Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-12-19
THE SMUGGLER'S WEDDING.
Being Story of Christmas of the
Long Ago.

mighty ones which guard the southern
English coast eastward from Sidmouth,
and not far from the quaint, rock bound
village of Nere-Isabel Venn, the come
ly, brown haired fisherman's daughter,
reigned over the sturdy hearts of the
sea, subjugating alike the brawny fisher
lad who swept the channel through the
starlight nights of winter and the man
o'-war's-man home on leave, while half the
coast guards lapsed into chronic jealousy,
and few wild spirits. the special care Of
the coast guards who traded secretly with
Cherbourg, were among her most ardent
admirers
1t was on Robert Dare, young hand
some, fearless and the most ACCOMPLISHED
smuggler of the coast that Isabel's choice
fell. Devonshire smuggling over fifty
years ago was daring, almost chivalrous,
enterprise, and from this and other causes
it was tolerated by the people. Many
magistrate has traced his cellars pride to
We're fishing boat and IL lord bishop has
sent from afar for the pale French essence
ere it had blushed itself brown in bond Nor
were mysterious sources wanting to sup
ply the means. When Robert Dare needed
funds for voyage he used to say that he
was going up the Landslide little" and
that night he would come back with the
needful The third week in December,
1888, opened "A cold, clustering time
Wreaths of fine snow wound round the
doorsteps and hung over the small diamond
paned windows of We're. Times were hard;
the coast guards vigilant. Prudence must
defer the marriage of Robert and Isabel
which was to have come Off at Christmas,
The cronies of the Ship Inn deplored the
prospect for the poor and shook their heads
in sympathy "a mild eXpiation for their
comforting RUNNERS" of grog.
Good evening, DOCTOR" squeaked old
Solomon Quisley, the parish clerk. as
genial DR.. Bowlby came beaming in. For
Dr. Bowlby came from Bovey manor, where
Lady Lee had commissioned him to buy a
hundred and fifty geese for the Christmas
dinner of the needy. But EXeterand Honi-
ton had absorbed the supply. 50 said the
farmers present. Then mp spoke Robert
Dare:
Geese are plentiful and cheap in France
! will get them 10y payment for my time"
DR.. Bowlby assented. the company ap
piauded, and the l5rizZled coast guard cap
tain stared over his long clay pipe at
Robert in a lool, Of dazcd solicitude
Good night. my darling Belle" said
Robert, kissing her at her fathers cottage,
anu may G'p'l luCA dlltuN me. / mus
go up the Landslide little tonight"
The Seagull sailed out of the cove of
We're, and in due time sailed bacl; again,
IA harbinger of good cheer for the poor.
"A welcome cargo said DIR. Bowlby.
Take care of them tonight, Robert"
Yes, good selection" muttered the
grizzled captain, peering into the recesses
of the boat, very good There is abso-
lutely nothing but the geese" he whis-
pered dejectedly to himself; then louder to
his neighbOr:
81 say, Mr.. Quigley, there is really moth
ing but the geese, you know
Nothing" piped Solomon. unless there
may he any ganders among 'em."
BAH said the captain. And now the
Ship Inn is bower of evergreens, for to-
morrow is Christmas eve.
Il hear" observed Mr.. Quigley in IA
low, commanding tone, as he slowly filled
his pipe, that Robert Dare and Isabel
Nenn are to be married tomorrow"
Yes" said the doctor, CHANGING from
the punch bowl to the captain; "by
license"
Il wish | may die" wheezed the land
lord, 'if | warnt told that Robert had
bought Rose cottage in Seaford lane"
"And he is gone off today for furniture"
said the captain; mysterious, very"
"And quite party is invited to he
breakfast at Nenn's aiore they're of for a
London honeymoon" gasped the landlord
There's the vicar and squire AMI the
doctor and the cappen and Nh Quigley
and |, and some of the hitler folks
1t was "a pleasant wedding breakfast, in
which the JOY of the young people blended
with the happy spirit of Christmas the
flag waved from the tower of the old gray
church, and Ire notes of the bells doateI
down the valley until they were lost
among the rocks.
1T is not true" said Robert in respond
ing to the toast of bride and bridegroom,
that have purchased Rose cottage; we
are going into an established business at
Exeter; but perhaps it is fit that | should
explain some of the features of my last
trip across the channel The sage and
onions that will fill the geese of our poor
friends tomorrow will only succeed far
different stuiling My neighbors all" and
here Robert smiled brightly ON the grizzled
cGptain, slowed in each goose, and now
safe from the Philistines, was several
guineas' worth of the most costly lace
Loud was the laughter and cheering,
which only subsidized as the last toast was
given:
a merry Christmas to all friends here
and everywhere, and happy New Year
when it comesn
AT this juncture the grizzled captain,
who had been missed for a moment, reap
peared with tlorid face and sheepish air.
lie had taken OF his uniform jacket with
its gilt buttons and awaited himself of the
doctors overcoat. Thus, with lightened
conscience, he joined in the toast with its
'three times three"
The heads OF several respected families
in professional and trade life in the west
of England are the sons and daughters Of
handsome Robert Dare and beautiful Isa-
bel Venn. JOHN ALDERGRovE