at
tempted to deal with the black man as
she had been accustomed to deal with
her husband; but though n female scold
Is generally considered q match for the
devil, yet in this instance she appears to
have had the worst of it. She have
died game, however, from the part that
remained unconquered. Indeed, 1t Is
said Tom noticed many prints OF cloven
feet deeply stamped about the tree, and
several handfuls Of hair that looked
as If they had been plucked from
the coarse black shock Of the
woodsman. Tom knew his wifc's prowess
by experience. He shrugged his shoul
ders as he looked at the signs of fierce
clappcr clawing. "Egad," said he to
himself, "Old Scratch must have had a
tough time Of itl'
Tom consoled himself for the loss Of
his property by the loss of his wife; for
he was little of philosopher. He even
felt something like gratitude towards the
black woodsrnan, who he considered had
done him kindness. He sought, thcre-
fore, to cultivate farther acquaintance
with him, but for some time without sue
cess; the old black legs played shy, for
whatever people may think, he Is not
always 10 be had for calling for; he knows
how 10 play his cards when pretty sure Of
his game.
At length, It Ia said, when delay had
whetted Toms eagerness 10 the quick
and prepared him 20 agree to anything
rather than not gain the promised treas
IRE. he met the black man one evening
in his usual woodman dress, with his AK
OH his shoulder, sauntering along the
edge Of the swamp and humming n tune.
He affected TO receive Toms advance
with great Indifference, made brief re-
plies and went on humming his tune.
by degrecs, however, Tom brought
him TO business, and they began to
haggle about the terms on which the
former was TO have the pirates treasure.
There was one condition which need not
be mentioned, being generally under
stood In all cases where the devil grants
favors; but there were others about
which, though OF less importance, he
was inflexibly obstinate. He insisted
that the money found through his means
should be employed In bis service. He
proposed, therefore, that Tom should
employ Il in the bla0k traffic; that Is TO
say, that he should ct out slave ship.
This, however. Tom resolutely refused;
he was bad enough, in all conscience;
but the devil himself could not tempt
him 10 turn slave dealer.
Finding Tom 20 squeamish on this
point. he did not insist upon IL, but pro-
posed instead that hc should turn uBIrer;
the devil being extremely anxious for
the Increase u usurcrs, looking upon
them rs his peculiar people.
To this no objections were made, for Il
was just 20 Toms taste.
"You shall open a brokers shop In
Boston peKt month" said tho black man. I
"I'll do IL tomorrow II you wish. said
Tom Walker.
"Youthan lend money at per cent a
month"
"Esad. III charge 4r replied Tom
Walker
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