San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-02-28
ness almost equal to tho philosophers

VI AoiPHo % NohuPeluou bVoiiicu 10 Chuh
universal satisfaction. Many were III
greetings at the river side and the salt
tations In tho streets, tho dogs bounde
before him, tho boys whooped as Il
passed, everybody seemed to know An
tony Wander Heyden. Dolph followe
on In silence, admiring tho noatness @
this worthy burg; for In those days Al
bany was In oil Its glory, and inhabite,
almost exclusively by tho descendants o
the original Dutch settlers, for Ii had no
as yet been discovered and colonized b,
tho restless people Of New England
Everything was quiet and orderly, every
thing was conducted calmly and lefs
urely; no hurry, no hustle, no struggling
and scrambling for existence. The grasl
grew about tho unpaved streets and re
lieved the eye by its refreshing verdure
The tall sycamores or pendant willows
shaded the houses, with caterpillar.
swinging by long dlken strings from
their branches or moths flutteItng about
like ooxcombs In Joy at their gay trans
formation. The houses were built In the
old Dutch style. with tho gable ends
towards tho street. The thrifty house.
wife was seated ON bench before her
door. In close orimped cap, bright 1ow-
erod gown and white apron, busily en-
ployed In knitting. The husband smoked
his pipe on the opposite bench, and the
little pet negro girl, seated on tho step
at her mistress feet, was industriously
plying her needle. The swallows sported
about the caves or skimmed along the
streets and brought back some rich
booty for their olamorous young, and
the little housekeeping wren flew In and
out of Liliputian house or an old hat
nailed against the wall. The COWS were
coming home, lowing through the
streets, to be milked at their owners
door; and II, perchance, there were any
loiterers, some negro urchin with long
goad was gently urging them homo
wards.
AS Dolph's companion passed on he re-
ceived q tranquil nod from the burgers,
and friendly word from their wives,
all calling him Familiarity by the name OF
Antony; for 1t was the custom In this
stronghold of the pntriarchs, where they
had all grown up together from child
hood. to call every ono by the Christian
name. Tho Heer did not pause to have
his usual Jokes with thonl, for he was
impatient to reach his homo. At length
they arrived ut his mansion. 1t was Of
some magnitude, In the Dutch style, with
large iron figures on the gables that gave
the date Of Its erection and showed that
it had been built in tho earliest times Of
the settlement.
The news Of Heer Antony arrival had
preceded him, and the whole household
was on the lookout. A crew of negroes,
large and small, had collected In front OF
the house to receive him. The old, white
headed ones, who had grown gray In his
service, grinned for Joy and made many
awkward bows and grimaces, and tho
the most happy being In the household
only child and the darling Of his heart.
She came bounding out Of the house, but
the sight Of q strange young man with
her father called up, for q moment, all
the bashfulness Of o homebred dansel.
Dolph gazed at her with wonder and do
light; never had he seen, as he thought,
anything 50 comely In tho shape OF
woman. She was dressed In tho good
Did Dutch taste. with long stays and full,
short petticoats, 80 admirably adapted to
show and set of tho female form. Her
1air, turned up under small round cap,
displayed the fairness Of her forehead,
she had fine, blue, laughing eyes, trim,
slender waist, and soft swell-but, In a
word, she was little Dutch divinity,
md Dolph, who never stopped half way
n new impulse, fell desperately In love
With her.
Dolph was now ushered into the house
With q hearty welcome. In the interior
vas mingled display Of Heer Antony's
aste and habits and Of the opulence OF
lis predecessors. Tho chambers were
urnished with good old mahogany, the
and cupboards glittered with
mbossed silver and painted china. Over
he parlor fireplace was, as usual, the
ajnily coat of arms, painted and framed,
.bove which was long duck fowling
'iece, hanked by ON Indian pouch and 0
,owder horn. Tho room was decorated |
With many Indian articles, such as pipes |
4 peace, tomahawks, scalping knives,
lunting pouches and belts Of wampum;
nd there were various kinds OF fishing |
ackle and two or three fowling pieces In
he corners. The household affairs seemed
o be conducted, In some measure, after
he masters humors, corrected, perhaps,
y little quiet management Of the
aughters. There was degree Of patri-
rchal simplicity and good humored
Indulgence. The negroes came into the
oom without being called, merely to
1ok ut their master and hear Of his ad-
entures; they would stand listening at
he door until he had finished q story,
nd then 20 of on broad grin 10 repeat
!, In the Kitchen. A couple Of pet negro
hildren were playing about the floor
nth tho dogs, and sharing with them
leir bread and butter. All the domes-
cs looked hearty and happy, and when
10 table was set for the evening repast,
nc variety and abundance OF good house
old luxuries bore testimony to the open
anded libcrality Of the Heer and the
otablo housewifery Of his daughter.
In the evening there dropped In sev-
al Of tao wonhles Of the placs-tho
an Rennsellaers and the Gangevoorts
nd the Rosebooms and others OF Antony
ander Heyden's intimates. 10 hear an
count Of his expedition; for he was the
indbad Of Albany, and his exploits and
lventUrcs were favorite topics OF con-
creation among the Inhabitants. While
lese sat gossiping together about The
1or Of the hall, and telling long twilight
oTies, Dolph was cozily seated enter
lining the daughter on a window bench
e had already got on Intimate terms,
r those were not times Of false reserve
I'd idlo ceremony; and, besides. there Is
mething wonderfully propitiOus 20 q {
vcr's suit In the delightful dusk Of a
ng summer evening; IL gives courage
the most tirnid tongue and hides the
usbes u The bashfuL The stars alone
-inkled brightly. and now and then . :
ely gtreamed his trandent light before I
o window, or, Wandering into the room. {
~ CLAIMING about the oeiltng.
What DolPh -tispered IN ber car that
ng ann1er evening Il Il t1possih4e b
y; his words were - lo- and i1disttnct
Il they ucvcr reached The ear q ths ?
5toriah II b probable. hO~ereI, dat ,
ey vere 20 tbo plrpose, for be bad q =
aurzi talent g rsGEsi1g the ssE, aid ,
~ never log n oo1zPzny viii q petti ,