Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-25
THE SMUGGLER'S WEDDING.

Being a Story of a Christmas of the
Long Ago.
copyright by American Press Association
Down among the cliffs of Devon-those
mighty ones which guard the southern
English coast eastward from Sidmouth,
and not far from the quaint, rock bound
village of Vere-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 a
magistrate has traced his cellars pride to
a We're fishing boat, and lord bishop has
sent from afar for the pale French essence
ere it had bushed 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 Vere Times were hard;
the coast guards vigilant. Prudence must
<lof,v To- .fI D..
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 as mild expiation for their
comforting RUNNERS" of grog.
Good evening, DOCTOR" squeaked old
Solomon Quigley, 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 Exeter and Honi-
ton had absorbed the supply, so said the
farmers present. Then up spoke Robert
Dare:
iiGeese are plentiful and cheap in France
I will get them by payment for my time"
Dr. Howlby assented, the company ap
plauded, and the grizzled coast guard cap
tain stared over his long clay pipe at
Robert in a look of dazed solicitude.
Good night, my darling Belle" said
Robert, kissing her at her fathers COTTAGE
sand may good luck attend me. 1 must
go up the Landslide little tonight"
The Seagull sailed out of the cove of
We're, and in due time sailed back again.
a harbinger of good cheer for the poor.
"a welcome cargo" said DR.. Bowlby.
''Take care of them tonight, Robert"
oil h
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:
II say, Mr.. Quigley, there is really moth
ing but the geese, you know
Nothing" piped Solomon, unless there
may be any ganders among EN-"
''Bahp' said the captain. And now the
Ship Inn is a bower of evergreens, for to-
morrow is Christmas eve.
81 hear" observed Mr.. Quigley in
low, commanding tone, as he slowly filled
his pipe, that Robert Dare and Isabel
Venn are to be married tomorrow"
Eyes" said the doctor. glancing from
the punch bowl to the captain; "by
license"
81 wish L may die" wheezed the. land
lord, 'if l warn't told that Robert had
bought Rose cottage, in Seaford lane"
"And els gone off today for furniture"
said the captain; mysterious, very"
'And quite party is invited to the
breakfast at Venn's afore they're off for
London honeymoon" gasped the landlord.
'"There's the vicar and squire and the
doctor and the cappen and Mr.. Quigley
and i, and some of the littler folks"
IT. yvns a nleagaDt yyPddinp braa lxfaSt 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 the notes of the bells f1oated
down the valley until they were lost
among the rocks.
sit 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 l 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 a far
different stuffing. My neighbors ALL" and
fxere Robert smiled brightly on the grizzled
captain, "stowed in each goose, and now
safe from the Philistines, was several
guineas' worth of the most costly lace"
LOuQ was Iuc laughter anu
which only subsidized as the last toast was
given:
"A merry Christmas to all friends here
and everywhere, and happy New Year
when it comes"
At this juncture the grizzled captain,
who had been missed for a moment, reap
peared with dorid face and sheepish air.
He had taken Off his uniform jacket with
its gilt buttons and availed 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-
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- Removed.