San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-03-21
NUMBER l2.


and goblins and tricks Of tho devil In all
kinds of shapes from the first settlement
of tho colony, that they wcro not 20 much
horror struck as might have been ex-
pected. Trustees were appointed 70 tako
charge of Toms effects. There was
nothing, however, to administer upon
On searching his Golfers all his bonds
and mortgages were found reduced TO
len IN her replies. She spoke something
Of black man whom she had met abous
twilight, hewing at the root OF tall tree.
He was sulky, however, and would NOT
come to terms; she was TO 60 again with
q propitiatory offering, but what It was
she forbore to say.
The next evening she sat of again for
che swamp, with her apron heavily laden.
Tom wnited and waited for her, but In
vain; midnight came, but she did not
make her appearances; morning, noon,
night returned, but still she did not
come. Tom now grew uneasy for her
safety, especially as he found abe had
carried off In her apron the silver teapot
and spoons and every portable article OF
value. Another night elapsed, another
morning came; but no wife. In word.
she was never heard OF more.
What was her real fate nobody knows.
In consequence OF 30 many. pretend-
Ing to know. It Is one Of those facts
that have become confounded by
a variety of historians. Some asserted
that she lost her way among the tangled
mazes of the swamp and sunk into some
Dit OF slough; others, moro uncharitable,
| hinted that she had eloped with the
household booty and made of to some
| other province, while others asserted that
the teimpter had decoyed her Into dis
NAL quagmire, on top Of which her hat
was found lying. In confirmation OF this
| Il was said great black man with an az
on his shoulder was seen lato that very
evening coming out Of the swamp, car
| rying bundle tied In check apron,
with an nir OF surly triumph.
The most current and probable story.
however, observes that Tom Walker grew
90 anxious about the fate Of his wife and
| his property that he sat out ut length to
seek them both at the Indian fort. Dur
ing a long summers afternoon he
searched about the gloomy place, but no
wife was to be seen. Ho called her name re-
peatedly but she was nowhere to be heard.
The bittern alone responded to his voice,
as he flew screaming by, or the builfrog
croaked dolefully from o neighboring
pool. At length, Il is said, Just In the
brown hour OF twilight, when tho owls
began to hoot and the bats to Hit about,
his attention was attracted by the clamor
Of carrion crows that were lowering
about q cypress tree. He looked ana DO,
held bundle tied In check apron and
hanging In the branches OF tree; with
great yulture perched hard by, as II
Keeping watch upon II. He leaped with
ioy. for he recognized his wife's apron,
and supposed II to contain the household
valuables.
"Iet us get hold Of the property" said
he consolingly To himself, land we will
endeavor to do without the woman"
As ho scrambled up the tree the vul.
ture spread It's wide wings and sailed OIL
screaming into the deep shadows OF the
forest, Tom seized the check apron,
but, woful sightl found nothing but q
heart and liver tied up In II.
Such, according TO the most authentic
old story, was all that was to be 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 female scold
Is generally considered match for tho
devil, yet In this instance she appears to
have had the worst of It. She must have
died game, however, from the part that
remained unconquered. Indeed, It s
said Tom noticed many prints OF clovenn
feet deeply stamped about the tree, and
several handfuls Of hair that looked
as II they had been .plucked from
the coarse black shock OF the
woodsman. Tom knew his wife's prowess
by experience. He shrugged his shodl-
ders as he looked at the signs OF a fierce
clapper clawing. "Egad," said he to
himself, "Old Scratch must have had
tough time Of itr'
Tom consoled himself for the loss OF
his property by the loss of his wife; for
he was little Of a philosopher. He even
felt something like gratitude towards the
black woodsman, who no considered had
done him q kindness. He sought, there
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 to be had for c;hling for; 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 to anything
rather than not gain the promised treas
ure, he met the black man ono evening
in.his usual woodman dress, with his ak
ON his shoulder, sauntering along the
edge Of the swamp and hummlng q tune.
He affected to receive Toms advance
with great Indifference, made brief re-
plies and went ON humming his tune.
BY degrees. however, Vom 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 his service He
proposed, therefore, that Tom should
employ Il In the black traffic; that Is 10
say, that he should dt out q 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 90 squeamish on this
point, he did not insist upon II, but pro
noscd instead that he should turn usurer:
The devil being extremely anxious for
the Increase Of usurers, looking upon
them as his peculiar people.
To this no objections were made. for IL
was Just % Toms tagta.
"You shall open a brokers' shop In
Boston next month, said The black man.
"Tll do Il to-morTow u you wish" Eaid
Tom Walker.
you Ehzn lend money AZ 2 per cent
month
"ECad. III charge sr replied Tom
; Walker.
"You shan extor1 bonds, fOreclnss
Mortgages. drive tie merchant % hank
! ErIl drive him 10 tbs ID cricd
} Tom WAlker. eagerly.
} "Yo1 are the us1rer for ny money!
sid the biack legA. With delight -Whea